My mum was sick most of her adult life with multiple cancers that she was assumed to live for a maximum 6 weeks on the worst one that strangely she pulled through and lived another 10+ years. She had Lambert Eaton disease and Myasthenia Gravis among other illnesses. She had part of her lungs removed from other diseases, etc. She was constantly sick, constantly in and out of hospitals. There was never a period of more than 8 weeks where she wasn’t in an ambulance. Sometimes she seemed like she was stronger than you could imagine and others you could tell that she was so frail. Not once did she ever give up. She had a winning attitude at everything nothing could keep her down at least that’s what she convinced everyone she had 9 lives nothing could stop her even being disabled and unable to walk or breathe or make food or wash herself. She still didn’t give up. On her final period she had a heart attack and surgery and still got back home. She was then getting infection after infection and waking up screaming my name, that she was dying and to help. I couldn’t handle it. I retreated to my room and allowed her to sit alone most days even though I’d pop in and ask how she was. It wasn’t enough. I’d cook, clean, wash her, etc., but I didn’t do enough. Most days she was just sat in front of a TV by herself despite me being in the same house as her. I don’t want to make any excuses for myself but I’m struggling with life. I have personality disorders and I’m on antipsychotics. Her very final week she woke up screaming my name telling me, “I’m dying, I’m dying. Help!” I ran in and I couldn’t handle it I shouted at her and not as gentle as I normally would. I picked her out of bed and rushed her to the bathroom shouting at her she needs to stop this she’s not dying etc. she was slumped on the toilet struggling after that I did the same into the living room where she spent most of her days on a couch alone I kept shouting at her she told me she couldn’t breath and she was dying. That day I didn’t give her oxygen didn’t check her stats didn’t sit with her didn’t make her a wee coffee nothing by the time I woke up again she was already leaving with the ambulance and I never got the chance to speak to her properly again. She died some days later and I can’t feel her anymore I really need her to give me a sign before she goes forever how am I supposed to live with the way I treated her on her final moments I was just angry and scared I solo cared for her for years watched her decline listened to her struggles took her to appointments etc. I was angry and didn’t know how to handle it I was depressed and instead of making more effort with her I gave up and did the bare minimum. She deserved so much more. My best friend is gone forever and I miss her so much. I’m not even grieving in a negative manner, I just realize what I could have done better and I need to live with these realizations. I know 99.9% of us would do differently if we could foresee the future but unfortunately we don’t get that opportunity. Every day I’d make sure she was fed washed had her oxygen took her meds etc. but I never spent time with her despite being in the same house. All because I’m socially awkward I don’t really know how to talk to people not even my own mum and it always made me feel horrible. It’s just a horrible realization that I COULD have did more for her. I have texts from her over a few month period where she was sending me hints as to her leaving and I didn’t even watch the little videos she sent me until she passed because I buried my head. Some of our last messages she told me how brave I was and how much she was proud of me and she knew how much I loved her and she’ll always love me no matter what. It’s hard I haven’t felt her presence yet, it’s only been a little over 24 hours. I just thought she’d have visited me by now.
Clearly, you loved your mom very much, and by your description she loved you too. You need to forgive yourself, because I'm sure your mom would have forgiven you. You did the best you could under truly awful circumstances, and all the angels in the heavens can expect no more than that from any of us.
You have my deepest sympathies for your loss and your pain.
Your feelings given what happened are absolutely valid. You need help in managing them.
What we intellectually know doesn't often help when we are grieving.
Complicated grieving is such a problem that it is now a diagnosis in the current DSM-5. This makes insurance coverage easier for getting the help you need.
I am so sorry for your grief.
You already know the facts. You cared for your mother for a long time, and quite selflessly. It is hubris to believe you could be a god, a Saint, could not have moments that you went beyond your breaking points.
Your mother had years of dreadful suffering that were your burden to watch and grieve and your anticipatory grief had to be dreadful for some time.
Please get the expert help you need now so that you can move on to living the quality life your mother would want for you. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. I do not know what your faith-based beliefs are, but I do know that wherever your Mom is now, she recognizes well the years of selfless dedication and the loving care you gave her. Did you have moments when you were broken by it? Yes. That means you are a human being with your own limitations.
My heart goes out to you. I am grateful your mother is finally at rest and at peace.
And loosing a mom at a young age is horribly hard. As for feeling your mom, I believe you will when the time is right. But you also need grief counseling. And you need to take care of yourself, be kind to yourself, think about what you would say to a friend that went through what you have been though.
And believe with all your heart that your mom is finally at peace. And as a parent Im 100 percent sure she is watching over you
As for feeling like a kid again, I think we all feel that way at times. I lost my 88 yr old mom in Walmarts one day. I felt like I was 5 yrs old searching for mommy. We all feel that way at times
i can’t even process her death or grieve yet because I’m going to be homeless in less than 14 days due to the house being council based and in her name
im just trying to clean the house up and get things in order and cancel things and stuff
but I can’t everytime I enter her house I break down begging her to show me a sign come back to me just for a moment I’d make her a wee coffee
and she didn’t show
I spoke to her picture last night for hours and it randomly rained as I was crying for all of 2 minutes and the weather report didn’t show any rain
so I’m not sure if it was a sign or I’m just desperate
on top of losing the house I’m losing my only mode of transport as again it was a disability vehicle for her
this isn’t a pity party for me those things are just objects but losing the house hurts because it’s where my memories of her are
my issues is with my diagnosed conditions my brain literally deletes memories specially when under stress
I already forget what she sounds like and it’s killing me inside I can’t remember her voice and it’s only been a little over 1 day she’s been gone
I know I’m 35 but I honestly feel like I’m a terrified little kid
I don’t know what my next move is or where I go from here or where I’m going to live or how I’m going to afford it but those things as selfish as they sound are preventing me from properly grieving my mother
my entire body feels like it’s on fire I can’t eat I can’t sleep I can’t focus any water I drink doesn’t stay down even sleeping tablets aren’t putting me to sleep
I’m terrified I’m going to forget her
or what if I miss her sign
I miss her so incredibly much
I was reading the little messages I do have left from her and for the past two months she had been sending me signs that she was dying and I couldn’t pull my head out of the same to read them or watch the little videos she sent me
now she’s gone all I can do is read them and watch them
and I don’t think I can ever forgive myself for letting her die all alone
time really is one thing we shouldn’t take for granted once it’s gone it’s gone
thank you so much for your kind words you’ve no idea how much it means to me
i just want to be with her again and i know if i do something bad to myself to be with her ill be letting her down so much
but i can’t help wanting to be with her
she was my world and i know everyone says that but me and my mum had been through a lot
we where trauma bonded and although trauma bonds aren’t normally seen as a good thing
with me and my mum it was it bonded us for life
when she had her heart attack a few months ago I promised her she’d never go through anything alone ever again things would be happy and perfect I’d stop my mental health stuff I’d be there with her
and I failed her I know people will say I didn’t but I know in my heart I did
the poor woman never had a good life
her first husband tried to kill her in a DV marriage etc and even then this woman went to his hospital bed when he died with alchohol and forgave him gave him peace to leave this world
her second husband my dad left her when she had cancer and went with another woman
she forgave him and gave her blessing to him
like how am I supposed to go on without her
Do what you're mother would want you to do.
Please
im stuck in a place of
I’m already dead inside after this loss and if i leave id get to be with her. I know she would understand and forgive me despite being hurt by my actions
and the alternative is
i stick around make other people happy i live a life where nothing will ever be the same again until i go naturally and I’ll be left with even more trauma
i also accept and appreciate hurt people hurt people and if i did it id be hurting others as well repeating the cycle
which goes back to I am almost forced to stay here miserable and broken just for others
which is the right thing to do I totally accept that
it’s just the colour in the world has drained for me long before this
and now that she’s gone the one person I held strong for
there’s nothing holding me back
I’m not saying I’m going too I’m just saying that’s the chaos I’m in and I genuinely don’t see a way around it
I accept grief I accept there will be stages I accept there possibly will be another day where I can learn to smile again
but I also accept there might not be
it’s just tough
yes I’ve been taking my meds but the symptoms are heightening despite this
including the symptoms that put me on antipsychotics in the first place
I know I should honour her I know what’s expected
I just don’t know if im capable or ready to walk this world without her
people say trauma bonds are bad and for the most part they are but beauty can grow from fire
and the bond we shared was a special one
I am curious as to your age?
Then you will reboot and have your memories. You are young and will make more. Honor Mom by having the best life you can.
All in all you sound like , with all you have been though, your doing ok.
Keep hanging in there, one day one hour at a time.
My heart goes out to you