As a counsellor in Beaconsfield and online, I have experience in working with parents who have lost their child. I understand that life can never be quite the same after such a loss. You may feel like you have lost a part of yourself, and this is a normal, understandable thing to believe after losing a child. Although you may not feel this way right now, life does improve. We slowly learn to manage. To help you navigate this difficult time, this blog walks you through a few pieces of advice for navigating this particular form of grief.

Establish a Routine 

It may well be that the grief you feel is so considerable that you start to ignore your own health. Many people forget to eat, for example, or stop exercising. Daily responsibilities end up being neglected. Failing to stay on top of these aspects of your life will, eventually, make your situation even worse, and as a result it is important to establish a routine that encourages you to keep practising these good habits. This might entail taking a walk every day, or ensuring that you eat breakfast each morning. Keeping yourself in a healthy rhythm in this way makes an important difference to your mental wellbeing.

Communicate With Your Partner 

You need to accept that the dynamic with your partner will change in some way after losing a child you had together. Sometimes, couples in these situations decide to split up, because staying with the partner might be too painful. On the other hand, you could become even closer due to the fact that nobody else understands the hardship you experienced. Whatever feelings come up, it is important that you share them with your partner. Communication can often break down when both sides are grieving, which only serves to create barriers between the two parties, meaning you feel even more alone.

Find a Support Network

It is common to feel like you are on your own after losing a child. That sense of isolation can be powerful, but it is crucial to remember that you are not alone. So many people have gone through something similar, and sharing your feelings with them can be liberating. There are people further down the path of grief who can provide valuable advice on how to navigate these challenging times, or simply be there to listen and understand. Sharing your feelings with others is such a valuable exercise. Keeping them to yourself certainly doesn’t help.

However, I understand that not everyone has a support network readily available to them. If you are struggling with the death of a child and need somewhere to talk, I provide confidential, personalised bereavement counselling in Beaconsfield and online, giving you a chance to explore your emotions in any way you see fit. Feel free to get in touch at any time.