Grief, Bereavement and Loss

Grief rarely moves in a straight line.

Examining what it means to live alongside it.

Grief is one of the most painful and destabilising experiences we go through. It may follow the death of someone close to you, but it can also arise after other forms of loss - a relationship, a hoped-for future, a change in health, or a shift in identity.

At times, the experience can feel difficult to hold. You may notice moments of intense emotion, alongside periods where you feel more able to function. These can sit side by side, and can change from day to day. There is no single way to grieve.

The Experience of Grief

Grief is often described in terms of stages - such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. In reality, it rarely unfolds in a clear linear or predictable way.

You may move between sadness and longing, anger or irritation, guilt or regret, anxiety or fear, moments of relief, numbness or disconnection. These experiences can come and go, sometimes unexpectedly, even after periods where you felt more steady.

Grief is Not Linear

Many people find that grief sways from one state to another. At times you may find yourself more consumed by the loss - feeling the pain and emotional impact overwhelmingly. At other times you may be able to focus on everyday life - managing practical responsibilities, working or being with others.

It is natural to move between these states. Over time, this movement may begin to shift. Periods of functioning may feel more accessible, while the intensity of the grief softens. But grief does not follow a simple path, nor does it disappear.

The Physical Experience of Grief

Grief is not only something we think or feel - it is often experienced in the body. You may notice a sense of heaviness or exhaustion, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, tightness in the chest or throat, or restlessness and agitation. These responses can feel unfamiliar or unsettling, but they are part of how the body processes loss.

Changes in Identity

Loss can affect your sense of who you are. You may find yourself asking: who am I now? What does this mean for how I understand myself?

Roles and identities can feel altered. Am I still a daughter, a partner, a parent in the same way? Labels such as widow or widower may feel difficult to take on, or may not fully capture your experience. There can be a sense that the life you recognised has shifted, and that you are having to find your way within that change.

Therapy does not aim to resolve grief, but to support you in living with it and finding a way forward.

Feeling Alone, Even When Supported

Even when others care, grief can feel deeply isolating. People around you may struggle to know what to say, avoid speaking about the loss, encourage you to 'move on', or assume you are coping because you appear to be functioning. This can leave you feeling unseen or misunderstood.

In therapy, there is space to speak about your experience in your own way, at your own pace.

How Therapy Can Help

This may involve making sense of your emotional and physical experience, finding a way to express what may feel difficult to share elsewhere, understanding changes in your sense of self, and exploring how to stay connected to what has been lost while continuing with life. Over time, this can bring a greater sense of steadiness as grief changes and evolves.

Starting Therapy

If you are unsure whether therapy feels right, you are welcome to begin with a brief call. There is no expectation about what you should say or where you should be in your grief.