Bereavement Articles
by Andrea Blundell Recently experienced the loss of a pet to old age, illness, or an accident? And feeling devastated? Why does the loss of a pet feel so much worse than I expected? The idea that an animal we bring into our lives is ‘just a pet’ is a gross underestimate of their real...
Trying really hard to keep it going, but most of the time just left thinking, “I feel empty inside”? Why do I feel so dead inside? There are actually times in life it’s quite normal to feel empty inside. Other times when we need to numb out briefly as a survival tactic. And then times...
Relatives dying surrounded only by masked doctors. Funerals with only a few family members present, or watched from the safety of cars. Shivas streamed over the internet. How can we navigate the grieving process in a pandemic world of social isolation and lockdown rules? When we can’t be with our loved ones as they go...
by Andrea Blundell Why are we all terrified about Covid-19? Yes, we are losing our lifestyles, and we don’t know what lies ahead. But for many, beneath this lies a fear of death. Either our own death, or of the death of those we love. Why are we all so afraid of dying? As humans...
Been considering trying grief counselling, but not sure if it’s for you? Writer Stephanie Nimmo shares her experience of therapy for loss and bereavement. My experience of grief counselling My life changed overnight in December 2004 when my fourth child was born prematurely with a rare, life- limiting genetic disease. The doctors told my husband...
Is a fear of death secretly consuming your thoughts? Or something that wakes you up at night? Editor and lead writer Andrea Blundell explores ‘death anxiety’. Is a fear of death normal? It’s normal to fear the unknown. And, while other cultures celebrate death, such as Mexico’s famous ‘Day of the Dead’, most of Western...
Bereavement is difficult whatever the circumstances. But losing someone to suicide can make grief even more complicated. The truth about losing someone to suicide Grief is often talked about in metaphors. It is said to be like waves — you never know if it will be a day with big waves, or small ones. Others...
Is a fear of losing loved ones always on your mind? Are you worried about losing a parent, or a a partner dying? Is a fear of losing loved ones normal? Yes, it’s normal to not want the people we love to die. We enjoy their company, and know life would be very different without...
The only thing that is guaranteed in life is that one day we will die. It’s a sobering thought, and it’s also a subject that we still seem to find taboo. And even more so when it comes to talking to children about death and dying. Writer and mother of four Stephanie Nimmo experienced a...
Grief and loss are things that not one of us can avoid. But there can be a lot of misunderstanding around the subject. What myths about grief and loss are best debunked? 1. Grief is for adults. Not at all. It’s not even just for humans (elephants, for example, have very exact grief rituals). Children...
