What it Means to 'Change Your Relationship With Grief'

Understanding Grief / Understanding Grief : Eleanor Haley



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There are things that you get over in life. For example a cold, your first breakup, or an argument with a good friend. More often than not, these things happen, they cause temporary misery, maybe you learn from it, and then you let bygones be bygones.

Many experiences follow a similar pattern and with good reason. There are things we can and should leave in the past for the benefit of everyone, just imagine how much pain and negativity we'd all carry around if we could never forget and move on. That said, it is a mistake to think that all painful experiences can and should be gotten over. There are times when such a shift simply isn't possible - people can't always change the way they think, feel, and behave simply because they want to. 

It's common to think that, in these instances, one can go to therapy or take medication and be cured of these problems, but many people who've experienced things like serious hardship, trauma, addiction, and psychological disorder will tell you that healing isn't about putting these experiences in the past, rather it's about changing their relationship to the related thoughts, memories, behaviors, and emotions that exist in the present.

There are also times when 'getting over' something or 'forgetting' isn't even desirable, such as getting over or forgetting about a deceased loved one and their ongoing absence. Still, many people mistakenly think that grief is something that can and should end at some point. 

Those who understand grief may think this is a foolish mistake, but I would argue it's common and understandable considering how little people know about grief before experiencing it. Especially those who live in societies where people are quick to believe that grief runs a linear and finite course and, as a consequence, encourage grieving people to push forward and let the woes of the past disappear like water under the bridge.

The reality of grief is that it often stays with you until the day you, yourself, die. For those who think of grief as being all negative emotion, I can see where this may seem unmanageable, but rest assured the impact of grief changes over time.

As you change your relationship with grief - by changing how you respond to, cope with, and conceptualize grief - you will likely also find hope and healing. If you think about it, grief is one instance where there is a strong benefit to accepting its ongoing presence in your life because doing so creates more room for comfort, positive memories, and an ongoing connection with the person who died.

I understand this progression because I've experienced it, but I'm sure it can be difficult to believe if you haven't. Initially, I thought about writing a post titled something like '5 Ways Your Relationship With Grief Changes Overtime', but then I changed my mind. Grief is unique, relationships are unique and so your relationship with grief and with the person who died will evolve in a complex and nuanced way. 


How has your relationship with grief changed over time? Share in the comment below.  Don't forget to subscribe.

 

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After writing online articles for What’s Your Grief for over a decade, we finally wrote a tangible, real-life book!

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71 Comments on "What it Means to 'Change Your Relationship With Grief'"

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  1. saul  March 4, 2022 at 5:25 pm Reply

    My wife, best friend, soulmate, high school sweatheart died January 2021. All I can say life wil never be the same again and I miss her and love her more with every passing day. Yes i can now get out of bed and try to function doing normal things but many friends think that i have moved on and have recovered ready for a new life. I have stopped seeing many people because they do not understand true love and what grief is. Im 72 now and have guilt because we did not do all the things we had planned. As well Ido not enjoy my grandkids the way I used to when my wife was alive. Many people think i”m this way because I cared for my wife the last 14 years while she fought cancer on three differnt occasions. They don’t understand that when she died my heart and my right hand went with her. I have found some new friends who have lost loved ones and feel what I’m going through. Also, I’m lucky to have three friends who grew up with my wife and I, and are grieving with me. 55 years together and our love for each other grew stronger every year. Hopefully we will meet up again.

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    • Lee  March 23, 2022 at 8:53 pm Reply

      Saul, I’m deeply moved by your post. I lost my wife, my soulmate for 45 years, to lung cancer last November. She passed away in only 73 days after diagnosis. I simply can’t accept it as of today. I’m both in deep sorrow and immense anger. She is the love of my life. We used to live our lives as one, seemingly living in a world of only two of us. Now I feel I’m half dead with her permanent absence. I’m still grappling with the notion that she is gong permanently, not coming back. She’s not taking a long trip away and will come back soon. Like you, I’m feeling deeply and wildly in love with her now, more than ever before.

      Through the heart breaking grief, I found the preciousness of my life with her over the past 45 years. Her love, caring, devotion to me has taken an ever tender touch through the depths of my heart. What a bitter and sweet sensation of appreciation that I may never reach even if she were alive and we lived our lives as usual……

      Lee

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    • Lee  March 23, 2022 at 9:46 pm Reply

      Saul, I’m very much moved by your post. I lost my wife, my soulmate of 45 years, to lung cancer last November. She passed away in only 73 days after diagnosis. In her last weeks, I was struggling to grapple with the thin veil separating life and death. I just can’t accept it as of today. I’m in both deep sorrow and immense anger now.

      She is the love of my life. We used to live our lives as one, seemingly in a world of just two of us. Now she is gone, I feel I’m half dead, feeling as though I’m trying to “kill a leftover life”, quoting a famous saying about losing a life partner. As what you feel, I am feeling deeply and wildly in love with her ever more so everyday than before. I’m still struggling with the concept that she’s permanently gone. She’s not taking a trip away and will be back soon. For the first time, I begin to realize the concept of death, the “permanent absence of someone who used to be part of me.

      Through the heart breaking grief, I found the preciousness of my life with her over the past 45 years. Her love, caring, devotion to me has taken an ever tender touch through the depths of my heart. What a bitter and sweet sensation of appreciation that I may never reach even if she were alive and we lived our lives as usual……

    • Hillary  April 12, 2022 at 10:35 pm Reply

      Oh Saul – my heart hurts for you. I hope that soon you will find yourself in a place where you can enjoy your family, friends and life again while still cherishing and honoring your wife’s memory. Please take care ❤️

    • Maureen  April 25, 2022 at 11:18 am Reply

      Saul, you have described my life and my grief to a tee. I want to wish you some softer days ahead, ones where the love from your 55 years of marriage lift you up and over the pain of her death.

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  2. Natalie  March 1, 2022 at 7:33 am Reply

    After my partner died unexpectedly in an accident, there was the sobbing-shock-horror phase, of course. It overlapped a lot in the beginning with the million things I had to take care of, and with everyone’s mostly-patient sympathy/pity.

    And then there was the part where I ran out of tears every day, but I wasn’t any less sad or lost. I just couldn’t cry forever (but was pretty sure I would). It overlapped with being *incredibly angry* about everything. Burrito didn’t microwave fast enough? F that!!! Someone dared to try to find a silver lining? Oh buddy, watch OUT.

