Bereavement Support Group

I am so sorry for your loss the pain and grief that each of us go theu is different. I think for some there is a time that meds like antdpression and anxiety drug help you go thru this. I praying for you ((((huggs))))kathyjo

I am so sorry for your pain. I do agree that medication can help. It can't heal us, but can help us to function better. There are days I think I am losing my mind, can't focus or concentrate. Sometimes I can't think at all, and I am actually grateful for those moments. I believe it's Gods way of protecting our minds and hearts. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

I have read that losing a really close loved one is one of the only proven temporary metal illness. There are no time limits for grief, it never goes away, it just becomes different. I read in a book somewhere that its just not the first thing on your mind when you wake up in the morning after a while. You will be fine, try and think how happy your son will be when he knows that you are starting to do more for yourself. Start off slow by going for walks, spend a day shopping etc. Pamper yourself a little. Have you tried to look for bereavement meetings in your area?

I too am mentally unfit. It has been 8 months and I am still VERY VERY angry. My short term memory is shot. I think about getting job but just the idea of gettiing up ....getting dress.... and pretending to be normal is too much to ask of myself right now. I can not go on like nothing has changed because everything has changed.

I am in the same position. I have been having a bad year. This is year 5 for me. I am on medication. IZt keeps me out of bed all the time. I have been diagnosed with PTSD, and Panic and anxiety, depression and adjustment disorder. I don't live by them but they do hurt. I am sorry your son is gone. I hope in heaven our soms watch over us.

sometimes your not classified as having a mental disorder in the event of a trauma.
it is called situational depression. it means that you normally wouldn't be depressed if you hadn't been put in this situation. medications can help you out tremendously. an anti-depressant and an anxiety medication. i am so very sorry that you are suffering and are in pain. talk to your doc and see if he/she will prescribe something to help dull the pain. take care...

No, grief does not cause "mental illness" ie: you will not become schizophrenic or bipolar...on the other hand you can have " acute depression". The body itself is not able to recover on it's own from the depression so you may need meds and to speak to someone in the mental health field.
Even though grief is very individual it does not sound like you have taken any steps to try and move forward? You ask how long will this grief keep you down and the answer is " how long will you allow it to keep you down"? I have gone through a depression when I lost my son and I found help and I am doing MUCH better. I would be more then happy to try and help you but you need to be willing to move forward , others can not do this for you.

I will be starting Year Four without my son next month. I just started getting on my feet this past year. What helps me is talking to someone about my future -- I deserve a future, I am going to have a future, what I want for my future, etc. -- and centering on these thoughts every day. I have been told that it can take a good five years to recover one's life after a loved one passes. At Year Two / Year Three, one year ago, I was not in really good shape. And, I encountered every day people who did not understand why I just could not get on with my life. People who have not walked in your shoes just don't understand and it's useless to try to explain. Keep on truckin'....

I am sorry for your loss and I know the pain. I lost my son 3 years ago and it does not get better for me but I most go on for my children that are still with me. We will all walk this path together.

It feels like you are going or have gone crazy, I know, my 19 yr old daughter was murdered 7 yr ago, I remember almost wishing I would "go crazy" because then I would be relieved of the unbearable pain. Grief is the most powerful emotion we experience. I encourage you to educate yourself regarding grief, read as much as you can (I know reading is hard right now) Grief effects us cognitively, physically, psychologically, everything and no body will understand this better than another mother who lost their child.
Also, like some of the other comments, seek help from Dr and use antidepressants or sleeping aids during this time, they are appropriate and aide you in this journey, lessen the suffering.
Find someone you can trust to "talk about it" don't worry about repeating the same story, this is absolutely necesarry! Something about the way we are designed this is theraputic, however some folks get uncomfortable with your words or feelings and can't handle it, so find someone who can handle it.
I'm going to end now as I am going on and on, feel free to email me at misn_liz@yahoo.com