Ask the Doc: 'I recently lost my wife and I'm really struggling - how do I cope with grief?'
Dr Laura Ryan, who is NHS 24’s medical director and has 20 years' experience as a doctor, answers readers’ questions in our column.
Q. I recently lost my wife and I’m really struggling to cope with my emotions. What should I do?
A. The death of someone close is a major event in anybody’s life and there are no quick ways of adjusting. As well as the practical issues, the death of someone close brings a whole range of feelings and emotions. As each person’s grief is different, different things will work for different people, but here are some general tips to help you to cope:
- Take your time. You may have a variety of emotions running through your head, sadness, anger, guilt or even relief. All are normal and help you to come to terms with what has happened.
- Do it your way. There’s no right way to grieve, do what feels right to you.
- Take care of yourself. Try to eat well and avoid alcohol.
- Find someone you trust to talk to. For example, a friend, your doctor, or a religious leader.
If you feel like you need some additional support after the death of a loved one, you can also contact Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland.
NHS inform has information on how to cope with bereavement. Search ‘bereavement.’
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Q. Why do I have a sore throat?
A. The cause isn’t always obvious.
A sore throat is often a symptom of colds or flu. Other causes include: laryngitis, tonsillitis, strep throat or glandular fever. It may also be caused by irritation, such as smoke, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (where acid leaks up from the stomach) and allergies.
Less often, a sore throat can be a sign of: quinsy or epiglottitis (an inflammation of the flap of tissue at the back of the throat) – the pain may be severe and you may have difficulty breathing and difficulty swallowing. These conditions are more serious and should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.
