Latest / Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor / How can I cope with Bereavement?

Transcript

How can I cope with Bereavement? · Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: How can I cope with bereavement?
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: I'm going to introduce you to a framework today which helps you to break down how you can move through bereavement.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: So coping with loss can be made much easier if you understand the stages firstly, and there are certain things you can do in each stage to help you navigate bereavement.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: So William J.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Werdin is an American psychologist who's still alive today as of September 15th, 2026.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: He created the four tasks of mourning and which I still use in situations with clients today.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: So task one, there's four stages, or four tasks, sorry, so task one is to accept the reality of the loss.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: So this task involves acknowledging that the loss has occurred and that the loved one is no longer physically present, and this stage may include attending funerals, memorials, or handling practical matters related to the death.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: Acceptance is essential for moving forward and adapting to a new reality.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Task two to process the pain of grief.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: Experiencing grief fully is crucial.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: This includes emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual responses.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: So I encourage you to express your feelings through talking, journaling, creative outlooks or therapy.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Avoiding or suppressing emotions can prolong or complicate grief.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: Task three to adjust to a world without the deceased.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: This task requires making both external and internal adjustments.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Externally it may involve taking on new responsibilities or learning new skills.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: Internally it includes redefining your own identity and roles.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Spiritually or emotionally, it may involve reevaluating beliefs and values in light of your loss.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: Task four the last task finding an enduring connection with the deceased while moving forward.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: The final task focuses on maintaining a meaningful bond with the deceased while continuing to live a fulfilling life.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: This can include cherishing memories, creating rituals, or engaging in activities that honour the loved one, all while gradually reinvesting in your life and relationships.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: Moving through the tasks is not linear, and we may find ourselves feeling that we've adjusted and accepted the loss and then all of a sudden get hit by another wave, sending us back to having to do task two again of processing the pain.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: If you are struggling with loss and grief, then please do not hesitate to reach out.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: The first number I'm going to give you is for Groove's Bereavement Support and their national helpline, which is 0808-808-1677.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: I'd also encourage you to look online because depending on the nature of the loss, there are charities and organisations who also have helplines.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: So, for example, with loss through cancer, Sioux Rider offer an online grief and bereavement service for over 18s, which is based on a stepped care model, and this would include you filling in an online form so you can be triaged to the correct level of support for you.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: So this webpage is www.soorider.org forward slash grief support forward slash services.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: Please do reach out so you don't have to sit with the grief on your own.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes it's easier to speak to outsiders as your family and friends will be on their own grief journeys.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: Please take care, look after yourself.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.