Esther’s Story
A conversation about grief and building hope.
Esther began being supported by SeeSaw Grief Support in 2023. Her dad died suddenly when she was 14 in 2022.
How has SeeSaw Grief Support helped you?
I was able to deepen the dynamics and relationship with my family as this really changed when my dad died. I was able to have mature conversations about grief and gain better insight.
What have you learnt about grief?
There’s a social norm that you’re sad after the death of someone and then it slowly gets better and you get happier and happier, but I’ve found that grief always stays the same in your life, you just grow who you are as a person around that grief.
Speaking to people that knew my dad in a different way than I did, learning things about him and continuing to ask questions about him, has ensured I can continue a relationship with him.
“we could all use SeeSaw’s advice, not just me”
How have things changed for you with SeeSaw’s support?
One major shift that happened with SeeSaw was my transition from unhealthy coping mechanisms to healthy coping mechanisms. I would say that has been one of the biggest changes. I now write a diary and it is my favourite part of the day. I actually enjoy reflecting on my emotions.
“I don’t even think I knew how to grieve…it was really nice to have some outside advice, to be able to trust someone and to be able to speak about how I was truly feeling.”
What advice would you give to a newly bereaved young person?
It does get better, it does. It’s hard to see at the beginning but trust me it does. I never thought it would, and honestly SeeSaw has helped me continuously throughout these sessions, showing me there is hope and there is a way to continue your relationship with that person who’s died. This has been the most impactful thing. Weirdly, my relationship feels stronger than ever and I can understand him so much more deeply now.
Grief is a very subjective experience. It’s not like you slowly get better through time, it’s up and down and you have to face everything as it comes.
Find out who you are, stay in touch with your emotions, find out what you enjoy, and you will get through it.
What is your hope for the future?
My hope for the future is to take after my dad and become a lawyer in Germany and raise a big family there.
