Advertisement

'My saddest moment as a mother': Tina Turner shared a devastating photo of herself scattering her son's ashes

Singer Tina Turner shared her “saddest moment as a mother” with her Twitter followers on Friday morning.

Alongside a photo of herself on a boat, dropping a rose into the water, she wrote that she said her final goodbye to her son, Craig Raymond Turner, when she scattered his ashes. “He was fifty-nine when he died so tragically, but he will always be my baby,” the singer added.

Her son died by suicide in early July, People reports.

Fans expressed their sympathy in the comments, and some even shared that they’ve been through similar experiences:

Turner clearly waited a few days after the memorial to share the photo, but the fact that she did it at all is significant. Sharing thoughts and feelings in the wake of the loss of a loved one often helps give people a sense of comfort, licensed clinical psychologist John Mayer, PhD, author of Family Fit: Find Your Balance in Life, tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

Many outsiders who have been through a similar experience can also find some level of comfort in hearing about someone else’s loss of a child, Mayer says. “You then realize that what you are feeling and thinking is not unusual,” he explains. “It helps make you freer to accept your thoughts and feelings, because many of them can make you feel guilty.”

Unfortunately, these stories can also be triggering to people who have lost a child. “Hearing about this celebrity experience can be very, very painful for many,” Mayer says.

The loss of a child is devastating, but Mayer recommends seeking out the comfort and support of loved ones in the aftermath and help from mental health professional if you feel you need it. But opening up about the experience and talking about it when you feel ready is crucial. “Don’t hold your grieving in,” he says.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.