r/GriefSupport Oct 16 '20

Grief Support Wiki

165 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I've noticed an uptick in people asking for resources on grieving and supporting others through grief. As posts here do not always get a ton of feedback (a given, as we are a community in mourning) I want to give a gentle nudge toward our wiki.

We've compiled articles, videos, support groups, phone numbers and books on all kinds of grief and loss, supporting others, and taking care of yourself through such difficult times. This is a community resource - if you have something you've found helpful or would like to see added, please submit it to modmail for consideration.

A reminder, also, that if you need to chat real time, we encourage you to visit us in our active Grief Support discord channel.

<3

zoo


r/GriefSupport 1h ago

Partner Loss Wife lost and arrival of our son

Upvotes

First sorry for my english, I am from France.

Back in january, my wife (we were not married but it’s the same) had a pain in her chest. She was 7 months pregnant. The midwife told us it might be the baby that was not in the right place, nothing important. 2 days later she felt this pain again so we went to the emergency. She had all of the exams necessary, so they decided to calm the pain and see what caused it after. At the end of the day, she did a CT angiography. When she came back, her aorta broke and she did a heart attack. They asked me to do an emergency cesarean section to unload efforts to her heart. It changed nothing, but they rescued the baby. My son is born at 33 week pregnancy. He is at home after 1 month in hospital and his health is very good.

I wanted to share my story, i see a psychologist and psychiatrist and he gave me a treatment. Not easy everyday I must say …

My wife and I run 2 business with no employee, just her and me working from our home and doing market on weekend. Today is the first time I went to a market without her, treatment against depression helps me a lot to keep my head up but it hearts everyday …


r/GriefSupport 5h ago

Dad Loss First heavenly birthday

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67 Upvotes

This happens to be a week ish from 6 months since his death too. He would be 64 today. He was supposed to have so much life left to live. Today is the first of really really hard days. Holidays are weird but today has hit me with the feeling that I don’t get to watch him grow old. He doesn’t get to watch me finish growing up. I would give anything to take care of him today and any day really. That’s what was supposed to happen. The universe had other plans for you papa. All the things he will not be here for sit at the front of my brain. Other people know it’s his birthday and yet their life goes on. Mine has felt almost still since October 12. How am I supposed to navigate my whole life without my one true protector. My dad was awesome I wish I told him that more when he was awake and alive. Dad Happy Birthday! You are worth celebrating. Had a beer in your honor and going to take a bike ride today. You are one of kind. I love you and I miss you every day!


r/GriefSupport 2h ago

Message Into the Void Dog died suddenly

19 Upvotes

I woke up yesterday morning to my dog laying at the foot of my bed dead, she had her favorite toy in her paws and seemed to have gone in peace. The night before we enjoyed a peaceful evening in the park, she ate like normal, it was a good day. When we went to bed she was acting a little strange, I figured her stomach was a bit upset from the mud she ate at the park, a normal occurrence despite my best efforts to get her stop. I brought her into bed with us and laid a towel down just in case. She never was a huge snuggler so after a few minutes she got out of bed, I said I love you as she made her way to the floor. In no way did I think death was imminent, I have seen her much more sick before. Today was the first day I woke up without her in our home, to escape the silence I walked in the park for hours this morning. I suddenly felt like a stranger in a place that was beloved to both of us. I will never be the same, she was part of me. I have had other dogs before but when I grew to love her I knew she was different. It was as if we had always known each other, in some past life maybe, not sure if I even believe in that but I always had this sense that we finally made our way back to each other. I am grateful for the 12 years I got to love her and I will spend the rest of my life made better by her existence. Forever and always my sweet Bean.


r/GriefSupport 17h ago

Partner Loss Boyfriend heart attack

190 Upvotes

We were just walking around the yard when my boyfriend of 5.5 years collapsed and had a heart attack. I’m a nurse and had to perform CPR. He came back but they couldn’t save him at the hospital. He had a widow-maker heart attack. I’m learning all kinds of things about him after his death I wish I didn’t know. I’m just the girlfriend so I don’t have any say in his estate or accounts. I’m going to lose my home after already losing my whole future. I feel so broken and lost


r/GriefSupport 13h ago

Dad Loss I miss you

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81 Upvotes

This is my dad. On Monday he had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. Oxygen couldn’t reach his brain in time, and he won’t be waking up. He’s an organ donor so he hasn’t been let go yet. But for all intents and purposes. He is dead. I last saw him on monday. And that’s the last time he was awake, and up, talking. The last time he told me he loved me. The last time he hugged me. The last time he smiled. The last time he lived. I’m 14. I didn’t want my dad to die. But he did. I miss him.


