Experiencing loss and bereavement

Losing a loved one marks one of the most painful periods anyone can go through in life.

Bereavement is complex and completely unique to every person, in terms of the intensity and range of emotions and feelings they feel, and for how long.

Most people experiencing grief and bereavement have a period of sorrow, numbness, and even guilt or anger. Gradually these feelings ease, and it’s possible to accept loss and move forward.

For some people, feelings of loss don’t improve even after time passes. This is known as complicated grief.

Grief can have an impact on the way a person interacts with others; the ability to carry out normal tasks; unhealthy behaviours with eating and drinking. You may well identify with some of these feelings currently. Tips are listed a little further down and there’s also a prompt for when to get help from services not already mentioned in this article.

Many bereavement support organisations offer safe, confidential and non-judgemental spaces about loss in broader terms as well as more specific terms. An example of this is seen with Cruse Bereavement Support which offers a free and confidential service to anyone affected and bereaved by suicide, or suspected suicide, in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The HIVE Portsmouth directory sets out numerous bereavement organisations locally.

Kind and compassionate conversations with mental health professionals can be a great source of comfort during these upsetting and unsettling times.

You Are Not Alone

If you any of these feelings or emotions resonate with you in your own personal situation or perhaps you recognise that a friend or relative is struggling, do reach out to the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub who can give you meaningful and practical support.