    And then came the settling. I mostly got used to him being gone forever. I went on medication to control flashbacks. I started “living” my new life while accepting that he really wasn’t coming back. And while I wish that had a happy ending, it doesn’t. I’m bitter. Resentful. I mostly stopped seeing friends (they’re just gonna die? Maybe whenever, maybe tomorrow?). I work, I eat, I sleep: I do those things required for living but that’s all there really is out there.

    I could absolutely jump up, get a new lil triumph hobby, pretend I learned something beautiful, and mimic the words I hear others say on every grief website/forum about growth. That’s what I’m “supposed to do” eventually, right? But my life isn’t better. It’s not fine that my partner died, it’s not fine that everyone is just going to die whenever and the innocent illusion that any relationships are dependable is gone. I learned too much and I can un-know it. So I’m just waiting it out, doing what I’m supposed to, paying bills. I never imagined that my purpose in life was to just pay the bills and file emails, but here we are: the final stage of grief, The Knowing. I’ve been here awhile now, and it seems like this is what I’ve been left with rather than the garden and new loves every other widow finds. This is the part where love and sacredness can no longer exist, because I know that it abruptly ends any minute. Not in the “savor your relationships while you have them” platitude sense, but in that lonely sense that all I will ever have, all I can ever rely on again, is myself.

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  3. Ronnie  May 30, 2021 at 12:43 am Reply

    Grief is Not a relationship! It is the agony we humans experience at the loss of an emotional attachment. As some posit in the shallow adage “ grief is the price we pay for love” … I always hear an unvoiced “so stop complaining you knew this was coming’ beneath this trite statement.
    Stop romanticizing a terrible unending pain & despair. Some of us find ways to pretend to go on living … some of us find a way out. But grief is not a relationship… a relationship with a person is what we lost! Forever ..

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    • Sheila Edwards  December 7, 2021 at 6:34 pm Reply

      My Dad had Dementia & died in a long term care home in 2018. My Mum died in the same long term care home in 2020. My Dad was 2 wks shy of his 97th Birthday & my Mum was 95 yrs old. Yes, they were old but, they were My Mum & Dad.
      As many of our friends often said ” They lived a good life” or ” How blessed you were to have had them with you for so long” or ” They will always be in your heart” .
      These were the same accolades I said to others over the years. It’s not until you lose one of your own that you realize these words go in one ear & out the other in the throes of grief.
      My faith in God gives me peace in knowing they are loved & cared for. No more physical or mental pain.
      My journey of grief has increased my depression & brought more procrastination in my life. I’m under my Dr’s care, so not to worry. Being in my 70’s I have many friends who have lost spouses so I’m not in this alone. What I find is that many of my friends just plug on with their volunteering & business of their lives, which I feel gives them an outlet not to wallow in their grief. For myself, I retreated, & stayed inside my home. It took me a year to process my loss. At this moment, I am feeling more like myself & getting on with my daily life as best I can. I know that there will always be a hole in my heart, but that’s ok.
      Each of us handles grief differently & one way is not better then the other. Respecting another’s grief, no matter how long they grieve is a given. There should be no judgment, only compassion & encouragement.

      Thank you for listening.
      Sheila

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  4. Zian  February 5, 2021 at 5:19 pm Reply

    My relationship with grief has not changed my life was much better before. A part of me has gone and will never come back

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  5. Joan  June 14, 2020 at 7:24 am Reply

    I lost a parent just 2 weeks ago. So far I feel like everyday is a little different, I wake up full of emotions and thoughts which I then spend the rest of that day trying to unpack…only to wake up the next day having to start all over again. I feel so exhausted all of the time, any kind physical activity leaves me feeling empty. I feel guilty after any moment of happiness or peace. I also find it hard to justify my grief…I tell myself “everyone loses a parent at some point in their lives” or “at least I haven’t lost a life partner – unlike my mother… she at least has ‘earned’ her grief” and “I’m 22, I’m an adult, this is something I was always meant to experience…my brother on the other hand is 16, he has a right be destroyed by this”. I think I need to lend myself some kindness but I’m not sure where it will come from, I am a nurturer by nature so helping those around me helps to keep me upright. I also feel a deep lack of connection with me partner since my loss. Like, he doesn’t know me anymore.

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  6. Carmen  December 16, 2019 at 5:34 am Reply

    I have a new found respect for grief. I thought I had progressed, I thought I accepted what happened until today 3 years and 4 months after my son died, that my heart is cracked right open again. It feels like day 1.

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  7. Shona  November 4, 2019 at 12:43 pm Reply

    My dad died when i was 5 this was 40 years ago. I suffer from Anxiety and Depression. I know this stems from not grieving when i was 5. I haven’t let him go and i dont know how … my stepfather died of the same thing Cancer.. but this time i was old enough to help mum and my stepfather through this, it didn’t make it any easier, i in fact thought it might have helped with my dads grief. but it didn’t. , i dont have many memories as i was so young. All i know is that in my unconscious mind im secretly grieving, i guess causing all my mental health problems. Lucky being the youngest of 6 siblings i got to hear about my dad and being a local fisheries inspector ive heard good stories lucky i live in a small town. But it doesn’t help. Does anyone out there have any advice on how to finish grieving 40 years on. Thanks Shona

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  8. Emily Jones  October 8, 2019 at 1:27 pm Reply

    I wanted to share this video because it really spoke to me.
    He talks about how he’s 50% happy and 50% sad on any given day, and he’s okay with that.
    He says that if he has to be sad and miss him every day for the rest of his life, then that’s how he’ll honor him.
    It’s one of the few things I’ve seen or read on grief that felt like someone understood.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pn3y7S5FAw

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  9. Gloria Jean  October 2, 2019 at 3:12 pm Reply

    Since I was three years old I’ve been faced with grief. At age 3, my mother drowned, my father basically abandoned us because his grief was greater, I suppose. By the time I was fourteen years old I lost all grandparents who had shared continued care for me. Then my father died. I find that—amongst all that grief—the ultimate pain was losing my mother because I also lost my father.

    {Sigh} It was the longest process because I didn’t—couldn’t—understand that I’d become stuck in a dead end of “moving on” from his passing—yes…HIS passing and not so much my mothers’s. It was a jumble.

    I’d attended a six week program where grief was an essential part of it. I was shocked and bewildered to find that a piece for me to move on was “forgiveness “. I’m now 65 years old. I eventually was able to forgive and forgiveness took many forms. Now I don’t hate my father and yet I find myself not loving him either. I’m okay with it. I’m at ease.

    I miss my mother though. The one only time I dreamt of her—she was younger than me. She is beautiful.

