Why do I become disturbed when a celebrity dies?

People become disturbed when they have felt close to someone who is a celebrity and they die. There are a number for a number of reasons. First, sometimes people spend more time with a celebrity in social media, on film or television or in listening to their music than they do with their real life friends. Second, there is often a close identification with the person. Third, that the person has a particular reference to a particular time in someone’s life, for example, a time when someone was most vulnerable they played music at that time by the person who has recently died or they saw the celebrity and felt comfort. Fourthly, any death of someone where there is some association, reminds us of other losses, i.e. of someone else who has died or other losses in living, for example, in being rejected by a close friend.

The important thing is to acknowledge the loss. Find ways of expressing it through social media or in personal writing or in listening to music or in re-watching film or television episodes. Talk to other people you are close to you. Grief is a normal part of life and comes from a breaking of relationships. Most people will heal and help is always available.