r/GriefSupport 11h ago

Message Into the Void Found my dad dead in his recliner

42 Upvotes

I pulled him out of his recliner and did CPR while 36 weeks pregnant. Three weeks later, I named my son after him. This is my first real experience with grief and woah, I miss him constantly. He was such a good fucking dad. Advice welcome, tyia.


r/GriefSupport 2h ago

Mom Loss Loss of my mother is unbelievable and unbearable.

9 Upvotes

I lost my mother 10 days ago. She was my best friend and I shared everything with her. She was 70 year old and a little unwell. But her sudden death has taken a toll on me. Nobody expected it that she will go so suddenly. She just died in a month's span with one complication after another in the hospital. I still can't come to terms that she is no more. I am angry and feel helpless. How can God be so cruel ? How can God take away someone who was so generous and helpful. She was so full of kindness and was always smiling. My world has shattered..I feel I will never be able to handle this grief. I feel my heart is sinking and I am myself going to pass out soon. Life is unbearable.


r/GriefSupport 48m ago

Dad Loss First Heavenly birthday

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Upvotes

He’s been gone for a little over 6 months now. His birthday is April 11th. This will be the first time in my 24 years I won’t get to celebrate with him. My heart hurts and I’m so not prepared for it. It still doesn’t feel real and I’m sure it’ll never feel ‘right’ or fair. This time last year I was buying him tools for his birthday and this year I’ll only get to buy him flowers and visit him at the mausoleum. Unreal. He was only 52 years old. I used to think that was old but I realized how short of a life 52 years really is. I always dreamed of growing up and starting a family of my own and having my dad live with me so I could take care of him until he was really old and he passed. He did live with me until he passed and I did take care of him but he wasn’t old, he’ll never get to meet my future husband or kids (if I ever have any). It breaks my heart. He was the best dad and I miss him so much.


r/GriefSupport 21h ago

Message Into the Void My older brother just died last night

230 Upvotes

Around 11:30 last night, a police car pulled into our driveway and two officers approached the front door. We were all confused about what was going on so my dad went to speak with them at the door. When they came inside to speak with us, I knew something was wrong. They informed us that my older brother had been involved in a car accident and he didn't survive the trip to the hospital. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My mom started screaming and fell onto the floor. All I could do was sit there in shock because it didn't make sense what I just heard. I just went to my room and I haven't left since midnight. I have no idea what to do. I'm scared to talk to anyone. Do you have any advice for me?


r/GriefSupport 34m ago

Does Anyone Else...? Can't process the death of my father

Upvotes

Hi! I could use some advice. CONTEXT: My father died a few days ago of cancer. We thought he was gonna get better but it was acute, so it all happened quite fast. Him and I were close, talked on the phone almost everyday and saw each other as much as we could. The first days that we suspected he might die I went to see him in the hospital and then he was getting worse and worse. The days after I saw him, so the days before his death I was crying sometimes and obviously hurting. Then the 'news' came. I cried the day he died but tried to hold it together for the funeral some days later. MY PROBLEM: after the day of his death I didn't cry very much, I feel like I don't realize that he's dead. I don't have the power to do everything but I am continuing my life. I feel like I mourned him for too little. My mind doesn't feel foggy and I rationalized so much, like I know what his death implies and that it happened but I can't feel my emotions and hurt. Has anyone else been through this?


r/GriefSupport 33m ago

Dad Loss First Father's Day without my dad.

Upvotes

My dad passed away July 1st of 2024. This is my first father's day without him. And if im being honest, i did not go to see my dad last father's day. I was so selfish. I was with my own son, and we had so much to do that day. I regret this every single day. We would never share another father's day together again. And its not like we werent close. We talked every single day! He lived 8 min away. I was his entire world.

