Combined March 26 jw v2 - Flipbook - Page 34
Hayling Herald Community update
You are not alone
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By Yvonne Collins from the
Hayling Christian Centre
ON a cold winter afternoon at the
beginning of February our bereavement group came together to offer
support to those who have lost a
loved one.
This month two new members
came along, as well as those who have
been coming for some time, and the
advantage of that is that those further
along their grief journey can comfort
and encourage those who are newly
bereaved.
A central theme this month was
how people can look back on the
death of someone close and feel immense guilt because the death did not
seem to go smoothly or they are left
wondering ‘what happened there?’
A death can come as a complete
shock especially when there was an
expectation that the deceased will enter into rehabilitation or the bereaved
may feel that not enough was done
for the deceased person or things in
hospital moved too slowly.
Coming along to the group gives
people the space to talk about their
experiences and to share those frustrations which inevitably arise when
people have to see loved ones kept in
hospital corridors instead of given the
care that they deserve.
If you have lost somebody recently and you are considering coming
along then please read the following
contribution from one of our members who felt that it was important
for people to know that we welcome
everyone into the group and we keep
our conversations on the needs of
those who come.
We may be based in a church but
this is not a religious group, we are all
ordinary people with ordinary needs.
‘When I first attended this group
I was worried that as this was being
held in a church that it would be
highly religious but this was not the
case, I am not a highly religious person myself, but my worries were not
realised.
‘The chats we had were good and
we were able to speak of our thoughts
and to cry a little. The meetings are
open to anybody, religious or not.
I found this very helpful with my
bereavement.
‘I still attend some two years later,
I find it helpful to be able to pass this
on to others having been in that situation so I am quite aware of the problems that people face. It seems that
the more we talk of our loved ones it
somehow gets easier.
‘So why not come along to this
bereavement group which is very
friendly, with no judgement, just a
chance to let the grief out. There is no
cure but it does help to talk.
‘You are not alone in this journey,
we as a group are there for you, we
listen and offer support.’
If you are recently bereaved take
the time to care for yourself and don’t
expect too much of yourself in the
early days. Grief is not a brief experience but spans out over the months
and years and things will come up
to remind you of your loved one – a
song on the radio, an anniversary, a
person walking past you who has a
similar look or stature.
It is important to treat yourself gently and do things which will comfort
you. If you would like to join us for
our next meeting, we will meet again
on March 7th at 2pm at the Hayling
Christian Centre on the corner of
St Leonard’s Avenue, in Elm Grove;
entry via the green door on the side
of the church.
No matter how long ago the death,
we promise you a warm welcome,
a cup of tea and a place to feel truly
understood.
Our Sunday meeting is at 10.30am
every week and you are always welcome.
