Sudden Loss Support

As a surviving sibling you may feel intense grief, sadness and loss when a brother or sister dies.  Just like adults, all young people express their grief differently, there is no right or wrong way for you to express your feelings and emotions, just as there is no correct length of time that you should grieve. 

 

Siblings often have complicated relationships, sisters and brothers often experience a range of conflicting feelings for each other, this can cause a unique set of challenges for both you and your family after a sudden death.  

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Sometimes bereaved young people feel the need to take on adult responsibilities and worry about surviving family members

 

You may feel unrealistic guilt about being alive, question what happened and wonder what would have happened if you had been the one who died

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You may experience a wide range of emotions and feelings including: anger, irritability, intense sadness, loneliness and guilt.  Your emotions may change rapidly throughout the day.  You might find yourself becoming withdrawn or isolated from your family and friends

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It is possible you may also feel guilty for being happy or needing your parents support as you may worry that your parents will never recover from the loss. This might lead to you feeling a need to take care of your parents instead of them caring for you

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If you are a young person struggling with the sudden loss of a sibling there are sources of support and help:

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www.uk-sobs.org.uk

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www.winstonswish.org.uk

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www.youngminds.org.uk

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Alternatively it may be helpful to meet other young people in the same situation, or find someone to talk to about your feelings.  

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