Everyone’s experience of bereavement is different, and it is possible to experience a range of different emotions at the same time. There is no right or wrong way to feel following a bereavement.
Learn about the symptoms of bereavement, grief, and loss | NHS.uk
Learn about the different types of grief | Mind.org.uk
Coping with the loss of a loved one is always difficult, even if it is expected, and it can take time to understand your feelings and adjust to what is happening. It is important to:
Understanding the grief process and common stages of the grief cycle and keep them in mind as difficult feelings come up.
Understanding the five stages of grief | cruse.org.uk
There may be good days, and bad days. Focus on each day at a time and learn what things trigger difficult emotions and painful memories. Tracking your feelings using mood diaries and developing coping strategies which work for you can help with the process.
You may also want to speak to a trained professional to help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings. They could help you understand the grieving process and explore your feelings and ways of coping and moving towards acceptance.
It is important to let others know how you are feeling. You may want to seek support from services or connect with others who are currently coping with loss or have experienced grief in the past.
Experiencing loss can cause a large disruption in your life. Sleep disruption, eating unhealthily and seeking ways to numb our feelings are common reactions to loss but are likely to affect your mental health in the long run.
With this in mind it is helpful to the grieving process to: