You are dealing with the awful paralysis of grief, says Mariella Frostrup. You need to learn to co-exist with it, not let it devour you
The dilemma I’m not sure my situation amounts so much to a dilemma as just fear and desperation, but here goes: my husband and soulmate of 31 years died suddenly and unexpectedly this year. We’d recently moved to France for an adventure and to spend more time together without the demands of work. Our two daughters are in the UK and their grief and mine is overwhelming.
Lockdowns and travel restrictions mean we can’t be with each other. I am very isolated in France and feel my mental health worsening. During the first few months I did call my girls, in floods of tears, but realised it wasn’t fair on them and both told me to seek counselling. There is nothing available here really and a well-known bereavement counselling service in the UK has a different support worker at the other end of the line each time I call.