Grief and Loss
We can all experience a sense of grief or loss for many reasons – the death of someone you care about, family breakdown, breaking up with a partner, loss of a family pet or even moving to a new city. There's no one-size-fits-all solution for dealing with grief, but there are ways to look after yourself.
Additional resources have been placed at the top of this page in light of recent events in Sydney.
Distressing News can impact you without having a direct connection...
Distressing news and hearing about other people's traumatic experiences, like what has happened at Bondi, can contribute to secondary trauma. When the world feels dark it's really important to check in with yourself.
Did this hit home for you? We’re here - anytime and for any reason: kidshelpline.com.au
Understanding Grief
We’re all going to experience grief and loss at some point in our life. If you’re reading this chances are you’re living it with it right now.
Whether it’s the death of someone close to us or the loss of something special…our first loss or yet another one… our dearest family member, or childhood friend… loss comes in endless forms, and the ensuing grief is unique to us all.
Experiencing grief when someone famous dies
Managing grief during the festive season
Grief can affect almost every part of life, and can sometimes make the simplest tasks feel daunting and hard to accomplish. Here are some of the things to look out.
Feeling:
Don’t be surprised if you experience strong and unpredictable mood swings. Grief can include an intense combination of the following: shock, disbelief, pain, intense sadness, longing, guilt (about the past, or about being happy in the future), anger, resentment, abandonment, confusion, anxiety, worry.
Thinking:
You might feel lost in a world of thought, and more distant than usual. Other ways thoughts can be impacted can include: trouble concentrating or focusing on everyday tasks, increased forgetfulness, a sense that the world doesn’t make sense any more, or that you can’t figure out your place in it.
Body changes:
Changes physically might include: headaches, stomach aches, body aches, changes in eating and sleeping patterns, weight changes, feeling tired or just generally sick and run down.
Doing:
You might notice you feel like spending more time alone, or avoiding certain people or places, including not wanting to go to school, uni or TAFE. Don’t be surprised if you cry a lot or have more unpredictable outbursts than usual.
It’s important to acknowledge that everyone will respond to grief in different ways. Some people will choose to express their grief through creative expression such as art or music. Others may want to talk about it, and some may appear to be unaffected and getting on with their life.
There will also be some people who behave in ways that are disruptive, frustrating or risky. Some may turn to using alcohol or other drugs to try to cope with their grief. If you are responding with risk taking it is important you seek help.
Remember you will need time, support and understanding as you find your way through your grief.