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    • Carm  February 23, 2020 at 1:57 pm Reply

      I’m so sorry for all of your losses. My heart broke reading about the dream you had of your Mom. It confirmed my own dream because after my Mom died, my first dream of her was young and so beautiful. My husband died 10 months later. My first dream of him was the same. He was young. So healthy. Smiling. I think that proves a little something.

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  10. Lona  April 15, 2019 at 1:08 am Reply

    My dad passed away in Aug of 2018. He was my ROCK! I took care of him throughout his battle with cancer for the past 2 years and had to make the awful decision to take him off of life support as he could not breathe on his own any longer. It was the most difficult thing I have ever had to do, and the guilt I feel as a result of having to make that decision haunts me to this day. Since he died, my grandmother of 98 years also passed away. My 2 pillars of strength that I relied on for everything are now gone. I have no one in my life that could fill their shoes and give me the validation and guidance that they both provided for me. My mom had also passed away prior to their deaths.

    In October of 2018, I was in a car accident where I was rear-ended by a tractor trailer and suffered a serious whiplash concussion. That split second incident has literally destroyed my life. As a result of the traumatic brain injury, I have now lost myself. The person I was before the accident is totally different from the person I am now. I no longer walk the same way, see the same way, feel the same way, nor am I able to socialize due to anxiety attacks and depression brought on by the accident. I have suffered tremendous “loss” in a very short period of time, and I have no idea how to move forward. Things have not been getting better no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise. I am lost, sad and lonely and it is all so painful.

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    • Tim  April 29, 2019 at 12:26 am Reply

      I am very sorry for all the losses you have had in a very short time. I share a similar story. I want to say that you are not alone. I also wanted to tell you what helped me the most in my journey of grief for the last 14 years; especially with losing my 9 year old daughter. I tried counselors, psychologists, meds, fulfillment in many things and nothing lasted / worked. One day in anguish, I turned to God for help. Over time, I read the entire bible searching for answers and I will say that Jesus has become my ROCK. I am no longer ruled by grief. My optimism for life has returned, and I have joy also. I wish I had turned to Christ first. I hope this will help you and give you hope. Blessings to you.

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  11. valerie Bloodgood  February 6, 2019 at 3:47 pm Reply

    I have read some of the comments they are very helpful. I just thought of something. When I look back I think how much I miss his smile, holding hands, going out to dinner, just spending time with him. know without him. I am grateful that I have this memories, but I still want him back, but I have family and friends I can talk to and they reinsure me that my hubby is looking down on me and smiling say good job. Today I really feel him present. I am going through a big change in my life. I believe he is telling me that aim going to be ok and I have made the right decisions. It is one day at a time

    thank you everyone

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  12. JESUSA MALDONADO  November 28, 2018 at 3:21 pm Reply

    Yes i am struggling with. A loss i feel loss at timesI feel that nobody hears me everyone just dont want too hear my grief so any how its hard long road i feel like i cant see the light

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  13. Kay C Oxford  October 31, 2018 at 2:08 pm Reply

    At first I was in shock, terrified, anxious. Friends disappeared, adding to the hurt and confusion. I felt alone, abandoned and didn’t know a roadmap through this. I tried rebuilding my life but was thick in grief fog, no clarity of thought and everything I tried was disastrous. It took much time to process my grief, but I did, through allowing myself to feel the emotions, pain and all, and not trying to cover them up or rush through this.
    I found that grief is not 100% negative, but there’s benefits to having gone through this. I began to look at life and death differently. Rather than hating my loss and grief, I began to see the benefits of having experienced this. I became more empathetic, more able to help someone else going through it (comforting with the same comfort God has comforted us), I began to appreciate each day and value life as a gift and live in the present moment. I found purpose again.
    I’ve discovered that grief isn’t for a set period of time, but is with me for life, although it evolves throughout my journey and changes form. I’m no longer afraid of it, it has become my constant companion as I’ve learned to coexist with grief.
    Little by little I’ve built a life I can live. Finding balance, interaction with others, and solitude, time with my furry family. Activities, not to crowd out the pain, but to experience life even with its changes.
    One of the benefits as I’ve had to tackle life and its decisions on my own is the confidence its built.
    I’ve given myself permission to smile and realized that it is not my grief that binds me to him, but our love, and that continues still.

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    • valerie Bloodgood  February 6, 2019 at 3:34 pm Reply

      Thank you very much, I have gone through some of what you are talking about and some I have not yet. You give me hope life does go on but it is ok to miss our loved one.

      thank you very much,

      Valerie Bloodgood

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  14. Nichole  October 1, 2018 at 10:57 pm Reply

    My fiance passed away over Memorial Day weekend in a plane crash. He was on his way home from a 3 week business trip. He was a meticulous pilot and even better airplane mechanic. It’s now beem 18 weeks and 3 days since he went down. Not knowing what happened is a struggle. It will take approximately another 12 months for the investigation to conclude. I felt as if I was doing ok the last 2 weeks. I began thinking only good thoughts and memories and being grateful for what I had with him the last 8 years. That was short lived as I have been a mess the last few days. I believe I need to give in to the grief process and make myself feel everything thoroughly rather than ignoring it as I did when my parents passed. I dont understand how I can go back and forth with emotions so radically. I miss him and our life so much. I miss my best friend. Thank you for this forum it helps knowing so many others are experiencing what I am.

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    • Kristie  April 26, 2019 at 10:04 am Reply

      Hey I just read your post sorry for the loss of your fiance I just recently lost my fiance on Valentine’s day….Its so very hard seem like people who you thought that would be there just disappeared..But I just miss my fiance he was my bestfriend he understood mr better than anyone,and I just miss talking to him about any and everything when I felt down or whatever he knew exactly what to say to make me see like its going to be ok…..but now I don’t have that so its alot to process..I can only pray that it gets better because I’m never going to forget him,but I want to be able to think of him without crying because that’s not how I want to honor is memory….

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  15. Stephanie  July 13, 2018 at 1:56 pm Reply

    It’s been 7 months since my dad passed. I cried and experienced all the stages of grief within a few months. Then the crying stopped and so did most of the pain. I felt a twinge of sadness here and there. A few days ago I got wrapped up in positive thoughts of my dad. My dad had close ties to the place he grew up, and was fiercely close to his extended family. I thought about his favorite spots, his family he left behind, and my mother. It made me cry, and I’ve been a mess for 3 straight days. It feels like my pain will never subside, like my heart was ripped out of my chest. My mentor and my biggest supporter is gone. He cannot be replaced. I’m having trouble moving on.