How are you honoring your dad this father's day? I want to do something special. I thought about going to his favorite restaurant, but then i'd have been eating all day. He loved Cuz's in downtown Bay St Louis, MS. He also loved S&B's in Waveland, MS. These are lil mom and pop places. Cuz's has a bread pudding there that me and dad always shared. It is SO good! He loved oyster poboys. I wish i felt the same, but i do love a good roast beef.

I miss my dad.


r/GriefSupport 3h ago

Mom Loss Five months and ten days since I lost my mother

8 Upvotes

Hi there, my name is Alvaro and on October 27, 2024 at 1:20 in the morning I lost my mother despite trying with my brother everything to save her. Since then everything has gone from bad to worst. Economical problems due to the inheritance of an important debt which in some time I’ll need to repudiate with everything that my mother left to us as well as a deterioration of my mental being (I suffer of BPD). I’m writing this now because, knowing that the pain of loosing not just my mother but my best friend, my only true friend and companion, the person who I could only talk about my problems, I thought I would overcome something’s at this point. But the loss is to heavy, I know I’m not alone but surely I feel alone. 2024 was by far the worst year in my life (I’m 33). I was witnessing the fast deterioration of my mother’s health and I couldn’t do nothing to help or stop that. Surely my mental health didn’t need no more problems at October 26. I was thinking on taking my own life then. There is a positive aspect yes, of course. I remember clearly when my mother died on the 27 thinking: I can’t end my life. I need to continue for her. That was my initial thinking. I now want to continue not only for her but for me. For her because of her I learn many good things and I think it would be an insult to her to end that. And for me because she would like it, and because I think deeply that I don’t want to die. But it’s really hard you know. Every morning is a hard battle to wake up and make the most basic things like brushing teeth and taking a shower. I miss her. I miss talking to someone whose responses make sense. I now have my father and my brother. I talk to them once in a while. I don’t have the same relation with them than I had with my mother. Specially with my father. I am a “mom’s boy”. I am in constant pain. So that’s why I wrote this. If you could help me with advice, books, films or anything that could help living with this wound. I wish you all a very good day.


r/GriefSupport 19h ago

In Memoriam To the girl that saved my life.

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102 Upvotes

I miss her so much. She saved me from deep depression, she was the reason I stayed when I pondered suicide. She was the sweetest dog to ever exist. Thank you for everything, my sweet Belle. I will love you forever, and carry our bond with me, forever.


r/GriefSupport 12h ago

Message Into the Void I told my sister I hated her the night before

24 Upvotes

"I hate you."

Those were the exact words I said to her the night before she died.

She had a heart condition, she struggled with depression, got taken off the transplant list because she kept trying to stop taking her medicine. She couldn't do much physical activity due to her condition, but we had to go on regular walks to keep her heart strong.

My father left my life when I was very young. The singular memory I had of him was him kneeling down to give me a hug. I don't remember his exact words, only the understanding that he was going away for a long time.

I was told that he'd gotten in trouble for something drug related.

It was true that he had a drug problem, but that wasn't what he actually went away for.

I was supposed to find out when I turned 18. I was 14 when shortly after my sister passed away I was told what my dad had done to her.

He'd been doing it for years, before I was even born.

My relationship with her was antagonistic. I resented her for being dragged along for walks when I could be playing videogames or hanging out with my friends. I made fun of her for being slow. I'd intrude on her space to mess with her stuff.

In my memories it seems like I took every opportunity to act like a bratty shithead of a little brother to her.

I only came to find out what a wonderful and artistic person she was after she died, when we went through her things.

Beautifully rendered drawings of flowers, fairies, and mythical creatures. Little charms she would make with pretty rocks she'd pick up on our family walks.

As I got older I started taking more of an interest in art, and I mourn the relationship I could have had with her if she was still here. If I'd gotten the chance to mature and grow out of being the brat I used to be.

The night before she died, she yelled at me for playing videogames too loud. So I swore at her, telling her that I hated her.

Not even realizing that would be the last conversation I would ever have with her.

I'm not even sure I have a right to post this here. It happened near on two decades ago. I've kept these feelings buried for a long time.

