Rio's PhD research explores the impact and psychological harms of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentencing on both prisoners and their family members.

Introduction

Grief doesn't know the concept of time and is a weird process. Some days, you act like it doesn't exist, and then there are days where you feel everything, like a tonne of bricks lying over your chest. Losing a loved one is an experience for which nothing in life truly prepares you and is sadly a reality that eventually touches everyone. The most difficult truth about grief is that it never truly disappears. Whether triggered by a special milestone, birthday, anniversary, or a song that evokes memories, something will always remind you of them and intensify feelings of grief. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows that grief is not a linear process, and there can be many different stages. For me, it has been an emotional rollercoaster characterised by its unpredictability; however, it is becoming easier to navigate with time and self-care. In this chapter, I will share some of my personal experiences and discuss what I have found helpful for coping with bereavement. I will begin by recounting key moments from my life journey and then delve into how I have managed the complexities of grief while pursuing a PhD. This chapter touches on some very sensitive topics and experiences.

From GCSE failure to PhD pursuit

If someone had told me 20 years ago that I would end up attending university and doing a PhD, I would have laughed in their face and thought they were off their head.