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  16. EILLEEN KERR  June 24, 2018 at 4:12 am Reply

    For past 2years my life has.been taken over by a tsunami of guilt, shameand grief. My emotko s are layered and complicated. My mother died age 93 after, 5 years of kidney cancdr. She had lived with me for most of last 2years. I still can.t make sense of the events leading to her final death. Our family dynamics were always negative and tbis only deepened and widened the chasms between our fsmily(Iam eldest of 5)I recognise the roots of this was sibling rivalry spurred by personal insecurities).
    Anyhow after living with her diagnosis for a couple of years my mother decided to stay with me. My siblings offered little support and visited her infrequently despite living locally. I don.t drve and lived some distance away I am divorced, lived in a large house and ran my own business (based at home). My mother always told me how she admired me for overcoming obstacles and getting my life together,) I was completely focused.
    The next years have turned into the perfect storm. Our relationship was fine at first. I took care of apointments, medication etc. I felt things were ok if not challenging. Family members visited spasmodic ally though offered no support. However it became clear that my mother was complaining gbehind my back. I couldn, t believe it. After all I had tried to do. To make matters worse my sisterOD. D twicw. She has been diagnosed BorderlinP. D. amd came to stay as well. This time became a blur of hysterical arguments.. My sister undermined me and caused so many upsets. My mother always sided with her. She was still her baby and had never lived an independent life. My aunt died and another aunt( also not independent) OD. D Also at this time business took a downturn after many successful years.
    I am ashamed to say that I suggested to my mother that she could help me out. MYy p arents had given my sister and brother a house each when younger although they had made no real effort to achieve or live independently.

    Rightly or wrongly I felt I had helped her and hoped she would understand my predicament. I was POA at her requestand was always her go to in time of need. I think I had replaced my FatherTimes were fifficult emotionally and financially and I decided to sell a nd find a home for us both. (business difficulties and she did not like living in home with business). Her solicitor discussed terms of will. She did not agree to helpng me out however it was discussed that a bridging loan may be neccessary while I sold u,p closed the business and found a new home.. Many other difficulties have occurred since then and family difficulties continued..
    To cut a long story short i managed to sell my usiness(at cut price due to fifgicult circumstances ances… bear in mind this was also my pension potand I could ill afford this) i told my mother that I had taken the bridging loan as discussed with knowledge of solicito. She nodded and said if that is what I thought it was ok.
    Things spiralled further. She would igmore when I visited… By this time she was in hosital. My sister was constantly there and began to make trouble with my daughter. Unknown to me she told all family members that I had taken her money. Desite meetings with the family solicitor she did not air her concerns. He would have cleared any of her concernes immediately This is how we left each other. I am bereft. ashamed and full of guiltI that after a. lifetime of love
    we could part like this.and fee in comlete shock. Sometimes I feel physically paralyzedI did not see the consequences of what was unfolding and so wish I could talk to her for just a minute.

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  17. Karen  June 22, 2018 at 6:01 pm Reply

    My beautiful partner died suddenly five weeks ago. My life has been a blur of tears, anxiety and hopelessness. Thankfully I have a good support network but I know what you all say about getting home and just crying and shaking. You miss their texts, the cuddles, their voice, their footsteps, their smile and walking in the front door. Everywhere you go you see everything you did together and just start crying uncontrollable. I find it hard to even go to the shops at the moment. He was only 39. I am a lot older than him and he always said he would look after me. I remember he would always want to kiss me at the traffic lights just to make me embarrassed. As you say time heals but we never forget . I am reading all your posts and I feel your pain but I do not feel alone. I am glad I found this page. We all must find happiness within us until we meet them again! Good luck!

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  18. Antonieta Castellanos  June 1, 2018 at 11:11 pm Reply

    My husband of 47 years died last October. Every morning my first thought is “another day without you”. Will I live in pain forever? Weekends are the worst part of the week. I try to keep busy; I “visit his ashes” almost everyday at church. But it still hurts too much. I miss him terribly. I want our life back, yes I know, this is impossible.

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  19. Antonieta Castellanos  June 1, 2018 at 11:11 pm Reply

    My husband of 47 years died last October. Every morning my first thought is “another day without you”. Will I live in pain forever? Weekends are the worst part of the week. I try to keep busy; I “visit his ashes” almost everyday at church. But it still hurts too much. I miss him terribly. I want our life back, yes I know, this is impossible.

  20. Karen  May 20, 2018 at 10:46 am Reply

    I lost my Husband of 32 years suddenly 10 months ago. Everyday is a challenge. The emotions sometimes come out of nowhere. Sometimes they are so intense and deep, I have a hard time even breathing.

    My Sister-in-law told me this: ” I believe, at that moment, when the emotion takes your breath away, especially out nowhere, it is my Husband thinking of me, sending me his love and strength, and telling me I can do this.

    So, now, in some sort of different way, when they come, I have a slight piece . I think “here he is again, still trying to encourage and take care of me”.

    I think for now, I would kind of miss those emotions if I suddenly stopped having them.

  21. Karen  May 20, 2018 at 10:46 am Reply

    I lost my Husband of 32 years suddenly 10 months ago. Everyday is a challenge. The emotions sometimes come out of nowhere. Sometimes they are so intense and deep, I have a hard time even breathing.

    My Sister-in-law told me this: ” I believe, at that moment, when the emotion takes your breath away, especially out nowhere, it is my Husband thinking of me, sending me his love and strength, and telling me I can do this.

    So, now, in some sort of different way, when they come, I have a slight piece . I think “here he is again, still trying to encourage and take care of me”.

    I think for now, I would kind of miss those emotions if I suddenly stopped having them.

  22. Jenny de Kock  May 9, 2018 at 4:48 am Reply

    Hello Luisa
    I lost my husband on 25th March 2018, I seem to be like you – leaving my grief cooped up at home, and when I get to the office I
    seem to live “another life”, then as soon as it hits 5 o’clock i feel “heavyness”. then when i get home i go crazy , but not everyday.This is sooooo weird, and I am soooo frightened for when the reality “hits”, and maybe i won’t be able to get up or drive to work. I HAVE to
    work , as my finances are not so wonderful. I also enjoy my work . Just writing this is showing me that I have sooo much to be thankful for., but am still on the “look-out” for the real “grief” that must surely come, or is it buried so deep ?

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  23. Jenny de Kock  May 9, 2018 at 4:48 am Reply

    Hello Luisa
    I lost my husband on 25th March 2018, I seem to be like you – leaving my grief cooped up at home, and when I get to the office I
    seem to live “another life”, then as soon as it hits 5 o’clock i feel “heavyness”. then when i get home i go crazy , but not everyday.This is sooooo weird, and I am soooo frightened for when the reality “hits”, and maybe i won’t be able to get up or drive to work. I HAVE to
    work , as my finances are not so wonderful. I also enjoy my work . Just writing this is showing me that I have sooo much to be thankful for., but am still on the “look-out” for the real “grief” that must surely come, or is it buried so deep ?

