One of a series of leaflets published by The Compassionate Friends Finding support “I felt like I was on an island all by myself, even with my family surrounding me, until I came across TCF!” Many parents find they need to talk over the events of their child’s death in order to start making sense of what has happened. Speaking with other bereaved parents can really help, as it can be easier to relate to someone who has lost a child themselves, and through this we can discover that our feelings and reactions are quite normal. Joining a support group, such as those organised by The Compassionate Friends (TCF), can be a good step. Support groups, whether in person or online, can help us feel less alone, particularly when we are able to connect with other parents who have been bereaved in similar ways. The TCF online forum, support groups and private Facebook pages are safe places to express our feelings and listen to the experiences of others. (See back page for details.) We may also turn to telephone helplines, such as those run by TCF, or other national or local bereavement services. Some of us may find counselling sessions can help; others may find this unhelpful at first, but may come to welcome this form of support in the future. “I love it when other people post pictures of my child on my timeline.” Social media can be a useful tool. We can post pictures and stories of our child. We may also choose to share some bereavement articles on our own pages to help our friends and family better understand the grief process and what might help us.
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