Even the strongest relationships can be rocked by bereavement. Relationship psychotherapist Paula Hall explores how it may affect you as a couple and how to support each other through this difficult time.
Helping each other
Although every grief situation and individual reaction is unique, you may find the following guidelines helpful for your relationship.
- Remember, you’re both different and there’s no right or wrong way to cope with loss.
- Make time to be together, both to share your feelings and talk about the future.
- Help and encourage each other to keep as many routines going as possible.
- Create opportunities to do pleasurable things together, such as going for a walk or watching a film.
- Encourage each other to take time for yourselves.
- Don’t make any major changes in your life for at least 12 months.
- Allow yourselves to be upset or angry together, without feeling that one of you must lift the other.
- Remember to give each other plenty of physical affection.
Further help
Whatever the loss, couples find themselves having to adapt and adjust to new circumstances. It’s the nature of grief that people can feel isolated, but once healing begins couples often find they feel closer than ever before.
However, if you’re finding it particularly hard to manage as a couple, you might find counselling can help you to keep your relationship together through this difficult period.
Full article here.