Sharing our grief can help us cope.

Byline: Elaine C. Smith 

THANKS to everyone who has come up to me in shops or restaurants to thank me for writing about my grief last week.

I was a bit concerned when a woman walked up to me and said: "You made me cry on Sunday morning." And I looked at her blankly, wondering what I had done.

She added: "I lost my mum a few months ago and you described what I'm feeling so accurately I ended up in tears."

I was in two minds whether to write about my mother's death because I don't want to be self-indulgent as that very often cheapens what people are going through.

We don't deal with death very well in our culture. It's something to sweep under the carpet so when it happens our shock is even more profound.

We feel lost, confused and alone. But we know nothing will take the pain away except living through it.

The fact others have trodden the path before is sometimes the only thing that keeps us going. So, if I helped in any way then I am glad.

LETTERS: PAGE 32