  24. Luisa  May 9, 2018 at 12:48 am Reply

    I lost my husband in a car accident 10 months ago. I almost instantly concentrated how we (our two children and I) will go on living without him leaving no space at all in thoughts like what really has happened. I thought that if the first period of time passes we would be more able to deal with the fact that he is not with us anymore… I joined a grief group, I do yoga, qi gong and I work to hard not to leave any time during the day to rest. Maybe I’m running away from the tsunami of grief because I am scared what it might happen if I let it pass through me. I am passing by the spot the accident happened at least two times daily but I cannot watch any movies with relevant scenes, I stopped listening to the news, I cannot deal with anything painful. I just don’t want to know. And I just cannot believe that I haven’t seen him for almost a year…

    1
  25. Luisa  May 9, 2018 at 12:48 am Reply

    I lost my husband in a car accident 10 months ago. I almost instantly concentrated how we (our two children and I) will go on living without him leaving no space at all in thoughts like what really has happened. I thought that if the first period of time passes we would be more able to deal with the fact that he is not with us anymore… I joined a grief group, I do yoga, qi gong and I work to hard not to leave any time during the day to rest. Maybe I’m running away from the tsunami of grief because I am scared what it might happen if I let it pass through me. I am passing by the spot the accident happened at least two times daily but I cannot watch any movies with relevant scenes, I stopped listening to the news, I cannot deal with anything painful. I just don’t want to know. And I just cannot believe that I haven’t seen him for almost a year…

  26. Dawn  May 2, 2018 at 4:48 pm Reply

    I suffered my first major loss at the end of 2013 when my (adopted) mom died. It took me a few years to get through the dark part of grief and start to see some light again. Unfortunately between August 2016 and June 2017, I lost 5 more family members. I tried to ignore this second/third/billionth wave of grief and stuffed it down. I worked as much as I could until a couple of months ago when I was forced by my health to take time off work. I feel that the last couple of months have left me in a fog again but it comes and goes. I tried to fool myself that I knew what grief was about and how to corral it when I finally realized that we are all individual in how we react to it, how long the dark parts take over life and what will help bring us out. I feel like I am starting to reach a new stage with grief for my mom and everyone else in that I realize that it’s not going anywhere, only changing. It has brought amazing things to me like patience, tolerance and I have been drawing. I won’t say that I have mastered it but I am definitely learning to ride the waves like a pro. Love to all, it’s a difficult road.

  27. Dawn  May 2, 2018 at 4:48 pm Reply

    I suffered my first major loss at the end of 2013 when my (adopted) mom died. It took me a few years to get through the dark part of grief and start to see some light again. Unfortunately between August 2016 and June 2017, I lost 5 more family members. I tried to ignore this second/third/billionth wave of grief and stuffed it down. I worked as much as I could until a couple of months ago when I was forced by my health to take time off work. I feel that the last couple of months have left me in a fog again but it comes and goes. I tried to fool myself that I knew what grief was about and how to corral it when I finally realized that we are all individual in how we react to it, how long the dark parts take over life and what will help bring us out. I feel like I am starting to reach a new stage with grief for my mom and everyone else in that I realize that it’s not going anywhere, only changing. It has brought amazing things to me like patience, tolerance and I have been drawing. I won’t say that I have mastered it but I am definitely learning to ride the waves like a pro. Love to all, it’s a difficult road.

  28. Kelly Albrant  May 2, 2018 at 1:06 pm Reply

    I lost my husband unexpectedly November 2013…. the grief described is very real. During the beginning, I had to continue on, for my son… trying to find s new normal, for both of us. I still have days where I can’t get out of bed & face the world.. but they are less.. I had a dr. Appt yesterday & describing my difficulty with sleep. I told the doc, listen, I struggle going to sleep, because I’m afraid I’ll dream. …and while the dreams can be wonderful, it’s so heartbreaking to wake up and forget for even a minute that Ken isn’t still alive…

    I guess I’d say I’m still in the purple phase… doing my best to live. Breathe.. just trying to love joyfully. Love and hugs to you all & your loss. Remember you are not alone on this path, none of us chose to be on. Try to smile, enjoy the birds singing, or plants coming up with spring. Love, Kelly

    1
  29. Kelly Albrant  May 2, 2018 at 1:06 pm Reply

    I lost my husband unexpectedly November 2013…. the grief described is very real. During the beginning, I had to continue on, for my son… trying to find s new normal, for both of us. I still have days where I can’t get out of bed & face the world.. but they are less.. I had a dr. Appt yesterday & describing my difficulty with sleep. I told the doc, listen, I struggle going to sleep, because I’m afraid I’ll dream. …and while the dreams can be wonderful, it’s so heartbreaking to wake up and forget for even a minute that Ken isn’t still alive…

    I guess I’d say I’m still in the purple phase… doing my best to live. Breathe.. just trying to love joyfully. Love and hugs to you all & your loss. Remember you are not alone on this path, none of us chose to be on. Try to smile, enjoy the birds singing, or plants coming up with spring. Love, Kelly

  30. Chris  May 2, 2018 at 8:32 am Reply

    I lost my darling boyfriend in September of 2016. I can really relate to the darkness that descends as grief makes its way through the numbness. It did change for me, and has thinned. I miss him terribly and still can resist the reality of it, but less and less. Time is a friend here.

  31. Chris  May 2, 2018 at 8:32 am Reply

    I lost my darling boyfriend in September of 2016. I can really relate to the darkness that descends as grief makes its way through the numbness. It did change for me, and has thinned. I miss him terribly and still can resist the reality of it, but less and less. Time is a friend here.

  32. JeanneS  May 2, 2018 at 7:53 am Reply

    It’s been almost 3 years since my precious daughter died from brain cancer at age 22, and just 3 months since her best friend (who was like another daughter to me) died at age 24 from heart failure 2 1/2 years after a heart transplant. At times I’m still overwrought with the most profound sadness and despair of grief over my daughter, although the worst of it no longer hits me hourly or even daily, and the more recent loss of her friend sometimes renews the freshness of it as well as being its own tragic loss. The two of them were so inseparable and bonded on such a deep level, and believing that they are together in the next world is one of the few comforts I have.

