Grief is an emotional response to loss. This could be the loss of a family member, a friend, a pet or the loss or change of a relationship. Grief is a process rather than an event, it often takes time and space to come to terms with losing someone. It can be very difficult to adjust following the death of someone you love and this may affect how you feel physically, socially and emotionally.

We all grieve differently. You might feel angry, sad, or depressed, or even guilty or relieved. The way you grieve could be influenced by your culture, beliefs or how your family and community understand loss. How you react might be different to others around you. You might be numb and not feel anything. This could last for a while and you may experience delayed grief.

There might be times when you are expecting it, such as anniversaries or ‘firsts’ without that person, or these feelings might catch you by surprise sometimes. Some people need extra support to help them through the grieving process whereas others feel most comfortable doing this alone or with family and friends. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, it is important to find the way that works best for you.