L27 A Siblings Grief for young Adults C13R1404

UK Helpline: 0345 123 2304 | www.tcf.org.uk Social media platforms are potentially a useful creative outlet where we can remember and pay tribute to our sibling. Besides posting pictures or videos at different times, we could also use social media to highlight charities or subjects that we are interested in. On the other hand, this might feel uncomfortable to be so public about our sibling and our grief. Memories may flash up on social media of happier times when our sibling was alive, perhaps even videos of them. While it may be comforting to see happier memories, suddenly seeing our sibling like this can be upsetting. Like with all aspects of our grief, it is our own choice how we handle this. Occasions When we have lost a sibling, certain days and times of the year can be very distressing, both in anticipation and on the day itself. This might include our sibling’s birthday; the anniversary of their death; or celebratory occasions like our own birthday, Christmas, or New Year. Marking these dates in a special way can be comforting. Alternatively, we may sometimes prefer to ignore a painful date. There is no right or wrong way to spend this time. It can be helpful to let family members or friends know our preferences in advance and perhaps make a plan together. Some ideas for marking special dates: • Planting flowers or a tree • Lighting candles • Visiting one of our sibling’s favourite places • Listening to the music they enjoyed • Looking through photos or other mementoes • Spending time creating a scrapbook or memory box • Taking some time alone to think about our sibling • Participating in a virtual candle-lighting, such as the one organised by TCF each December.