Things to try and do

However, being alone all of the time cuts you off from any support that people might be able to offer you, and this can increase feelings of sadness and loneliness.

You may feel hurt or angered by the response of those around you who may say insensitive things or avoid you. Family conflict is not uncommon during a time when everyone’s emotions are high.

Whilst withdrawing from people temporarily is very normal during grief, be wary of isolating yourself completely or reactively breaking off relationships with people who have been important to you until now.

Give yourself the best chance of good sleep

People frequently report changes to their sleeping habits after a bereavement, either sleeping a lot more or a lot less. While this might be a complex issue to resolve completely, some quick tips to improve your sleep include:

• avoiding screens, which use LED lights, right before bed

• keeping your bedroom cool

• avoid drinking alcohol; this may help you fall asleep but the quality of sleep you get will be poorer

• avoid drinking caffeine later in the day; some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others, but definitely avoid caffeine in the evenings where possible.

Prescription medication to help you sleep can be a relief for some people who are struggling in the short-term with insomnia. However, they can leave some people feeling more groggy in the day and there is a risk of a rebound effect after stopping the medication as it is not a long-term fix. Discuss with your GP what is best for you.

Using relaxation exercises, such as meditation or relaxed breathing, especially in the evenings, can also help to calm your body and mind. You can use the links below to find out more about these techniques.

Take what is helpful to you from this and try not to have unrealistic expectations of yourself; these are skills that take practice and, if they are new to you, you are unlikely to master them straight away whilst under stress!

www.headspace.com or www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/ tips-and-support/mindfulness

Eating

You may have noticed a decrease in your appetite since your bereavement, or an increased desire to eat for comfort. It may be difficult to adjust the way meals have happened if you were not the primary cook or if eating by yourself is a new thing.

When it comes to eating to maintain wellness as best as possible, the main thing is to try and eat regularly and keep your body nourished.

Emotional, physical and mental tasks will all become much harder if your body is deprived of nutrients and fuel. If this means grazing on things rather than preparing set meals, that may be a good short-term solution.

If people are offering to drop off pre-prepared meals for you or organise home deliveries of food, this may be helpful to accept. You may want to ask one person you communicate well with to coordinate this for you on your behalf. There are apps such as www.mealtrain.com that can help with this.

Exercise

Regular exercise, even if it is just a short walk, on a regular basis can help to maintain mental wellbeing, as well as our physical health.

Do what has helped you in the past and suits your current lifestyle though. If you have never done yoga before, now is unlikely to be the time that you will master it; try new things if the opportunity is there and you like the sound of it but try to have realistic expectations and not put too much pressure on yourself.