I know I had a part in it.

The depression, not taking her medication.

She was bullied at school, and came home to the bully she had at home. Me.

I gave her so much grief, I hurt her so many times. Verbally, sometimes physically.

There's so much I want to apologize for, so much I want to say to her now. To be the supportive brother she always needed. To tell her how sorry I am.

But I can't. She's gone. She's been gone for a long time now.

All I'm left with now is my regrets.


r/GriefSupport 23h ago

Guilt My boyfriend committed suicide

194 Upvotes

I lost my boyfriend to suicide two days ago. I remember giving him a hug before I went off to class. It was 9:10am and I said “See you later.” I remember I took his keys with me because that is where the argon gas was. Like always, I went off to my class. At around 9:55am, I sent him a text saying “Remember. We are getting dinner at 5pm.” I had a terrible feeling during class, so I decided to go home after even though I was not supposed to come home til dinner. It took me 20 minutes to walk home, so I got there at around 12:40pm. The worst feeling sunk in when I saw his car door open. I quickly rushed to the door. Both doors were closed so I unlocked them. When I walked into the house, I ran to the bathroom. There he was with a bag over his head and the gas tank. He was half slouched on the shower floor. I quickly took the bag off his head and repeated his name saying “Why would you do this?” He was bf for over a year. Even though I had my own dorm, I slept at his place most nights. He would always buy me food and take care of me. He had everything. He was supposed to graduate college in May with a neuroscience degree with a job lined up in mental health. I don’t know why he did this but I feel so much guilt. I should have called for help when he told me he was not feeling well. I knew how much he hated being in the psych ward since he was there previously back in December for a few weeks. Not even that helped…he had the help from his psychiatrist and therapist. He was even supposed to meet his psychiatrist at 9:20am that morning online. I knew I should have called or quickly gone home to see if he was okay. I feel even more guilt because the night before I got mad at him for no reason because I was frustrated with school work. Yet, we made up later that night after we went to food lion. I know how much he hated having bipolar 1 and how it made it him feel. I wish he resting in peace wherever he is. This just doesn’t feel real at all. I have reached out to his parents but besides that I have no other support to get through this. I am not going to lie it is getting very heavy.


r/GriefSupport 8h ago

Vent/Anger - Advice Welcome I'm so angry people are getting over it quickly while I haven't even processed it yet.

11 Upvotes

I recently lost my grandma, she had been in the hospital for 14 days after a stroke. Going to see her every day and crying on her deathbed was one of the worst things I've ever gone through.

The hospital was horrible, it smelled horrible, it was full of old people dying, and I was just emotionally exhausted every single day, during that whole process my mom and brother were heartbroken and constantly crying too.

She died on Wednesday and her funeral was the next day, we went and cried some more, then they just kinda started to get over it? I know loss affects everyone differently, but they just resumed their normal lives as if the whole thing didn't happen.

They laugh, see their friends, accepted that she passed away and told me that they're moving on and that I should try to do it too.

What the actual fuck. When I try to think about her dying I can't even comprehend it, for me she didn't die, everyday I wait for the clock to hit 6 pm to go to that hellscape of a hospital to see her.

Every time I try to think about her passing away my head hurts, I try to wrap my mind around it and I can't comprehend it, it's like I'm asked to solve a math equation I don't understand, I feel like I'm being asked to understand a really complex topic I've never been explained, no matter how hard I try, I just can't understand she died. Like she isn't dead, she just hasn't called me this week for some reason, but she will.

Every time I tell them I'm completely numb and I can't feel or understand anything I'm told that "maybe there's nothing to understand, she died and life moves on". No, the days just blend together, I don't know what day it is, I feel like it has been one long day that doesn't end and it's still the same day I woke up and was told she went to sleep and her heart stopped. I'm deep into disassociating, and I feel they're not taking my experience seriously.

My aunt has been coming over and talks about the issue with my mom, they talk about my mom's feelings and she listens to her when my mom vents, but when I sit with them and start shearing how I feel they don't pay attention, they cut me off and start talking about other things, they pick up on one sentence I said and start a conversation about that between themselves and make jokes about something completely unrelated in the middle of me venting about how I feel.

