I'm struggling with my grief

My mother was always terrified of hospitals after my father died of cancer, so I suppose I should be glad that when she died suddenly, earlier this year, it was at home.

It was a terrible shock for me though. She was only 63 and I thought she’d be around a long time. I expected her to see my son grow up, and perhaps see other grandchildren as well.

My partner keeps trying to point out that she didn’t suffer or have to face going into hospital and I know he’s right. But that doesn’t stop me feeling numb and shocked, and sometimes I just can’t stop crying.

Is this normal?

FIONA SAYS: TRY TO OPEN UP TO SOMEONE Coping with the death of a parent is always hard and you’ve had to cope with the death of both of yours when they were relatively young.

Everyone copes with death in a different way, but your reactions are very normal.

It’s important you talk about your feelings and while, ideally, that should be with your partner, if he’s not comfortable doing so, you need support from elsewhere.

Cruse Bereavement Care (cruse.org.uk) is the organisation to help you. Go to the website and look into the various options – you may prefer e-mail support, for example, rather than a telephone conversation.