18th February 2023

Losing a parent can be one of the most difficult experiences you'll ever go through in life. Being able to cope with their death and move forward with your grief will help you feel better over time, but it's important that you take care of yourself first during this difficult time.

Accept your feelings.

It's okay to feel sad and angry. You may feel like you're going to lose your mind and never get over your parent's death, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to deal with it eventually. There are lots of different ways for people to react when someone close dies, so there is no "right" way or "wrong" way for how you should feel.

Grief is a normal part of loss, and no one should feel guilty for how they feel or what they need during this time. Try to express your emotions as best you can without hurting yourself or others (if possible). It's important not to bottle up feelings because this can lead to depression and other mental health issues down the road.

Remember your parent, not their death.

Remember your parent, not their death and try to focus on the good things, not the bad. Remember the good times you had together and all of the funny stories you can tell about them. Think about what they taught you about life and love, as well as what they did for others in need of help or guidance--this will remind you of their positive personality traits.

It may also help to create new traditions or rituals around important dates associated with your parents, so you can take the time to honour their memory and remember them in a way that feels appropriate to you.

Let others help, but take care of yourself first.

You can't do this alone. It's okay to ask for help and support from others, even if it feels like a weakness or failure. You might also find that talking about your feelings with people who love you helps ease the pain.
Talking about the death of someone close to you is hard, but there are some things that may help. Don't be afraid to talk about your feelings with friends, family members, or other loved ones.

Create new memories.

As you mourn the loss of your parent, it's important to create new memories with your family members who are still living. If you have siblings or other relatives, try doing something together as a way of honouring their memory. This could be something as simple as going out for ice cream or taking them out for dinner at a favourite restaurant where they used to go with their parents when they were younger.

Losing a parent can be one of the most difficult things anyone will ever go through. But no matter how much pain you're in, there are things you can do that may help you cope with this type of loss.

If you are looking for personalised, sensitive bereavement counselling in Harrogate or online, feel free to get in touch and I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.