Bereavement due to traumatic death
Religion and spirituality
In the UK spirituality used to be associated exclusively with religion, but during the 1950’s the concept of spirituality broadened to include the individual quest to understand the meaning of life. Today, some people describe themselves as religious, others as spiritual, some as both, while others have always argued that religion and spiritual events are “social illusions”. Some people acknowledge that religious or spiritual beliefs help or comfort those in distress but resist the explanations given by priests, spiritualists or mediums.
Although most people in the UK are do not regularly attend religious services bereavement often prompts people to seek comfort and explanation through going to church, talking to a minister or reading the bible. Rosemary said that after her son died she used religion as “a crutch” for a bit, even though she had lost her interest in religion many years earlier. She said that the local priest helped her enormously.
Soon after her son died in the London bombing in 2005 Rosemary went to see her local vicar. He...
Soon after her son died in the London bombing in 2005 Rosemary went to see her local vicar. He...
When Patsys son died she turned to God for help, and prayer became her companion.
When Patsys son died she turned to God for help, and prayer became her companion.
Before his brother was shot, Ian thought that faith protected his family, but his faith in God...
Before his brother was shot, Ian thought that faith protected his family, but his faith in God...
Angela's strong faith in God helped her to put life and death into perspective. Her belief that...

Angela's strong faith in God helped her to put life and death into perspective. Her belief that...
So how has all this had an impact on your life this year?
When Peter heard about his sons death he went to church. He carried a bible in his van and read...
When Peter heard about his sons death he went to church. He carried a bible in his van and read...
Carole found comfort from attending church services. She also saw a spiritualist.

Carole found comfort from attending church services. She also saw a spiritualist.
Dean has found comfort in a Spiritualist Church whilst retaining his Hindu beliefs. Through...
Dean has found comfort in a Spiritualist Church whilst retaining his Hindu beliefs. Through...
Martin was desperate for help after his wife's death, but he was cynical about prayer, seeing it...

Martin was desperate for help after his wife's death, but he was cynical about prayer, seeing it...
Cynthia has no religious beliefs herself but recognises that other people may get comfort from...
Cynthia has no religious beliefs herself but recognises that other people may get comfort from...
Some of those who said that they didn't believe in established religion said that they believed in a spiritual realm. A few people had experienced events that they couldn't explain and they decided that these events were signs from the person who had died. For example, Elizabeth had a terrible pain in her head at the exact time that her daughter died in a car crash. Elizabeth’s husband suggested that the pain was Elizabeth’s daughter returning to her. Sometimes people consulted mediums to try to make contact with those who had died, or to understand these experiences. Linda said that her belief in karma and in “previous lives” had helped her survive the terrible time when her son was murdered.
Linda found help through Brahma Kumaris and through meditation. She believes that her son has ...

Linda found help through Brahma Kumaris and through meditation. She believes that her son has ...
When Adams brother died his belief in the spirit world helped him to cope with his grief. He...
When Adams brother died his belief in the spirit world helped him to cope with his grief. He...
William believes that consciousness is independent of physical existence, and that it continues...

William believes that consciousness is independent of physical existence, and that it continues...
It’s a possibility, but certainly that, pardon me, in other dimensions beyond our understanding what tends to be referred to as the transcendent realm, that’s where the consciousness of our loved ones go. And in the Christian religion of course what the scientist refers to as the Transcendent realm, is called Heaven. In the Christian religion, what is referred to as consciousness by the scientists is referred to as the Holy Spirit. So, rather than me buying into to you know, the nonsense of Mr. Dawkins and his atheism or theism, I’ll buy into the notion of consciousness and a transcendent realm and if someone else wants to describe it as Heaven and the work of the holy spirit and so on, so be it.
After her mother died Michelle found great comfort through seeing a medium, who contacted her...
After her mother died Michelle found great comfort through seeing a medium, who contacted her...
After Nicholas died Josefine had experiences that convinced her that there is life after death....
After Nicholas died Josefine had experiences that convinced her that there is life after death....
Had you been, do you have an analyst you see regularly anyway?
Yes.
This wasn’t a particular appointment?
No. And I went to see a medium it was just some months actually, it was in the, when was it, it was in September of 2001 so Nicholas had been killed in June and my mother was ill and she actually died a week after I saw this Medium. The Medium was amazing, I couldn’t make quite sense of it then but it’s, it’s amazing. I suppose I at that time, it was true I was surrounded by death and that’s what she said, I mean I don’t want to go into that, any of that. I have seen her many times since then say once a year maybe I’ve been seeing her, and it helped me to understand these experiences and just find they’re normal, these experiences I was having and…
What happens when you see a Medium what’s, what’s the aim?
I suppose the aim is to understand better this mystery. And Nicholas is, he talks to her.
Bereavement through two traumatic deaths affected Lisa very badly. Her mental health improved...
Bereavement through two traumatic deaths affected Lisa very badly. Her mental health improved...
Last reviewed October 2015.