Grieving is a normal process of adjustment following the death of someone important in your life. Grief is sometimes described as a journey of change, with most people going in and out of grief as they adjust to life again. Grieving can bring up many different and difficult emotions. It can be tiring and challenging. Many people cope with grief through the support of family and friends. Others benefit from talking to someone outside the family.

• It is normal to grieve when somebody dies. Remember grief is not a disease!
• Grief affects how you think, how you feel, how you are physically and how you make sense of your world.
• Grief is a time of change and adjustment.
• Many people experience waves of grief with little control over them. Over time these occur less frequently.
• Try to look after yourself, try to eat well. Go to your GP if you are worried about any physical symptoms that persist.
• Identify people you can talk to, people who can listen and people who can distract you at times.
• Remember people grieve differently within the family.
• Take time to remember the person—light a candle, look at photos, listen to music.
• You also need times where you focus on distraction, doing things you enjoy, having fun— like “stepping stones” in your grief.
• Try not to make more major changes in your life than you have to.
• Whatever you do or wherever you go you bring your grief with you.
• Remember you will be changed by your experience of bereavement.