Shannon

Shannon's dad and gran died within seven weeks of each other. Two years on, Shannon was having a tough time and was recommended to contact Cruse Scotland for support.

Shannon said: "At first, I was nervous to contact Cruse Scotland, but it was easy to access. I am nervous to speak to new people, but I was able to email for information. 

"I received an email and phone call regarding sessions quickly. All the staff I spoke to were amazing, so friendly and welcoming. 

"I felt so at ease every session; even just walking into the Cruse Scotland building, I felt comfortable.

"After starting Cruse Scotland, it helped me in so many different ways. I was able to start getting my life back. I never realised how much I had really gone through until I had started talking about it. 

"Something I had never done before was talk about my feelings or how much I struggled, but I now find it easier to talk to family and not keep everything pushed away, and I will forever be grateful to Cruse Scotland for allowing me to be myself again."

Mental Health struggles

Shannon's grief made it impossible for her to leave the house, as she had a bad time with depression and anxiety.

She said: "After my dad had passed, I was physically numb. I was still processing his passing. Having to go through it all over again just seven weeks later with my gran was like a dream; two years on, I still couldn’t believe they were gone. 

"Within those two years, the grief had made it impossible for me to leave the house. I was going through a really bad time with depression and anxiety due to my gran passing so quickly and unexpectedly. 

"I was also having really bad episodes of health anxiety, which was causing heart palpitations. There was so much anger and sadness; it was all so much and was taking over my life."

Counselling

Counselling from Cruse Scotland has helped Shannon see that there is no proper way to grieve and that everyone grieves in their own way and at various times.

Shannon added: "For me, I was still processing two years on. I am now able to talk about memories without wanting to cry all the time. Of course, I still get emotional, but for me, I found it easier to express my emotions after talking to the counsellor. 

"Everyone grieves in different ways at various times. Some people will go through it straight away after the loss; for me, it was two years after I had only just processed it all. 

"It will just hit you out of nowhere. One day everything is good; the next day it's completely different. But never let anyone tell you to get over it, or that you should be over it by now. 

"It’s always going to be there, but in time it gets easier to get through. Talking is good; don’t push it all to the side. It will make it worse in the future. All your feelings anger, sadness, guilt it is all normal. I wish I had known this." 

Shannon would recommend Cruse Scotland's Counselling service to others.

She said: "Everyone I was in contact with during my time with Cruse Scotland, even after finishing my sessions, was amazing. 

"They helped me in ways they will never understand, and I will always be grateful for that. Everyone does an amazing job saving people’s lives without even realising. So, if you are thinking about contacting Cruse Scotland, do it; they are the best."