The death of a caregiver.

My theory - admittedly with a religious/theological base- is that if you are left here on this earth, there *is* a purpose for your life. Finding it is not the simplest of things, but rest assured that it is there...maybe you aren't supposed to find it until you are ready! I am just relieved you are OK and with us to write and share and hang in there unti lthings get better.

Monday, I'm so glad you didn't delete what you wrote & you hit that "submit" button - it helps knowing more about your situation so people like me aren't left to "guess" about the details...thank you for that. You certainly DO have a lot to live for, and I suspect it will one day revolve around helping others cope with their own grief - you have an amazing way with words. Have you considered starting a blog? Writing a book? I'm sure there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people who are feeling just as anguished as you are over the loss of their loved one - wouldn't it be great to be able to reach them and help "talk them off the ledge" so to speak? The suggestion of a grief counselor is a good one - I hope you consider it. (((hugs)))

OK, my grandpa ghost probably sounds crazy, but I do feel his presence in my heart. It makes me feel so comforted and safe.

Your mom sounds like such a strong woman and a fighter. The two of you clearly loved each other very much.

Yes, this too shall pass. Do get help as some have suggested, If you are suicidal by all means get help. Have you formed a plan? Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, Resources are available to help you. You have been through a lot. I lost my father, my nurturing parent about 30 years ago. I still miss him. I lost my youngest son, 11 years ago. I didn't know how I would live through that one, but I did.
Sometimes we do it one breath at a time, one minute at a time, one hour at a time. For me, the pain is much less now, though it has not gone away altogether. The missing stays, but is not as painful. Right now, for you, the pain and missing is tremendous.
Dear soul, you have lost two beloved people very close together. That makes the burden of grief much harder. Be kind to yourself. The things you have to do can mostly wait.
After all you have and are going through, you are not the same person. Take this time to find out who you are now, Losses change people. Some things become much more important, and some much less. Above all, be gentle with you - nurture yourself as you did your mum and your uncle, buy yourself some of those little presents in memory of them, care for yourself in the same way, You will get through this, though for now life is very painful, I know. When we lose someone close, we have a hole in our hearts that nothing can fill - but we learn to live with it. Love and hugs Come back and let us know how you are,

Monday, I am so sorry that you are going through this. You sound so lost, confused, and anguished.Not a good time to make important decisions. Cry, moan, and wail. Rend garments. Yell at god.

I don't know if this will help or not, but when I'm lost and confused, I think of my grandfather. He's been dead a long (looong) time, but I can still feel his love for me, and his hopes and dreams for me. I think of him when I am lost and in pain, and I lean on his hopes and dreams for me when I can't remember my own. It probably sounds so strange, but it's like he is still with me and I feel a great deal of peace and love. I'll do for him what I don't have the strength or courage to do for myself.

Do what I do when times are tough! Turn on your tv and watch your favorite program. Keep switching the channel on your remote control and when a program interests you watch for about 10 minutes or longer until you go to sleep or until you are bored with the program and then switch to a different channel. It probably sounds counterproductive but to me sometimes when we schedule being lazy that's when we become the most productive afterwards. If you feel sad feel sad. If you feel overwhelmed, stop and don't do anything for the moment. We can not do anything when we are overwhelmed anyway so let that feeling pass. Tell yourself that whatever emotion you're going through, "I am just going through this experience. This too SHALL PASS!"

I do not know if it is the same thing, but I often ask myself what I will be when my mother passes. For the past four years, I've taken care of my father and mother and two sick rabbits. It takes the greater part of my day. My father is gone now and my rabbits and mother are dying. And I wonder what will I be when everyone is gone. It is probably something that long-term full-time caregivers ask themselves, particularly if they aren't married with children. People who are married with children at least are still spouses and parents.

I don't know if I would go as far as to say we are all here for a purpose. But I would say that we can find our own purpose. Each of us have certain talents to contribute. For some it is caregiving. For others it is something completely different. If you feel like your talent is caring for others, then it is what you should do. There are a lot of people who need people to care for them.

But for yourself right now, a grief counselor to help you work through the loss of your father, your mother, and your uncle may certainly help. I have a feeling you still have many years here on earth. It would be great if you could enjoy them and have others enjoy that you are here for them.

One day at a time, dear Monday. Recently in Bisbee, AZ. a 40 yo entertainer died after a long illness. Her husband stopped on his way home from the hospital, bought a gun and killed himself. It was and is So awful for his family and 100s of friends. Please seek out a doctor that will help you. I have known people to live through some awful things. I hope that you do, too.

Hi Monday! Feel free to message me if you need someone to talk to. Many times I feel like I don't have enough support myself. I spend time in nature and watching tv when I need respite. When times are tough, keep moving forward. Focus on what needs to be done today don't focus on the past or future, focus on today. And then repeat the same when you wake up tomorrow and the next day and the next day. As caregivers, we are all warriors fighting to be strong and to survive the many storms and rollercoaster emotions.

