In time you will be able to give your attention and emotions to others and begin to get on with the rest of your life. The goal of the grieving process is to learn to live with loss. As you grieve, life will slowly begin to feel meaningful and enjoyable once more. There will be times, though, when you are taken by surprise - a piece of music or a place may remind you of the person who has died and you will find yourself flooded by grief all over again. This, too, will lessen in time. Special days or anniversaries, especially the first one or two after the death, can be difficult. Some people find it helpful to plan for these anniversaries and to mark them in some quite personal way. You will probably be changed by the experience of grieving. You might find yourself reassessing your priorities, values, beliefs, hopes, aspirations, friendships. You could also find that you are:
- more aware of your and others' difficulties and needs
- more understanding than before
- more able to live with the often unanswerable question "why?"
- better able to cope with life's knocks, especially losses of all kinds.
When to seek additional help
If you are alarmed by your physical symptoms or if they persist - consult a college nurse or your GP. If your work is affected speak to your tutor or your director of studies or to your manager or Personnel. You need them to be understanding at a time like this. It is quite possible that you won't be capable of working effectively for a time following a bereavement. It may be possible to shift deadlines or to lighten your workload in other ways for a while. If sleep disturbance persists, if your appetite or interests don't begin to return to normal, speak to a college nurse, your GP or see a counsellor. You may have become depressed and they can help. If you feel overwhelmed by your feelings, particularly if you continue to feel hopeless and despairing and especially if you start to feel suicidal - contact the counselling service. An appointment can be made for you to see a counsellor quickly. Talking to a counsellor can help you find your way through the painful and otherwise lonely process of grieving. All our counsellors are aware of the issues involved in bereavement and mourning and have considerable experience in this field.(published with permission in writing from:http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk)


