My child has died. How do I talk about my grief?

4 The death of a child is a terrible shock You are in shock. Everyone you know will be shocked. You may find: • Some people do not know what to say when they hear your child has died • Some people will rally round you, but others will draw away • People’s comments may be comforting, but they can also be deeply upsetting • Everyone grieves differently. Other people may be surprised at how you are grieving • Some people may become bossy, thinking they know best about what you should be doing now. My address book changed after my child died. Some long-standing friendships weren’t as strong as I thought, whilst some people I didn’t know well really helped me. Some of my friends and family have been fantastic. Their love and kindness have given me a safe space to grieve, whilst other people have behaved quite oddly.