No one is ever prepared to lose a loved one. Whether it was expected or not, it still comes accompanied by shock. Even though we know rationally that death is inescapable we always hope that it won’t or won’t yet happen. Even though grief is an experience that feels like you are going crazy, there
Grief: Emotional, Physical and Cognitive Reactions Read More »
Clients in relationship counselling often make appointments when their relationship life gets turned upside down following a separation. If your partner has just left you, you will most probably experience a tumultuous time trying to find your way through feelings and experiences like shock, denial, sadness, despair, trying to understand and asking why, why, why.
Relationship Wisdom – My Partner Just Left Me Read More »
There are lots of words written about what NOT to say in response to grief but not enough about HOW to respond to grief. This is my experience about what could help when in grief. It specifically is my experience in relation to the death of my 3-day-old baby and the suicide of my mother,
Responding To Grief Read More »
“You will in time understand the complexity of my time here on earth…” were my mother’s words. Just this morning I had an epiphany in regards to my mother’s choices in life. I was contemplating the ways in which she said things that she wanted us to do differently, her stoic responses, and her sometimes
It is fairly common to avoid that we experience, specifically if we don’t like what the experience brings with it. Often, dare I say ever, it is the emotional component that is disliked, unaccepted or denied.
Avoiding the Present Experience Read More »
I’m the mother of a dead child. I’m the daughter of a dead mother. All of which happened within the space of less than 5 months. I shock people when I tell them what occurred in the last year. Some literally sit there, eyes and mouth wide open but no sound. Even some good friends
Death – Meeting Society’s Taboo Read More »
Today I stood in the garage with my Dad going through the remnants of my parents life. They have been married and together for 54 years from when they were 17 years old. My Dad tears up as he watches my Mum’s picture in what we call ‘Mum’s room’. In every little thing stored in their garage there is history, stories about all those moments they shared.
For every mum there is a child and for every child there is a mum. This is one thing we all have in common: we all have a mother. There is this one person in your life you call ‘mum’. What happens to you when you think of your mum?
Being Mum – Being Child Read More »
Being with people who are grieving is not an easy place to be in. Many of us want to fix things and offer well-meant solutions, space-fillers or clichés. This cannot be resolved or fixed. The process of grief has no set timeline or deadline, it is always ever a starting point with a line that
A Lonely Path To Walk Read More »
Sometimes I break downOut of the blueLike unexpected stormWhich hits the landFor no real apparent reason Grief kicks inAnd surprises me with its despairAnd I stand there helplesslyAs my skirt gets soaked by rain Vulnerability shows its faceThe layers of ‘I’m fine’ are wearing thinPenetrated by lonelinessI become silent My head achesFrom all those unshed
Sometimes I Break Down… Read More »
