Living with loss

If you’re experiencing bereavement, don’t forget to be kind to yourself

- Kate Jones

According to the charity Age UK, people are more likely to experience bereavement as they get older. It’s something the forums of Gransnet, an online community for the over 50s, seem to testify to, with different contributors sharing individual stories of loss.

“Early grief is like living in a parallel universe,” wrote one poster, who lost their husband suddenly last year. “You go through the motions, but in reality, you are not really there. Your whole world has changed and facing that is not easy.” Another poster, who had lost their adult daughter to cancer, wrote in January: “When people say they can’t imagine how it feels, they really can’t; I couldn’t have imagined such pain myself before.”

Age UK says that the death of someone close can be one of the most difficult things a person ever has to deal with. If you’re affected by bereavement – which can include the loss of a partner, parents, friends, or children – there are a number of emotions you might experience as you grieve for the person who has died.