Bereavement

Bereavement is the experience of losing somebody who is close to us. Bereavement can go hand in hand with grief which is the process that is triggered when we experience a loss and the range of emotions that we feel as we adjust.

A loss of anyone, be it a family member, a friend, or a pet, can be both emotionally and physically draining. There is no finite period of time for processing grief, or indeed for when that grief process may begin. Some losses are sudden and the shock can often take some time to process before grieving can begin. Other losses we may know are imminent and the process of grieving for these may start before that person has passed.

Bereavement can affect people in many different ways. It can also affect those close to us who are trying to support us through the loss. It is important to be aware that there is no ‘right way’ to grieve.

Feelings of grief may also arise for reasons other than a death of a loved one. They could occur following the ending of a relationship, or loss of a job we love. They could also occur at points in our life where there has been great change – we can find ourselves grieving for what once was.