Response

Response #

Person who died

Husband

Category

Current experience of grief

Respondent details

65-74 | Female | British

Q1: What was the nature of your relationship with the person who died?

My husband

Q2: How has the person’s death affected you during the hours, days, and weeks that followed?

14 weeks in bed Extreme headaches Unable to function, constant crying

Q3: How, if at all, have your relationships with other people (particular individuals and other people in general) been affected by the bereavement?

Less interaction Not interested in people

Q4: Does the surrounding world seem any different to you while grieving? If so, how?

Yes less friendly more isolating
Less caring

Q5: Has your experience of time changed in any way?

Yes it’s going quicker now but slower when I was first bereaved

Q6: Has your body felt any different during grief?

Yes more headaches Trembly Pain in chest
Feel nauseous

Q7: Has grief interfered in any way with your ability and motivation to perform various tasks, including paid work?

Totally unable to function for 14 weeks
No motivation just crying and lazing around

Q8: Is your experience of grief changing over time? If so, how?

Yes more able to cope
More energy still not sleeping
Getting used to being on my own

Q9: Have you ever found yourself looking for the person who died or expecting that person to appear?

Yes I thought I saw my husband walking up the road and I thought I could hear him

Q10: Are there times, places, and occasions that have made you especially aware of the person’s absence?

All the time, but especially in the car, in the bedroom and in the garage

Q11: People who are grieving often report experiencing the presence of the person who died. Have you had any experiences that you would describe in those terms?

None

Q12: Do you still feel a sense of connection with the person? If so, could you say something about when you feel this and what the experience is like?

Yes I talk to him regularly and I can hear him reply to me
I feel he is with me

Q13: Since the person died, is there anything that you have been doing in order to feel close to them?

Smelling his clothes and wearing them
Sleeping in his place
Having his ashes near me

Q14: Is there anything that you do in order to avoid being reminded of the person or of their death?

Looking at too many photos and playing any music we listened to and liked

Q15: Has anything in particular helped you to cope with grief? Has anything made you feel better or worse?

My granddaughters have helped
Staying home alone makes it worse
Photos music and driving alone in the car make it worse

Q16: How understanding have other people been? Have others said or done anything that you've found especially helpful or unhelpful?

Yes some one said I will be fine because I’m stoic
And people telling me I will find someone else

Q17: How, if at all, has your experience of bereavement changed you as a person?

Made me more compassionate more sensitive
More sad
Also made me realise how alone I am

Q18: How, if at all, does grief over the death of a person differ from other forms of loss that you have experienced?

So awful the pain. My heart my reason for living has gone

Q19: Are there any aspects of grief that you find particularly puzzling or difficult to put into words?

Q20: Are there any important aspects of your experience that we have not addressed?