E22: I don’t know how to start grieving
After the suicide of their mother, a listener struggles to move through numbness and shock and begin to feel their emotions.
Listen to This Episode:
Dear Grief Guide,
It’s been nearly a year since my mom died by suicide, but I’m still unable to start grieving. Whenever I think of her or my loss, I just go numb. Even at her grave I can’t seem to connect her death to my reality.
I’ve tried looking at pictures or telling stories about my mom, because even though I can’t feel my grief, I still feel uneasy most of the time, like I’m just waiting for it to come.
I listen to and read a lot about grief, but it always seems as though grief comes naturally to other people, while I don’t know how or where to start.
I feel like I am stuck at the very beginning, where my reflex is to use all my power to fight off the small problems, like not starting to cry or not thinking about things that feel too painful. It’s exhausting. But I don’t know how to give up fighting, and instead confront the source of it, the death of my mom.
So, my question is, how could I progress from this point of feeling stuck at the beginning of grief? Do you have any tips on how to start grieving?
I also want to say thank you for all the work you do, your podcasts have been a great resource for me during the last few months.
Yours,
Stuck at the Start
Ready to find your way after devastating loss? Check out my FREE workshop: Grow Through Grief: 3 Ways to Stop Feeling Stuck and Start Moving Forward.
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