Bereavement. It touches everyone's life at some point - and yet, too often we find ourselves navigating this strange land with few people prepared to talk plainly with us about it. Besides the shock and sadness, it can be laden with expectations and judgment; not to mention unfamiliar territories like healthcare, coroners, and paperwork when you least feel able to handle them. How can we look after ourselves through a bereavement, and how can we look out for those struggling with their process?
In this episode we gathered 4 people whose personal experiences of bereavement led them to provide services that make a difference. Rosie Dawson of Roots Community Enhancement leads Waves Bereavement Group in Dawlish. Bexs Rushton runs LOSS (Losing Our Sense of Self), a support and advice group based in Torbay. Sarah Bugler is in private practice as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Counsellor, specialising in grief. Em Flint hosts and shares some of her experiences.
From complex or complicated grief, through sudden or violent bereavements, to more "straightforward" losses, we learn that whilst no two stories are the same, there are some common threads we can carry back to support those who grieve today.
A theme of our chat is the need to speak plainly about the more difficult aspects of death and dying. We've made every effort for this to be safe and supportive listening, but please take care of yourself as you do so.
Resources and ideas mentioned in the podcast:
LOSS Digital Self Help Guide
Recovery Devon "Grief Spiral" Video
WAVES Bereavement Group
Death Cafes
End Of Life Doulas
CRUSE Bereavement Care
RoadPeace