Module 7

Grief and Getting on With Your Family 

It can be hard sometimes with your family. It is common to feel angry and have arguments.

Sometimes your relationships may feel supportive, and their efforts to help you may feel useful, but other times their attempts to help calm you down or be supportive may not feel helpful.

It can be useful to reflect on whether some of this is resulting from their own grief if they are also affected by the loss.  It can also be helpful to remind yourself that although they might not be delivering support in the way that you would like it that they mean well or are trying even though it might not feel right to you.

Try walking away and cooling down using some of the ‘cool down activities’ on the tab if you are feeling angry, rather than getting into an argument or shouting.

When you are feeling calmer, try asking your family member for what you need, and telling them how you would like them to support you. Let them know if you need time to yourself. You could also think about later whether you could do an enjoyable activity together, for example, watch and movie or take a walk together.  It might be that both having time to calm down and have your own enjoyable activity to do could work best. See what fits best for you and your family.