Most people expect to be very upset or distressed when someone close to them has died. What takes many people by surprise is how strong the emotions can be, how they can change very quickly, and how long they last. People around you may seem to think you should be 'back to normal' after a few weeks or months. You might appear to be your usual self to other people, but you know that on the inside, you are not even sure what normal is.
Everyone grieves in a way that is unique to them and their relationship with the person who had died. We know that no-one can understand exactly what your loss feels like to you. But we do understand that it's sometimes easier to talk to someone outside of your friends and family about grief and the impact of bereavement on your life.
We are trialling different ways to support bereaved people. GriefChat is a webchat service that provides emotional support, with access to trained bereavement counsellors and referrals to other specialist bereavement services. It is not a video or face-to-face service but rather an instant online chat.
GriefChat was created by bereavement experts and is a free webchat service available Monday to Friday from 9 am to 9 pm (except on Bank Holidays). By clicking on the GriefChat box you can chat online directly to a specially trained bereavement counsellor. The GriefChat counsellors are real people and you will be able to have an online chat with a counsellor experienced in supporting bereaved people. They will listen to your story, explore how your grief is affecting you and help you to find any additional support you might need.
If you do try and GriefChat service, we would very much like to hear your feedback on how you found accessing the service and how it helped you. Would you recommend it? Please email any comments to support@actionpf.org.