    I keep reading articles about having a continuing relationship with someone who’s died, and I still don’t understand how that works…to me, a relationship is a two-way communication and I can’t make a “connection” to the next world, nor do I think it would be healthy to try. I feel my relationship with them is on hold, so to speak, until I cross over. So for now I am still figuring out what I need to do to cope, and to possibly learn from this grief and from what these priceless lives brought into mine, and how to find meaning in any of it. I always thought my life’s work would be to pass my love and traditions and knowledge and spirit to my grandchildren, but now there will be no grandchildren. Life isn’t hopeless or pointless, but it does seem largely hollow.

    1
  33. JeanneS  May 2, 2018 at 7:53 am Reply

    It’s been almost 3 years since my precious daughter died from brain cancer at age 22, and just 3 months since her best friend (who was like another daughter to me) died at age 24 from heart failure 2 1/2 years after a heart transplant. At times I’m still overwrought with the most profound sadness and despair of grief over my daughter, although the worst of it no longer hits me hourly or even daily, and the more recent loss of her friend sometimes renews the freshness of it as well as being its own tragic loss. The two of them were so inseparable and bonded on such a deep level, and believing that they are together in the next world is one of the few comforts I have.

    I keep reading articles about having a continuing relationship with someone who’s died, and I still don’t understand how that works…to me, a relationship is a two-way communication and I can’t make a “connection” to the next world, nor do I think it would be healthy to try. I feel my relationship with them is on hold, so to speak, until I cross over. So for now I am still figuring out what I need to do to cope, and to possibly learn from this grief and from what these priceless lives brought into mine, and how to find meaning in any of it. I always thought my life’s work would be to pass my love and traditions and knowledge and spirit to my grandchildren, but now there will be no grandchildren. Life isn’t hopeless or pointless, but it does seem largely hollow.

  34. Annabella higgins  May 2, 2018 at 6:16 am Reply

    My husband passed in Aug of2017,I feel so lost in this world.sometimes I look at his picture and it doesn’t seem real.I hear stories he told or laught at things he said I muss the talk we had sitting on the swingbut I find comfort knowing he is not in pain.he was so active I would not want him back if he had to live a different way.somedaysit is good someday not so much.I thank God for the time we had together it gets easier but the memories will always be their that is good.death can’t take that away

  35. Annabella higgins  May 2, 2018 at 6:16 am Reply

    My husband passed in Aug of2017,I feel so lost in this world.sometimes I look at his picture and it doesn’t seem real.I hear stories he told or laught at things he said I muss the talk we had sitting on the swingbut I find comfort knowing he is not in pain.he was so active I would not want him back if he had to live a different way.somedaysit is good someday not so much.I thank God for the time we had together it gets easier but the memories will always be their that is good.death can’t take that away

  36. Lerato  May 2, 2018 at 6:00 am Reply

    I lost my Husband 10 months ago He fell ill suddenly after the ascetitis tapping , the first weeks I felt like dying because He promised He is not going to die anytime soon, we were supposed to be celebrating our wedding on the 18th November 2018 as we celebrated the traditional one in December 2014. it felt like my heart was ripped into pieces I could not wash myself, I was fed, bathe dressed. it hit me so hard that I could no longer drive for about 2 moths I had someone who drove form home to work. it was not easy but I realized there is life after death we must learn to dance in the storm and celebrate the moments we had with them, as those moments will live forever with me and my Husband will always want to see me happy. those grief moment do come and go but I should say i’m better then the previous months God is taking good are of me. I’m a survivor not a victim

  37. Lerato  May 2, 2018 at 6:00 am Reply

    I lost my Husband 10 months ago He fell ill suddenly after the ascetitis tapping , the first weeks I felt like dying because He promised He is not going to die anytime soon, we were supposed to be celebrating our wedding on the 18th November 2018 as we celebrated the traditional one in December 2014. it felt like my heart was ripped into pieces I could not wash myself, I was fed, bathe dressed. it hit me so hard that I could no longer drive for about 2 moths I had someone who drove form home to work. it was not easy but I realized there is life after death we must learn to dance in the storm and celebrate the moments we had with them, as those moments will live forever with me and my Husband will always want to see me happy. those grief moment do come and go but I should say i’m better then the previous months God is taking good are of me. I’m a survivor not a victim

  38. Louise  May 2, 2018 at 1:57 am Reply

    My husband died suddenly and unexpectedly while we were holidaying overseas . I remained composed until after the funeral then made my decent into intense grief in which my heart ached. At one point I thought Maybe it’s a heart attack and then remembered “I have a broken heart”. As you all know we spend more time talking to ourselves to process and reflect on our situation. Over previous years I listened to many comments regarding “a broken heart”, now I truly know what it means to have had a broken heart.
    The depths I reached were scary but I knew there was no way to avoid the grief and decided to go with it. It was the price I had to pay for having such a wonderful loving relationship. In time I could socialize and my mantra was”fake it till you make it”. This strategy worked well for me. It gave me respite from the grief and made me feel well. It was like dipping my toe into new future waters. Almost human again if only for a short space of time, yes! I can do it.
    In time I stepped in and out of grief. I poured over the past and revisited the music, movies, held photos of our lives together. All the things we enjoyed together. Somehow I was able to compartmentalise my grief by putting it aside while working then come home and continue it.
    Here I am 3 years later doing well with the support of friends and family. I had faith it would become easier and it did.

  39. Louise  May 2, 2018 at 1:57 am Reply

    My husband died suddenly and unexpectedly while we were holidaying overseas . I remained composed until after the funeral then made my decent into intense grief in which my heart ached. At one point I thought Maybe it’s a heart attack and then remembered “I have a broken heart”. As you all know we spend more time talking to ourselves to process and reflect on our situation. Over previous years I listened to many comments regarding “a broken heart”, now I truly know what it means to have had a broken heart.
    The depths I reached were scary but I knew there was no way to avoid the grief and decided to go with it. It was the price I had to pay for having such a wonderful loving relationship. In time I could socialize and my mantra was”fake it till you make it”. This strategy worked well for me. It gave me respite from the grief and made me feel well. It was like dipping my toe into new future waters. Almost human again if only for a short space of time, yes! I can do it.
    In time I stepped in and out of grief. I poured over the past and revisited the music, movies, held photos of our lives together. All the things we enjoyed together. Somehow I was able to compartmentalise my grief by putting it aside while working then come home and continue it.
    Here I am 3 years later doing well with the support of friends and family. I had faith it would become easier and it did.

