Struggling to cope

Q I lost my grandad last year and my last words to him were in anger. We had a silly fight, but I never imagined I’d never see him again. Now I am wracked with guilt and there’s nothing I can do about it. Elisa, York A When someone close to us dies, it’s one of the most difficult things we ever have to deal with and it can be particularly tough when the relationship had gone wrong at the time of their death.

Feeling that you can’t now put things right with your grandad must be so hard.

Grieving for someone is a natural process and we move through different stages as we start to come to terms with what has happened.

It might help to write a letter to your grandad, even though he is no longer here, to explain how you feel.

You may also benefit from finding a counsellor who specialises in supporting people who are grieving.

Speak to your GP or contact Cruse Bereavement Care, a specialist charity that provides a free helpline (0808 808 1677) and can help you move forward in your grieving process.