In the early days, grief can feel like a thunderstorm. A relentless thunderstorm with no end. Even when you go inside for shelter, the thunderstorm still blasts and rumbles outside, no chance for a break - this is grief in the early days or when a ‘griefy’ day presents itself further down the line. As time passes, the thunderstorm gently lifts, becoming more like a rainy day - still visible but much more bearable. Again, as more time passes, the rainy days may become few and far between. However, it’s always possible for a thunderstorm to appear. This is how grief can feel immediately after the loss of a loved one, for quite a long time. The thing with grief is, there is no timeline, no right or wrong way to experience it. My grief is different to your grief, and yours different to mine. Some say grief is as unique as a snowflake- it’s as unique as the person who has died. Therefore, you are the owner of your grief. No one can tell you how to think or feel about your loss as no-one has grief figured out. A piece of advice would be to feel all of your grief or nothing at all. That might sound abit confusing- what it means is to sit with your emotions and every one of them when the thunderstorm hits. Or, feel nothing at all - the message here is to let your emotions be, don’t push them away, but don’t force them either. Grief is really hard to navigate, there is no rule book to follow. Just know that you never have to face the thunderstorm alone. There is always someone waiting and ready to share the weight of your grief with you. Whether that be a friend, family member, teacher or someone from Cruse/ Hope Again.

If you feel like you need someone to talk to, you can call the free Cruse helpline: 0808 808 1677 or, email us anytime at: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk and a bereaved young person will reply.

See your grief emotions as the weather, ever-changing but the storm always passes.