  40. Debra Schrader  May 1, 2018 at 9:58 pm Reply

    I started the grief journey seven years ago when my husband of 38 years had a heart attack and died. I immediately went into denial, anger, disbelief. It was as if I no longer wanted to go on. I too, dived into the grief in a survival mode. I had to prove to myself, and my adult children, that I could manage my horrible new life. The roller coaster of emotions went on for years. The valley’s of dispair were deep, and the peaks of hope were few. But over time, the swings were less extreme. I cried many tears in private, but projected a strong front. I also mourned the loss of our future. This was huge for me, as we were looking so forward to retirement. But, I finally figured out I had to live and enjoy life for both of us. I went away for three months this winter for the first time ever. It was just ME. I had time to reflect, find my own groove, and live a new adventure. I did so much by myself, made new friends, and proved to myself that I am worthy of joy. Do I have moments of sadness and “what if’s “? I certainly do. But I gained a new found sense of peace. It is, what it is! But I feel as I have been to hell and back. And I’m pretty proud of myself. I am surviving my way!

  41. Debra Schrader  May 1, 2018 at 9:58 pm Reply

    I started the grief journey seven years ago when my husband of 38 years had a heart attack and died. I immediately went into denial, anger, disbelief. It was as if I no longer wanted to go on. I too, dived into the grief in a survival mode. I had to prove to myself, and my adult children, that I could manage my horrible new life. The roller coaster of emotions went on for years. The valley’s of dispair were deep, and the peaks of hope were few. But over time, the swings were less extreme. I cried many tears in private, but projected a strong front. I also mourned the loss of our future. This was huge for me, as we were looking so forward to retirement. But, I finally figured out I had to live and enjoy life for both of us. I went away for three months this winter for the first time ever. It was just ME. I had time to reflect, find my own groove, and live a new adventure. I did so much by myself, made new friends, and proved to myself that I am worthy of joy. Do I have moments of sadness and “what if’s “? I certainly do. But I gained a new found sense of peace. It is, what it is! But I feel as I have been to hell and back. And I’m pretty proud of myself. I am surviving my way!

  42. Elizabeth Noble  May 1, 2018 at 9:54 pm Reply

    Thank you for this article.
    My 27 year old son was killed in a deliberately lit fire nearly 4 years ago. Initially all I wanted was to be dead, and I felt as if I was experiencing life through a perspex window.
    I no longer feel like that, but I know that I will always grieve and miss my boy and what he could and should be experiencing in this world.
    Your article has reinforced my feeling that I will and should always be ‘allowed’ to grieve my boy, whilst also continuing to live a life that would make him proud.
    I recently came across a few lines in a novel that I was reading, “grief is unending, but not life ending”, very appropriate I think.
    I would also like to add that reading the articles in WYG has made such a positive difference to the way that I have coped and faced up to grief. Thank you!

  43. Elizabeth Noble  May 1, 2018 at 9:54 pm Reply

    Thank you for this article.
    My 27 year old son was killed in a deliberately lit fire nearly 4 years ago. Initially all I wanted was to be dead, and I felt as if I was experiencing life through a perspex window.
    I no longer feel like that, but I know that I will always grieve and miss my boy and what he could and should be experiencing in this world.
    Your article has reinforced my feeling that I will and should always be ‘allowed’ to grieve my boy, whilst also continuing to live a life that would make him proud.
    I recently came across a few lines in a novel that I was reading, “grief is unending, but not life ending”, very appropriate I think.
    I would also like to add that reading the articles in WYG has made such a positive difference to the way that I have coped and faced up to grief. Thank you!

  44. Wendy Peterson  May 1, 2018 at 9:37 pm Reply

    My husband passed unexpectedly and fairly suddenly on March 15. I am still in the mire. I had s couple pretty decent weeks, but the grief has hit me hard again, almost back to square one.
    I’m trying to trust this article, the comments above, and trusted friends who assure me grief becomes manageable.

  45. Wendy Peterson  May 1, 2018 at 9:37 pm Reply

    My husband passed unexpectedly and fairly suddenly on March 15. I am still in the mire. I had s couple pretty decent weeks, but the grief has hit me hard again, almost back to square one.
    I’m trying to trust this article, the comments above, and trusted friends who assure me grief becomes manageable.

  46. Kirsty  May 1, 2018 at 9:16 pm Reply

    I think for me, grief began in the loss of my dad mentally (he experienced a deep depression with his illness and also with some difficulties with relationships in his life). I felt myself ‘losing him’ more than a year before he actually died. I could lie awake at night and say ‘his is still breathing it is ok’. Then he did get very ill and he died at the end of January. Shock, the pain, like someone was sawing me in half. I will often say ‘I miss you like air’. That is not quite right. But he was my rock, my dependable person the one I could trust. He is now in a place of peace. My briefish journey with grief has indeed been a crazy amusement ride so far. The shock, the all body hammering and then this strange spiritual connection. A sense that my relationship with my dad has indeed changed. He is less physically present (naturally) but I can feel him and he still finds a way to make himself heard. People told me that this would happen – and naturally I did not believe him. But it’s like – in time things shift whether we are on board and will them to or not. So he is gone (not of my choosing) but if I have the courage to stay just a tiny smidgeon open (in between lying on the floor in paralysed pain and the agony of acute grief) I make space for a new way of being with him. I can feel him – deep within. He will still guide me if I am open and trust that a new relationship is possible. I am still aching and very much living -one day at a time – one moment at a time. But I think maybe a tiny tiny little ray of light might be making a home in my soul. There just may be a way to breathe a new air….

  47. Kirsty  May 1, 2018 at 9:16 pm Reply

    I think for me, grief began in the loss of my dad mentally (he experienced a deep depression with his illness and also with some difficulties with relationships in his life). I felt myself ‘losing him’ more than a year before he actually died. I could lie awake at night and say ‘his is still breathing it is ok’. Then he did get very ill and he died at the end of January. Shock, the pain, like someone was sawing me in half. I will often say ‘I miss you like air’. That is not quite right. But he was my rock, my dependable person the one I could trust. He is now in a place of peace. My briefish journey with grief has indeed been a crazy amusement ride so far. The shock, the all body hammering and then this strange spiritual connection. A sense that my relationship with my dad has indeed changed. He is less physically present (naturally) but I can feel him and he still finds a way to make himself heard. People told me that this would happen – and naturally I did not believe him. But it’s like – in time things shift whether we are on board and will them to or not. So he is gone (not of my choosing) but if I have the courage to stay just a tiny smidgeon open (in between lying on the floor in paralysed pain and the agony of acute grief) I make space for a new way of being with him. I can feel him – deep within. He will still guide me if I am open and trust that a new relationship is possible. I am still aching and very much living -one day at a time – one moment at a time. But I think maybe a tiny tiny little ray of light might be making a home in my soul. There just may be a way to breathe a new air….

