Don’t lose yourself in grief – seek help and you’ll find hope in the Highlands
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Losing a loved one, whether a family member, a partner or friend, can be the most challenging experience you will ever go through in your life.
But remember you are not alone and there is support out there to help you – not only through the immediate pain and grief following the loss but also help in the coming months and years as you look ahead to the future years.
Often, in times of distress, we turn to our closest family members or friends for support and guidance.
However, grief affects everybody in different ways and it is not always easy to talk about such difficult and painful experiences with a loved one.
Instead, a stranger who is experienced and trained in providing grief counselling can be the best person to help you at this time.
They can help you to find a way through the different stages of grief and the complex mix of emotions you will experience.
You may feel sadness, anger, fear, perhaps even a sense of guilt, resentment or relief.
Sometimes you may even feel completely numb and it is only later that you experience other emotions – but it is important to remember that all these feelings are perfectly normal.
But they can be distressing and confusing so it is vital you seek support from the specialist support services that can really help and advise you.
Remember too, grief can be different in terms of the person lost – not greater or less – just different.
You will find specialist support and bereavement services for families who have lost a child or a baby as well as for those who have lost an elderly relative or a partner.
There is also specialist support for children and young people who may be too young to fully understand death or are unable to cope with such deep and complex emotions caused by bereavement.
There are a lot of support groups and advice available online but ensure you contact a trusted organisation or charity, in the first instance, which will then be able to point you to a local group.
