Support videos

Trauma and Bereaved Parents - Am I Going Crazy?

The death of our children is heart-wrenching and hugely traumatic. We have had to do the unthinkable in living through our children's death, funeral, burial or cremation, enquiries and the many other circumstances that might have surrounded their death. We mourn the loss of the lives our precious children should have continued to have; we grieve with the aching loss we feel ourselves and, additionally, we may experience helplessness and fear for our remaining children. Not surprising then that we may experience anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks and an overwhelming need to either retreat or keep hugely busy all the time. Whether or not 'diagnosed' with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder the trauma can leave us feeling we are going mad, especially in the early years.

Bereaved parent and chartered counselling psychologist, Barbara Douglas shares some of the traumas she experienced on, and following, her son's death and how she has (sometimes) found ways to manage these. Barbara's hope is that by sharing a few thoughts, feelings and ideas about trauma, it might open up a few ideas of what might be helpful to you.

You can access a copy of Barbara's slides here.