Guidance to Grow Vilomah - The loss of a child

The death of a child: Guilt and blame as part of the grieving process

--:--
The death of a child of any age is a profound, difficult, and painful experience. Crying, sorrow, and anger are common emotions when dealing with death. The most obvious impact on parents is the impact of the ongoing grief and sadness of their child not being here. How do you live with the anger, the guilt, the regrets, and the grief?

It's important to understand that grieving is a normal response. Grieving, however, should be managed so that activities of daily living and relationships among the survivors are able to be maintained. Misdirected anger and feelings of guilt and blame can be very detrimental to a family and marriage. Seeking support groups and professional help may make the grieving process more manageable and have fewer long-lasting effects.

In this episode of Vilomah, Jeanne van den Bergh gives advice on what to do if your feelings of blame and guilt are overtaking your thoughts.

There are many support groups available to help families cope with a loss and work through their emotions associated with grieving, including Guidance to Grow Bereaved Parents Support Group. Join the group today for support, advice and guidance on dealing with the loss of your child.
2 Feb English South Africa Kids & Family

Other recent episodes

Don't forget my child

In the pain of losing a child, a profound fear many bereaved parents share is that their child will be forgotten. While society freely celebrates children's milestones, bereaved parents often face silence or even disdain when they remember their lost child. Yet, every child, whether they lived moments or decades,…
10 Oct 5 min

Reflections on how my life changed after the death of my child

The experience of losing a child is an unparalleled loss, frequently misconstrued by most. If you care for a grieving parent or have a connection with one, always keep in mind that even their so-called "better" days are more challenging than one could possibly grasp. Rather than offering advice, what's…
26 Aug 7 min

Reflections on the First Days and Weeks After My Child Died

Losing a child is an indescribable tragedy that inflicts profound emotional and psychological pain upon parents. In the weeks following the death of their child, parents often experience a range of intense emotions and face numerous challenges as they navigate through their grief. In this deeply moving episode, Jeanne van…
3 Jul 8 min

The benefits of journaling through your grief journey

Grief is an inescapable part of life. As human beings, we possess deep, complex, multi-faceted emotions, and it’s our responsibility to learn how we individually need to process those emotions. If you are facing a season of grief keeping a grief journal might be the answer to helping you cope…
18 May 5 min

How psychological trauma impacts the body

One of the most surprising things about emotional trauma is how hard it can hit even the most stoic and grounded people. Physical injuries can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, but they can be measured and are to be expected after something terrible and unexpected, like a car…
6 Dec 2022 8 min
All episodes