'You'll Get Over It'

Virginia Ironside lives in London W12. As well as being a journalist she has also written several novels and children's books, including Made for Each Other. She has been a problem page editor - at Woman and the Sunday Mirror - for many years and also has a regular column in the Independent.

• Shock and the physical effects; the rituals of bereavement; fear; powerlessness and guilt; rage; misery...; ...and other responses; wills and things; they don't know what they say; who am I now?; the spiritual side; is there a pay-off?; final thoughts.