Adjusting to life after losing a partner means you can feel lonely, sad, despairing, empty, angry and/or guilty. It is also possible to feel like the person who has died is actually present with you. Some people say that they can smell or hear their partner, following their death.

How long do people live after losing a spouse?

The evidence right now indicates that the loss of a spouse often results in the death of the surviving male spouse within six to 18 months, said Gerald A. Larue, adjunct professor of gerontology at the University of Southern California and a specialist in the social and psychological aspects of death and dying.