30/08/2023
Today is National Grief Awareness Day in the US, but we think it's good to talk about grief here in the UK too.
What is grief?
When you hear the word "grief", you probably think of death (bereavement), but we can grieve many things. Simply put, grief is our response to loss, be it death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, maybe the loss of independence following a disability or injury, or a response to trauma, to name but a few examples. The fact is grief can affect anyone regardless of age or particular circumstance, and everyone grieves differently. You may have heard of the "five stages of grief" theory, but this is not necessarily a true reflection of grief for everyone.
If you are going through grief, it is important to know your feelings and emotions are valid. There is no set timeframe for grief, nor is there a right or wrong way to feel, as everyone responds differently to grief. You may feel isolated by your emotions. However, you are not alone and support is available.
It is important to talk about grief, as nearly all of us will be affected by grief at some point in our lives. It may help to open up to a friend or family member if you are able to. Talking to someone may help ease the burden of loss and help you to understand what you are feeling if you are overwhelmed. There are helplines available, such as:
Samaritans:
24/7 confidential telephone support for anyone in distress. Freephone 116 123 or visit http://www.samaritans.org/
Cruse:
Bereavement support. Freephone 0808 808 1677. Visit https://www.cruse.org.uk/get-support/helpline/ for open hours.
Grieftalk:
For children and young people suffering bereavement. Freephone 0808 802 0111 open Mon - Fri 9am - 9pm, alternatively a webchat is available https://www.griefencounter.org.uk/get-support/support-services/helpline/
Supportline have an ever-expanding list of information and relevant helplines for your particular needs. The link below expands an A - Z and includes bereavement, but also other forms of loss such as disability and trauma:
https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/a-z/
Lastly, our Health and Wellbeing Manager, Darren, is a qualified Human Givens Psychotherapist. If you are looking for the right talking therapy for you, and would like to try the Human Givens approach, we do offer a free no-obligation 20 minute video consultation.
We also work with the charity PTSD Resolution to offer free trauma treatment to armed forces veterans and their families.
Call 01449 612262 to book your free consultation and if you'd like to find out more about the Human Givens approach, you can visit the official website at https://www.humangivens.com
