💚 Happy World Mental Health Day: What Grief Taught Me About Healing 💚
- Ada Nwadigo
- Oct 10
- 2 min read
Last year, I experienced one of the most profound losses of my life - I lost my father.
Nothing truly prepares you for the silence that follows loss. The world keeps moving, but for a while, it feels like time stands still. Grief changes you — not in a way that you can always explain, but in quiet, deeply personal ways that shift how you see life, love, and even yourself.
In those early months, I learned the importance of taking time off to heal. Not just a few days away from work, but real time time to breathe, to rest, and to feel. So often, we rush through pain, convincing ourselves that productivity equals strength. But grief doesn’t work on a schedule, and neither does healing.
Taking time to heal is not weakness. It’s one of the bravest acts of self-compassion you can offer yourself. It’s choosing to honour your emotions instead of burying them. It’s giving yourself permission to pause, to reflect, and to slowly rebuild.
Through that process, I learned that grief never fully goes away it softens. It becomes something you carry differently. Some days, it’s heavy; other days, it gently reminds you of the love that once filled your world.
Today, on World Mental Health Day, I want to remind anyone walking through grief that you are not alone. Healing is not about forgetting, but about finding peace in remembering. Take things one day at a time, and know that it’s okay to seek help.
If you or someone you know is struggling with grief or mental health, here are some resources that can help:
💬 Samaritans (UK) – 116 123 (free, 24/7 helpline)
💚 Cruse Bereavement Support – 0808 808 1677 | cruse.org.uk
🌿 Mind – mind.org.uk for mental health advice and support
🕊 GriefChat – free online chat service with trained bereavement counsellors (griefchat.co.uk)
Healing isn’t linear and that’s okay. Be gentle with yourself, always. 💚
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