As my birthday approached, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling growing inside me. Birthday depression crept in slowly at first but then brought with it flood of questions: “Have you done enough?” “Are you where you hoped you’d be?” “What are you even doing with your life?” Have you ever felt sad on your birthday? …
Birthday Blues Are Real: How to Cope With Birthday Depression Read More »
Grief is not a problem to solve. It’s a reality we must live through – sometimes loudly, sometimes quietly, sometimes both at once. When someone you love is grieving, it’s natural to want to support them. And yet when you’re grieving yourself, it can feel impossible to ask for support, let alone accept it. In …
What Grievers Really Need: How to Support Others and Yourself Through Grief Read More »
Mother’s Day can be bittersweet for so many of us. And living in England, where Mothering Sunday comes before Mother’s Day in my country and many others, makes it even harder. I lost my mum over a decade ago, and every year this day brings another wave of grief. Surely, celebrations should be about flowers, …
I don’t believe that our grief diminishes, rather it’s us who grow around it. It may seem that time passes very slowly after the loss of a loved one. I remember my dad, as I call my father-in-law, saying a week after we lost mum, that whilst it was only a week, it seems like …
Understanding Grief, Bereavement, and Mourning: What Is the Difference? Read More »
Our world was turned upside down once again. We learnt that my mum, as I called my mother-in-law, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Three months later, we lost her. This was now over a year ago. During that time, as I witnessed what my husband was grappling with, I also found myself reflecting on …
Navigating Grief: What It Is and How It Shapes Our Emotions Read More »
A few years ago, I visited a Christmas market with my husband and friends. As the familiar tune of “This is the most wonderful time of the year…” played, the wave of grief hit me. My mum and I used to visit markets together every Christmas. In that moment, surrounded by holiday cheer, I realized …
What Grievers Find Helpful: How to Get Through Christmas Grief? Read More »
It was the night before All Souls Day. As is often the case at this time of year, I found myself thinking about the loss of my mum. I could feel a lump in my throat and shaking in my stomach. And the question, ‘Why, God?’ was on my mind again. ‘Why does it still …
When Will My Life Go Back to Normal Again, and Does Grief Ever Go Away? Read More »
I was walking home from the gym, lost in my own thoughts when the siren of a passing ambulance suddenly made me jump, as has been the case so often since my accident. The ambulance siren took me back to the immediate aftermath of my accident after I was hit by a van. However, this …
With the loss of someone or something precious to us, our first reaction is often denial. We might be lost for words and numb for feelings. It’s just too hard to believe that we will never see our loved one again. Our heart is broken. It hurts, and we believe it will always be this …
Coping With Grief: 10 Hard but Valuable Lessons of Loss Read More »
Dear Mum, I miss you so much. Every single day. This Mother’s Day, I want to shout the message, “I miss you,” to you my dearest mum in heaven. Aren’t special days and anniversaries supposed to be happy occasions? But when the ones dearest to you aren’t here any longer, they become really hard. Saying …
‘I Miss You,’ a Message to My Dear Mum in Heaven Read More »
