The death of a loved one is a devastating and painful time for the whole family, and it can also be a very confusing time.
"No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I an not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep swallowing. At other times if feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the word and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in. It is so uninteresting. Yet I want the others to be about me. I dread the moments when the house is empty. If only they would talk to one another and not to me". (C. S. Lewis - A Grief Observed)
When a child has passed away
The Bristol Royal Hospital for Children Bereavement team have put together some information on where you can turn to for support after the death of a child:
When an adult has passed away:
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston provides the following information for bereaved relatives.
- Practical guidance on what to do following the death of a relative
- An emotional support guide for bereaved people
Websites you may find helpful
Winston's Wish - giving hope to grieving children (winstonswish.org)
Sibling Support (www.siblingssupport.co.uk)