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I've never felt lonely or sad or unwanted but that was until my best friend was killed by the bomb at the ariana grande concert. I was there and was taken to hospital straight away. Today I heard that they were dead. I feel alone. I keep thinking it should of been me. I miss them so much and i dont know how to cope.
Hi there,
I'm so sorry to hear you've lost your best friend. It sounds like you've been through a very scary experience. When we lose someone we care about so suddenly and so tragically, it's very shocking and hard to deal with. And it's normal for you to have lots of different feelings. Sometimes people feel guilty about being alive when someone else has died. But what has happened is not your fault. If you're struggling to deal with worrying thoughts and feelings or want to talk about anything, you can always talk to our counsellors confidentially.
We all deal with grief and loss in different ways but it's important to remember you're not alone. And there are lots of ways to get support. You could speak about how you're feeling to family, a friend, an adult you trust or Childline. It's okay to ask for as much support as you need.
When a loved one dies, it can be very hard to come to terms with it. We have some information about things you can try to help you cope. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to feel a certain way. It may take time for your feelings to settle. It can be hard to cope but over time you might find that different things can help you in little ways. One idea might be to think about or write down some of the happy times you and your friend had together. You may like to collect special memories such as photos or gifts in a box or safe place so you'll always be reminded of her. You might want to do this straight away, or you might want to wait a while. The most important thing is finding what feels right for you.
You could take a look at organisations like Grief Encounter and Hope Again who have helpful advice for young people. You may also want to ask a parent or carer to contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 for information on how they can support you and what other help is available.
Childline is always here for you too. You can talk to our counsellors whenever you need to either online or on the phone.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
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