Am I in the fucking twilight zone??? Like not only they are moving on when I can't even understand what happened but when I try to explain what I'm going through they don't even pay attention to what I say, they act like I'm a child inserting myself in an adult conversation and can't analyze the situation as profound as they do when I'm fucking 25, I feel so, so, so alone, no one takes me seriously and when they DO listen to me they dismiss and invalidate my feelings, I have no one to talk to.

Last time I saw her I left the hospital so filled with rage I was uncontrollably shaking, we found out the nurses hadn't been turning her over while she laid in bed for 12 out of the 14 days, she had bed sores on her legs where the skin was peeling off, they guessed her decline was due to more smaller strokes she had, but they didn't even want to do another MRI to check. And I was so heartbroken, she was in so much pain, we tried to get her to eat something but she was too tired to even eat, she just cried "please I don't want any more" and constantly fell asleep due to how weak she was at that point.

So no, life doesn't fucking go on for me, I'll never see grandma again, I'll never hear her voice again, I'll never hold her hand again, and even tho I understand that, I can't comprehend that she died, she didn't, she's still in the hospital feeling better, waiting for me to go see her as soon as visiting time starts until I'm kicked out by the nurses, and I told her that every day I'll be there behind the door waiting for them to open it so I can go in, hold her hand, comb her hair, cause even tho she doesn't recognize me and thinks it's 1972, when I tell her I love her she says she loves me back, and she waits for me to come back next day, she lays there dying, withering away, crying cause she wants to die, but she waits for me, cause the last times I went I kissed her forehead, told her I loved her and said I'll be back tomorrow, but there was never tomorrow, cause she went to sleep and didn't woke up, and I can't go see her even tho I promised I would, so how can they fucking move on when she waited for us cause that was the only thing that calmed her down.

To everyone in my family, fuck you to hell and back.


r/GriefSupport 15h ago

Suicide my best friend, who committed suicide three weeks ago as of tomorrow

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40 Upvotes

I miss her so incredibly much. we were closer to partners than friends, even though things were complicated. we bonded over analog photography and she jokingly complained once that I didn't take many photos of her, and so I took this candid of her doing schoolwork. she took her life a few weeks later, so it's the only one I'll ever have.

I feel so miserable. I deeply regret not telling her that I loved her more often, because it was more than I let on. she was more of a functional partner to me than anyone I've ever been with. I know nothing is my fault, but we did have a heated disagreement right before it happened and I think part of me is always going to be angry at myself for that. I will say that I would be in a much worse spot if she hadn't sent me a goodbye text telling me that she loved me and not to blame myself. still, I don't know where to go from here. I'm currently on bereavement leave from work and I feel nowhere near ready to go back.


r/GriefSupport 25m ago

Message Into the Void Dad are you there…

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Upvotes

Are you listening… Can you hear me? I need you more than ever right now. I wish I could just have one of those talks with you. 17 birthdays without you isn’t right. You should be here. I need you so much still 😞 everything falling apart and I can’t keep the pieces together anymore. I’m not strong anymore. I just need my daddy. Wherever you are… wishing you a happy 67th birthday pops.


r/GriefSupport 7h ago

Suicide My Girlfriend passed away 1 week ago and i’m broken.

6 Upvotes

i don’t know where to start. my heart feels pulverized. i was in a different state when she died and the worst part over than missing her endlessly? i seem to be the only one majorly traumatized by this. i know for a fact her family and friends hurt, but they are already saying “we will get passed this” “she is in a better place” “she didn’t want to be saved this time” me and her have been through a lot. actually multiple su*cide attempts. i can’t believe she is gone and she died alone. my life will never be the same. i wish i could tell her how much i loved her one more time. any advice please? i’m still coping with the loss of my dad. i feel so overwhelmed.


r/GriefSupport 13h ago

Dad Loss My Dad Died March 6, 2025

19 Upvotes

My Dad died at home on hospice. He was 87, and it was his wish to stay at home. He was on hospice for about 20 days. He did not want to eat during that time he only wanted ice chips and sips of Pepsi.

He had Parkinson’s and it’s been heartbreaking watching him decline. My comfort is that he was at home, and I honored his wishes. He told me during his last two weeks that I would always be his little girl and that he loved me. I told him how much I loved him, what a brilliant musician he was, and that I was so sorry that I took him for granted at times. He said replied that goes both ways.

He really struggled for one of the days and seemed angry but then later apologized for being mean and asked me if he was in trouble for being nasty to the hospice nurse and short with me. He was like a scared little boy. I told him that he wasn’t in trouble and that we knew he just didn’t feel good. He said he knew every one was just trying to help. After that he said thank you for anything I did for him.

I changed his diapers and held his hands for comfort when he had a catheter put in. I played him his favorite music and he died in the living room in the hospital bed while I slept next to him on couch. The same living room where we took naps when I was a toddler. The same living room where he played the piano for 53 years and I rocked on my rocking horse as a little girl.

It’s only been a month and I am completely wrecked but act like I’m fine most of the days. I think my brain is processing and protecting me from this devastating loss. I woke up the other night and thought I had him for 52 years, how am I going to stand 40-50 years without him?

I still have my mom and I’m grateful for that and I want my dad too. It just hurts and seems wrong.

I know I will continue to move forward at my pace but it just is awful.


r/GriefSupport 10h ago

Mom Loss My terminally ill mother passed tonight.

11 Upvotes

I knew it was coming, everyone did. Except my mom. She was in denial until the very end. It hurts and it’s hard. I’m 24, put my life on pause at 21 to take care of her. I don’t regret that, not one bit. I’d do it again in every lifetime. But because of that, I have nothing. No job, no car, nothing to my name except some cash she handed me months ago “just in case”. I’m scared, everything I had and knew has been uprooted. The one person who’s help I want more than anything is my moms and I’m struggling to grasp that I have to face this without her.

She had a very peaceful death. She struggled with COPD for years, on oxygen full time and could hardly do anything without struggling for air. Even resting was hard for her. I’m relieved she is no longer suffering and that she passed surrounded by family that loved her and comforted her the entire time. It’s changed my perspective entirely on life, death, and everything before and after.

I know I have time to grieve first and then figure out what I’ll do later. But I’m so scared to face this without the one woman who had an answer for EVERYTHING. The one woman who gave me the strength to get through anything. I love her and I miss her so much already. As much peace as I’ve found in her death, the reality is starting to set in that massive change is coming for everything I know in my life. I have amazing friends and amazing boyfriend who have been by my side through all this and I know they won’t let me drown or wind up on the streets or let me lay comatose and staring at a wall while grief swallows me whole. Yet I am still so scared. I don’t want to face the unknown without my mom.

I miss you so much mama. I really, truly do. Give my dad a big ole hug up there from me. I wish you both could be here to help me through this. To watch me get married later on, have your grand babies, and become the woman I know you want me to be. I love you mama, you’re free now. Free from this horrid disease. Rest easy, you deserve it after fighting so hard.


r/GriefSupport 4h ago

Dad Loss Bike crash

3 Upvotes

My dad and I sadly got into a bike crash and he didn't make it. It sucks since i had created so many memories with him on his bike and now I can't talk about them around my family since they get upset which I get. I just find it hard to not talk about our adventures since that was our thing? My dad and i had other things we did together but the bike was the main thing and all I wanna do is talk about our adventures and place we went. This is also the first time in 7 years that I'm not on a bike and won't be and it hurts. I find it hard to see other bikers knowing that would of been me and my dad. He was more then his bike but that was our thing yk. Our father and daughter thing so its hard to separate and not talk about it. I can't wait till I get a bike of my own (hopefully next year) so I can do all the things we had planned. I just never would of thought the thing him and my mum loved and the thing me and him loved would of killed him. I'm near the place we crashed and all I wanna do is scream and cry. I randomly lay flowers down for him or I just go and sit and watch the world go by. I miss my dad


r/GriefSupport 11h ago

Guilt I didn't visit my mom much before she died...

12 Upvotes

Tw: Addiction, abuse, etc...

