Loss of a Loved One

[onlinecommunity]

Welcome to a place to discuss the loss of a partner, family member, close friend or anyone significant in your life.

Everyone grieves differently. Your grief is as unique as your own fingerprint. However, while often immensely painful, grief is our natural healing process in response to loss.

Grief comes and goes, it can be intense and then manageable, predictable and then uncontrollable. It might be brought on by a recent loss or a historical one, be triggered by an anniversary or the dread of an approaching milestone.

This forum is a safe and emotionally supportive space. It is a place to be accepted and understood by others who can empathise with you. You can feel free to remember your loved one and tell us about your grief journey. Together we can learn to understand the changing nature of grief over time while sharing coping tools and ways to practice self-care.

Topic

[VMPatch]

Hello @legs
It sounds like you have lost someone you loved dearly and it is natural that you are still feeling that loss and adjusting to being alone. You mentioned that you are concerned about your health and in particular your drinking and smoking. It is very common that we can use these things to help us cope with our grief. It is also good that you are becoming aware that these habits are impacting our health . When you are ready you can talk with your GP and/or ring the Drug and Alcohol Counselling Service in your state. Information is in the link below .
https://www.counsellingonline.org.au/
In the meantime I encourage you to keep reaching out for support . If you want to talk about your grief and how you are feeling The Griefline Helpline is available from 8am to 8 pm 7 days a week on 1300 845 745.
As well you are invited to keep reaching out on this forum.

[legs]

Does anyone feel like we are alone without actually feeling alone?
I miss my guy so much, he passed away February last year and I
am struggling with my inability to manage on my own.
He was my world and even though I have tackled the grieving process I
continue to find I am unable to move on, he is missed beyond words.
I find myself in a world of concern due to my drinking alcohol and smoking
of which I want to curtail.
I feel so concerned about my own health, finally, but I also need to ask for help
with my issues of not knowing where to go from here.
I would appreciate hearing from others that have dealt with this situation.
Respectfully, Sue-anne.

[VM-Rose123]

Dear @vickiminz
I’m so sorry to read about the loss of your husband of 50 years. I can only imagine how painful this must be for you after a half-century of shared life and love. Your description of feeling broken and not being able to see the future without him is very understandable and you are not alone in feeling that way after such a huge loss. You also mentioned that he was unwell with diabetes, dementia and kidney failure in the lead up to his passing, which must have brought big challenges for you over that time as well. Good on you for reaching out to Griefline and being able to articulate how you’re experiencing grief.
I just thought I’d also point you in the direction of some resources that are on the griefline website which may be helpful for you.

When a loved one dies: a guide to coping with grief and loss

5 Strategies On How To Deal With Grief

Please remember too, that you can always call the Griefline Helpline on 1300 845 745 (8am – 8pm, 7 days, AEST), if you would like to talk.

[VM-pi]

Dear @vickiminz,

I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. I can’t imagine the pain you are feeling after sharing your life together for so long. Just from your brief post, I can see how much you loved him and that you thought the world of him. It hasn’t been that long since he passed and it can feel overwhelmingly hopeless but this is a safe place for you to reach out and get the support you need. You are not alone in this.

Even if you just want someone to cry with, please call the Griefline Helpline on 1300 845 745 (8am – 8pm, 7 days, AEST).

[vickiminz]

I lost my amazing beautiful husband of 50 years on the 4th November 2025 and I am broken. I can’t stop crying I keep hoping he will come home. He was a type one diabetic for 44 years and he had dementia the last 5 years and he had kidney failure and he could not fight it.He was 73 years old. I can’t stop crying I see him when he passed away and I can’t believe it has happened I just loved him so much I can’t see my future without him there.

[leer]

Dear @creativeguy

I am so sorry to hear that you have lost your mum, especially after taking care of her so closely. You must feel drained. Grief is hard to get over so you will need to do as much self care as you can. Try to take deep breaths and go for walks and find something you like to do. I hope you have a close friend to share your grief with. Thank you for sharing. I pray you can find peace and happy memories.

[VM-flowerbear07]

Dear @creativeguy,

I am so sorry to hear you lost your Mum. I can see that as she was your only family, and from you supporting her through her cancer four times, that you were very close. Incredibly difficult as it is, it is normal to feel these intense feelings of grief. It can feel hopeless and hard to cope. It is courageous of you to share your feelings and show vulnerability, and I am glad that you have reached out. It is so important to look after ourselves when we are feeling this way. This can look different to different people (I have attached a link to self-care strategies; I found it so useful when my Nan passed. I hope you do too). Getting professional help is a great place to start, as is reaching out on this forum. Here is an entire community who understand what you are going through; we all have our grief story and are moving through it or have come through it. You are not alone in your grief. Keep reaching out.

A gentle guide to self-care after loss: The E.A.S.T. approach

[creativeguy]

Hi Everyone

I lost my Mum. ( my only family ) late this March
We lived together . Last 15 years have been particularly hard with she having X4 Cancers during this time .
I’m Neurodivergent . I’m been in hospital,a few times since .
I am finding it very hard to cope .
It’s been only last few weeks it’s rally hit me she’s gone
As a result things have been worse .
I can’t see any hope at the moment .
I am getting professional help

[VM-The Old Oak Tree]

Dear Leer,

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your best friend. Even though your friend has passed on now, I’m really happy that you shared with someone who you could share safely with and who felt safe to share with you no doubt. Its sounds like you had a really special bond together. I think I can’t imagine how painful this must be for you to lose someone so special to you, but I am listening.

It is perfectly natural to experience many different emotions, and feel very much alone. Especially when you’ve lost someone who sounds like they were the closest person to you. I think it’s also worth recognising though, that 7 weeks is a very short period of time, considering the magnitude of the loss you are experiencing. I am also a private person. Am I’m a fairly quiet person, so I think I can relate to the sense of isolation that I think is coming through from your post.

I know its really early on for you in your grief journey so I feel a bit reluctant to make too many suggestions. However, it might be worth just starting to consider the idea of how you might continue your bond with you best friend now that she has passed physically. For example, a lot of people find it helpful to do things like have a display of photographs, maybe writing letters to her, and doing anything that you used to enjoy doing together. It can be anything at all that helps you to feel connected with her. Within the area of grief and loss, this is considered to be very healthy, when people are ready for it. In time, hopefully the very difficult emotions you are experiencing now will start to gradually give way to fond memories.

I welcome you to the forums, and please feel free to contribute anytime that you would like to. You are also very welcome to call Griefline’s Helpline on 1300 845 745 (8am – 8pm, 7 days (AEDT)), if you would like to have a friendly chat.

Thank you for sharing and supporting other members of the forums. We are here listening to you.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by VM-The Old Oak Tree.

[leer]

Dear Charlirix
So sorry you are going through this right now, I hope you do not feel too alone. I know what it’s like when family members do not want to talk to you, it’s hard. I find journaling what i want to say to people and how i feel helps a lot. It gets out of my mind. I keep journaling good and bad things. Not every day, just when I feel overwhelmed. I pray you feel comforted.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by leer.

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