By Anna May
As we near the end of October, I wanted to reflect on how it can feel to start university, or go into a new term, when you’ve experienced a significant loss.
We might feel overwhelmed, lonely, distracted, miserable, excited, confused… In other words, every possible emoji all at once… which is… a lot. 🤧 🤠 😰 😔 😴 😫 😡 🤗 🙃
Grief is different for everyone, but some of the tensions bereaved students might be juggling include:
Do I tell new flatmate what has happened, or avoid those awkward conversations?
Do I ask for support from the university or just get on with it?
Is this a chance to start afresh, or do I feel guilty for being away from home?
Do I drag myself out for a social when all I want to do is stay in bed?
Is it a good idea to drink ten pints or will it end in tears?
And the question underlying all of this:
How do we balance new beginnings while giving our grief the time and space that it needs?
We don’t have to have all the answers, but we can learn to be kind to ourselves, find ways to express our thoughts and feelings, and reach out for support when we need it.