Grief & loss
For example, you may:
- have strong feelings – such as shock, anger, sadness, anxiety, panic, etc.
- be confused or have difficulty thinking
- find it hard to understand or accept the situation
- worry about what will happen or have strange dreams
- feel very tired, lose your appetite, find it hard to sleep or feel unwell.
These are normal responses to grief. Your experience of grief will change as you learn to live with your loss. This may take a few or many months, depending on the person.
What helps
- Take time to reflect on what has happened
- Find a good listener and talk about the person you have lost and how they contributed to your life
- Don’t expect too much of yourself and don’t make big decisions too soon
- Be good to yourself physically and emotionally
- If you are feeling anxious, it may help to write down your thoughts
- A support group for bereaved carers or counselling may help
- If you feel depressed, consult your doctor.
Helping people who are grieving
- Let the person know you are sorry about their loss, keep in regular contact and be a good listener.
- Practical help, such as cooked meals, may be welcome.
- Provide comfort when they are upset. Be there for them on special days.
- Continue to invite the person to events and activities, even if they decline.
- Be aware that there are cultural differences in how people respond to grief.
Things that are NOT helpful include:
- avoiding the person who is grieving
- telling them you know how they feel – each person experiences grief differently
- changing the subject or trying to cheer them up
- trying to find something positive about the person’s death
- telling the person how to grieve or that it is time to get over it.
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Fred & Jim's Story
Fred and Jim talk about how they have coped with grief and loneliness after the death of their wives. Duration 16 minutes.
Play Podcast -
Griefline
Griefline provides free and confidential counselling and support to people experiencing grief, loss and associated trauma across Australia, inclusive of remote, regional, rural and metropolitan regions, nationwide. The Helpline operates from 6am to midnight. Call toll free: 1300 845 745. The...
http://griefline.org.au/forums/
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Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
Provides a statewide specialist bereavement service for individuals, children and families who need assistance following the death of someone close to them. Their website also has useful information sheets you can download about grief, supporting a person who is grieving, children and grief,...
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Telehealth Grief and Bereavement Counselling Service
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement has launched a national online telehealth bereavement counselling service. Funded by the Victorian Government, the Centre’s telehealth service will be free of charge for Victorian residents, and will incur a small fee for anyone outside of...
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My Grief Assist
This website provides a broad range of helpful information on loss and grief, whether you are looking to support someone you know or if you need help for yourself.
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Compassionate Friends Victoria
The Compassionate Friends Victoria provides peer support to grieving families to help rebuild their lives after the death of a child, sibling or grandchild.
For more information or support from trained volunteers with lived experience call 03 9888 4944 or 1300 064 068 for 24/7...
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It's okay to talk about grief
PCV and the Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability (VALID) have generated a poster in Easy English to help people living with an intellectual disability understand what is grief and how to seek help when experiencing feelings of loss. The project is funded by DHHS.
Its-okay-to-talk-about-grief-A3-poster.pdf
- How to help someone who is grieving
- Helping others cope with grief