Help support Cork Safety Alerts by becoming a member – Click Here
- Turn2Me, a national mental health charity, has published 3 tips on dealing with grief, on its website, Turn2Me.ie.
- Veronica Smith, Lead Moderator at Turn2Me, has spoken about the importance of self-care when processing grief.
Loss is a reality we all face in life, that’s the dark side of love and connections. I lost my Mam two years ago. Veronica said; That is when I truly understood the impact of loss and grieving. Initially I was in shock, although my Mam hadn’t been well for many years, this was something I learned to cope with. The news of her death was not something I expected. I don’t think you can ever be prepared for those words.
- Understand that grief is a Personal Journey
“After about a month of tears I started reading about grief online.” Veronica said, “In an effort to understand what I should expect. While I found the steps of grief a help to read about, I also discovered that grief is an extremely personal journey. More importantly, it doesn’t have to be a lonely one.
- Feeling alone is natural
“The reality of grief is that you may feel alone.” Veronica said, “Opening up and sharing your feelings is without a doubt the best healing. It does not take the pain of loss away but it does make it easier to bear. There were days when I would feel numb and removed from daily life. The feeling of guilt if I caught myself enjoying a moment. This is when I realised talking things through with a friend or family member or in a support group has so many benefits. It can help ease that feeling that you’re in this on your own. Even if the person can’t relate to what you’re going through, it can feel reassuring to just know the support is there.”
- Forever feel the empty space left
“The pain of a loss does get easier to manage as time passes but we will forever feel the empty space our loved ones once filled up. An emptiness that I now know is there as a reminder of her place in my life. And while we can’t control the process, talking to others can help with the processing of all the emotions we experience through grief.” Veronica said, “If you need to talk about your feelings of loss and find tips to help you through your grief, Turn2Me is here to support you every step of the way. Turn2Me offers a free Grief Support Group, which runs every Friday at 6pm.
For more information, go to Turn2Me.ie