Hospiscare’s Bereavement Lead Counsellor, Mark Cobbin
Mark Cobbin, our Bereavement Lead Counsellor, answers your question: Grieving has made me feel so alone. What can I do to stop feeling this way?
When we suffer a bereavement, grief is our body’s emotional response to processing this loss and adjusting to the person not being in our lives anymore.
Grief can be very isolating as we all grieve differently, and this can lead to us comparing ourselves to others and feeling that we are doing it wrong when everyone else is doing it right.
Although we all grieve individually, there are many things that we will share, such as feelings of sadness, loneliness, anger and guilt. Recognising that you feel lonely is important as you can take steps to re-engage with your life and the people around you.
Start small by reaching out to one person, whether a family member, friend or counsellor. Finding a safe environment to talk is important.
When you feel ready, return to activities or hobbies that you enjoyed, or engage in something new that will give you the opportunity to meet people and discover more about yourself.
Hospiscare runs bereavement teas and walking groups that offer the opportunity to meet other people on their grief journey. To find the full details, please click here.
It takes courage to do these things and after the death of your loved one, you may feel that this courage is lacking. By moving at your own pace and doing what feels right for you, you will gradually grow your life around your grief.