I'm(25F) not quite sure where to start so I'll start from the beginning. I didn't have a very good childhood. My parents struggled a lot with addiction so my siblings and I spent a lot of our childhood in foster care. When I was back home, my mom was usually drinking and my dad was high on something. My dad was a rarity. He was usually in and out of jail/prison but when he was home he was beating my mom or stealing our things. I can still hear the sounds of the glass breaking from him throwing her around and the sounds of her screams.

When I was 17, my mother had relapsed and ended up having a stroke and some other complications. As a result of the stroke she obviously had some brain damage. The mother I had known my entire life was gone. I'll never forget the first time I saw her after the stroke when she was in a rehab...it still breaks my heart. It was my senior year. I had just gotten my very first job and within my first few shifts it happened. All of my siblings moved out and it was just me left in the home. I managed on my own for as long as I could but eventually eviction notices were coming in and I was running out of food... I went to school when day and finally broke down and told my school social worker( whom I had known and had been working with since first grade) about what was going on. Because of my age and the fact that I was alone they wanted to put me back into care. However, because it was a few months before my 18th birthday they let me get emancipated. I was able to get services that helped with food and helped pay a portion of the rent. But being 17 and working at a fast food place while also going to school, I was getting paid very little and was still struggling. I ended up dropping out and working full time.

I remember calling her while she was in rehab and crying and screaming "How could you do this to me? Don't you know all that I've lost because of you?". She just cried and cried. She said she didn't understand and she didn't know what was going on and she was sorry. I felt so bad. I never brought it up again. I'm sorry if it's offensive but I don't really know the words...she was just slow. Like mentally, she just couldn't process anything the same anymore.

I tried taking care of her when she came home. She was a full time, all hands on deck job.She was in and out of the hospital a lot. Falling, passing out, seizures etc. I really did try my best to take care of her for as long as I could but then I got pregnant and I couldn't deal with the stress of both so we made other arrangements.

Our relationship drastically changed after that. My angry, bitter, abusive mother was gone and in her shell was a soft spoken, quiet woman. She wanted a relationship with me so bad. She just wanted me to come around spend time with her. But both the trauma of our past and the fact that she was just so different...it made it really hard to come around. I did my best...or at least, I think I did.

She passed a way a few years later when I was 22. I'm now 25. I thought it would have gotten easier by now but the guilt just consumes me every single day. I should've come around more. I should have talked to her more. I shouldve tried harder. I keep trying to rationalize it and work through it but it feels like every day it just gets harder and harder... The guilt feels heavier and heavier. Like I'm just the worst daughter ever. How could I not visit my own mother.

I don't know. I couldn't keep it inside anymore and I figured this might be a good place to start. Maybe someone out there is going through the same and will feel less alone because of it.

I'd love any thoughts or feelings or advice or literally anything.


r/GriefSupport 20h ago

Mom Loss My mum passed away this morning

49 Upvotes

She was diagnosed with colon cancer in May 2022 following a GI bleed (she even coded when it happened). She fought hard, two surgeries, multiple rounds of chemo, immunotherapy, and nothing kept it at bay. Last year she was told it had spread to her lymph nodes, and I was told she had a year left (she didn't want to know). I didn't realise just how right the doctors were with this prognosis.

This morning we arrived at the hospice, where we had spent more than 35 hours over the last four days. The nurses said when she arrived she wouldn't make it to the weekend and I feel like she purposely showed them by making it to Saturday morning ❤️.

I thought I was prepared for it, but the minute I walked in I knew she was gone, I sobbed on her chest for close to 20 minutes, real ugly crying. She was the only person I spoke to every, single, day. Whether it be on WhatsApp (as I live overseas) or weekly phone calls, whether it be random tiktoks, venting about nonsense, or just asking how she was doing. Every night I'd send her a gif wishing her a good night and telling her I love her, and she'd send one in return.

I'm going to miss her voice, her laugh, the sound of her sandals tapping on the floor when I'd visit for holidays and stayed downstairs. The smell of her fragrance (Calvin Klein Obsession) her stubbornness, her kindness, she's been gone less than 12 hours and I'd already give anything to hear her call out my name one more time.

For anyone reading this if your mom is still around, tell her you love her, give her a hug. And when your doctor recommends a colonoscopy don't dismiss it like she did over the years. 💔