Sudden Loss

Suicide

Losing a loved one to suicide can be a profoundly painful loss. You may feel anger towards the person who died while also being consumed with guilt. You may blame yourself for what happened while also feeling rejected by the person who died. You may be dealing with a lot of unanswered questions. You may be in shock or have disbelief that what happened is real. On top of trying to cope with the overwhelming feelings of grief, you may feel that you cannot share your loss because of the existing stigma surrounding suicide. Others may not know how talk to you about the suicide and leave you feeling abandoned. Talking to a grief counsellor is an important step to helping you acknowledge the pain, find ways to process your feelings, and learn to live with the painful reality of your loss.

Homicide

When someone you love dies as a result of a homicide, you may feel profound anguish and sorrow while also feeling powerless because you were unable to protect, rescue, or comfort your loved one. The sudden and violent nature of the death may leave you feeling “stuck” and replaying images of their death in your mind. You may feel frustrated that the way your loved one died has overshadowed their life. You may be traumatised and fear for your own physical safety. It may also be overwhelming to have to deal with the media and criminal justice system. Your life may have lost all meaning and hope. Grief counselling can be a helpful way to find some stability, express your feelings in a safe environment, and find your way back to your life.

Accident

Losing someone to an accidental death is a cruel reminder of the fragility of life. Whether it is through an overdose, medical mishap, car accident, or drowning, the accidental nature of the death can be very difficult to live with. You may feel anger and outrage because the death may have seemed preventable. Others may blame your loved one for the way they died. You may feel hyper-aware of your own mortality and therefore, more vulnerable. You may be devastated that you were unable to say “goodbye” and may wonder what your loved one’s last moments were like. Perhaps you feel guilty for surviving the accident that killed your loved one. Working with a grief counsellor can help you to express your feelings, process what has happened, and find some balance and safety.

Natural Disaster

Losing a loved one in a natural disaster can be a horrific ordeal to cope with due to the sheer magnitude of the event. In addition to losing someone you love you may have to cope with losing a home or entire community. You may have lost many of the familiar things around you and have fewer resources to turn to because your community has been devastated. You may be dealing with survivor guilt or trauma on top of being bereaved. Your sense of security and stability may be destroyed. Speaking to a grief therapist can support you to rebuild your life, find an outlet for your grief, and honour those you have lost.