  48. Leigh Gage  May 1, 2018 at 8:42 pm Reply

    It’s been 15 months since my daughter took her life (I believe she was seriously suicidal due to medications and then alcohol with the medications. I found great comfort seeing a medium and intuitive counselor. It’s been hard since I stopped seeing them yet I can tell the constant sad feeling has gotten better and I can now think of her without that horrible feeling. I’m trying to be a better person so she’ll be proud of me. I know she doesn’t want me to be depressed. She is very much part of my life and will be until I die.

  49. Leigh Gage  May 1, 2018 at 8:42 pm Reply

    It’s been 15 months since my daughter took her life (I believe she was seriously suicidal due to medications and then alcohol with the medications. I found great comfort seeing a medium and intuitive counselor. It’s been hard since I stopped seeing them yet I can tell the constant sad feeling has gotten better and I can now think of her without that horrible feeling. I’m trying to be a better person so she’ll be proud of me. I know she doesn’t want me to be depressed. She is very much part of my life and will be until I die.

  50. Addie  May 1, 2018 at 8:06 pm Reply

    It’s only been six months since my grief began, but it’s already evolved so much. In the beginning I used anything and everything a distraction without even realizing it. I knew about the death, but didn’t think about in too much depth.

    Almost a day to the month after it hit me what had happened and I began to experience intense grief. This went on for about three months after that where I would go to bed each night and pretty much cry myself to sleep. The. About two months ago it got better. I still have those moments but they come more in waves now. I like to call them “grief moments” when they come on extremely strong and at random times. I’m a junior in high school and during my chem class one day, we were watching some movie and I was having a bad day and something in that movie set me off, so I just cried silently in the dark.

    I’ve begun to look at grief as a somewhat positive thing. My life has changed so much for the better since my mother’s death, though I would obviously rather have my mom. Grief is just something I feel everyday and changing my perspective on it has helped me immensely.

    I hope that my grief continues to have ups and downs because I’ve realized that grief is one of the only ways I’ll grow and the only way that my loved one can stay alive in me.

  51. Addie  May 1, 2018 at 8:06 pm Reply

    It’s only been six months since my grief began, but it’s already evolved so much. In the beginning I used anything and everything a distraction without even realizing it. I knew about the death, but didn’t think about in too much depth.

    Almost a day to the month after it hit me what had happened and I began to experience intense grief. This went on for about three months after that where I would go to bed each night and pretty much cry myself to sleep. The. About two months ago it got better. I still have those moments but they come more in waves now. I like to call them “grief moments” when they come on extremely strong and at random times. I’m a junior in high school and during my chem class one day, we were watching some movie and I was having a bad day and something in that movie set me off, so I just cried silently in the dark.

    I’ve begun to look at grief as a somewhat positive thing. My life has changed so much for the better since my mother’s death, though I would obviously rather have my mom. Grief is just something I feel everyday and changing my perspective on it has helped me immensely.

    I hope that my grief continues to have ups and downs because I’ve realized that grief is one of the only ways I’ll grow and the only way that my loved one can stay alive in me.

  52. Elizabeth Hilliard  May 1, 2018 at 7:50 pm Reply

    Oh Tina, I’m so sorry. Yup, you’re in the worst of it. I remember it well – literally curled up on the kitchen floor crying so much I thought I’d run dry. A year and a half later after the loss of my husband, that pain has softened. It comes back to visit in waves, but the waves are less frequent now. Sending you much love and support. You’ve found a great resource in “What’s Your Grief.”

  53. Elizabeth Hilliard  May 1, 2018 at 7:50 pm Reply

    Oh Tina, I’m so sorry. Yup, you’re in the worst of it. I remember it well – literally curled up on the kitchen floor crying so much I thought I’d run dry. A year and a half later after the loss of my husband, that pain has softened. It comes back to visit in waves, but the waves are less frequent now. Sending you much love and support. You’ve found a great resource in “What’s Your Grief.”

  54. Susan  May 1, 2018 at 6:33 pm Reply

    I have always found comfort in the fact that even though a loved one dies, the memories remain alive.

  55. Susan  May 1, 2018 at 6:33 pm Reply

    I have always found comfort in the fact that even though a loved one dies, the memories remain alive.

  56. Tina Derke  May 1, 2018 at 6:24 pm Reply

    I just lost my husband on 4/3/18. My grief is raw and painful, fearful and grim. I wonder how much a person can cry. In between, wonderful friends and family come to my rescue and I find a reprieve from the pain. But when I wake up in the morning, I am brought to the realization that it is not a dream. My husband is gone and my life is in a puddle on the floor. I miss him so much I can’t breathe. This is the most awful experience ever!

  57. Tina Derke  May 1, 2018 at 6:24 pm Reply

    I just lost my husband on 4/3/18. My grief is raw and painful, fearful and grim. I wonder how much a person can cry. In between, wonderful friends and family come to my rescue and I find a reprieve from the pain. But when I wake up in the morning, I am brought to the realization that it is not a dream. My husband is gone and my life is in a puddle on the floor. I miss him so much I can’t breathe. This is the most awful experience ever!

  58. Anna  May 1, 2018 at 6:01 pm Reply

    In the 4 years since my husband died, I learned that L8ve transforms everything it touches…including grief. Like you, I struggled big time with the ripped apart at the heart….but death actually completed pur marriage. The finishing of the masterpiece we had created. The martiage is complete. Love never is…it is active forever…and our live transformed the grief into this new relationship that is part of me…part of our family…but more in a stewardship role than a wife …carrying out care and going forward of family, traditions, values, dreams, assets. Still very much living and lived but definitely not the same as married. Grief is no linger a scary storm at all …mire like a beautiful part that we can be peaceful and proud and even happy within. Things make more sense, questions have found answers, new ways of dealing with each other have emerged. Grief no longer defines us.

  59. Anna  May 1, 2018 at 6:01 pm Reply

    In the 4 years since my husband died, I learned that L8ve transforms everything it touches…including grief. Like you, I struggled big time with the ripped apart at the heart….but death actually completed pur marriage. The finishing of the masterpiece we had created. The martiage is complete. Love never is…it is active forever…and our live transformed the grief into this new relationship that is part of me…part of our family…but more in a stewardship role than a wife …carrying out care and going forward of family, traditions, values, dreams, assets. Still very much living and lived but definitely not the same as married. Grief is no linger a scary storm at all …mire like a beautiful part that we can be peaceful and proud and even happy within. Things make more sense, questions have found answers, new ways of dealing with each other have emerged. Grief no longer defines us.

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