**not that it matters to anyone but me - but I wrote that my uncle was 94, he was 92. he died suddenly from a fall at a nursing home in march 2013. he wanted to come live with my mom and me but his daughter-in-law (a nurse) and his son (a doctor) wouldn't let him come back to town here (they live 3 hours away). they didn't want him to live with them and they didn't want him here with us (we were like the 3 muskateers - my uncle, my mom, and me) before my mom had her stroke - going everywhere together. - too much to explain - but he was 92 when he died in march. and my mom and I talked to him every day on the phone and always sent him beautiful presents and surprise treats and gifts all along to continue to show him - through our actions, love, and attention - how much we loved him. what do you do when you can't sleep? can't think? can't focus? thank you for listening and for taking the time to read this mumble jumble.

Recently I've spent time reading a lot of the current and past postings on this website. I realize more than ever how similar and different we all are. I've tried to post responses to your kind words but always ended up deleting my thoughts - as I will probably do with these. It's exhausting trying to explain what's in my head and heart. Hoping someone understands and doesn't judge me or assume they know what I feel. When I wrote that I had planned - all along - to die with my mom - it wasn't out of depression - as weird as that may sound. I didn't want to die because I was depressed or had been depressed. I've had a good life. I graduated from a great college, I've traveled the world, I learned how scuba dive and explore the depths of the oceans, I learned how to ride a motorcycle and even owned one for many years. God blessed me with a business that both my mom and dad worked at with me - where I was of service to others through my writing. No, my mention of wanting and planning to leave this earth when/if my mom died, had nothing to do with depression. It was about feeling like my purpose in life was over. I took care of my dad, I was my 94-year-old uncle's favorite niece who looked after him and talked to him every day, I was the only graduate of my college that was at my favorite professor's hospice bedside the last 6 months of his life. My dad, my professor, my uncle, and now my mom - the 4 people in my world that meant everything to me are gone. I know this doesn't make sense to probably everybody reading it. And, again, I'll probably delete it and not post it. I am so unsettled, restless, and sad tonight. There is no where I want to go, no place I want to be, nothing I want to do - though I have plenty to do - here at our home and for my clients. But I can't focus and I can't stop thinking about my mom. So, this week I've attended 3 funerals of people I did not know. I didn't go to the funeral homes, just to the masses at the local churches. It's funny and sad how people can live to be in their 90s and when they die there's hardly anyone at their last services. So, tonight I am still here. Taking it one moment at a time. Missing my mom more than I can explain or express. My mom - who was never a burden to me - but a blessing. My mom - who I was honored and humbled and blessed and loved so much - who was a joy to be with - who made me laugh and who laughed at my one liners. OH MY GOD. I MISS MY MOM.

I believe you are writing on this site because you don't really want to die - you want help. You want the encouragement and strength of our words to wake you up - get you off the computer and onto the phone. If I could physically dial the hospital for you, I would, but only you can do that. I don't know you or your Mom, but I am willing to bet that your mother would not be happy if she were reading what you have written, both above and in your original post. You devoted your life to your mother - both figuratively and literally - but just because she is gone, does not mean your life is over. In your original post, you spoke of having had a plan..a plan of going with your mother when she died...of not intending to live after she is gone. I suspect you have been dealing with depression for a very long time. If you are already taking antidepressants, then you need the dosage evaluated...if you aren't, then please consider getting on them. Call your sister - better yet, go stay with her for awhile - get out of your house and regroup. Think of the happy memories you have of you and your mother, before she had her stroke and became ill - what were your life goals then? Did you want to go to work? college? Certainly you did not always feel the way you do now - your grief is real and it is painful, but it WILL subside and the light WILL brighten the darkness again, but only if you let it....it's all up to you.

the last months of living in a worn out / failing / dying body are not a pleasant experience. thats why terminal restlessness followed by terminal agitation are typically seen just before death. @ monday,
try to feel a degree of relief for your mother.

Monday, as I mentioned in answering your earlier post, the very worst thing for a parent is the death of their child - no matter the age. Your mother wants you to live and get better. Please get help. Call 9-1-1 as suggested if you are thinking of harming yourself.

Your Mother's death has affected you to the core. Right now it seems like the pain will never go away. That could be true, but it will get better with time. You'll learn to feel your mother's presence in other ways - her spiritual presence. You and she will always be a team.

It sounds as if seeing a professional counselor is a must. If you are not ready to call 9-1-1 because of an emergency, please pick up the phone and call your church or a counseling center. Tell them you have thought (or are thinking) of suicide. They will get you help. If your community has a mental health hotline, call that. Many communities have help at hand when you dial 2-1-1. They can connect you with help.

Life will go on and get better but you have to take that first step. If you have a close friend, call him or her to help you make these other calls. If not, perhaps a friend of your mother's or else, as I mention, your spiritual leader. You mentioned in your original post that you knew your mother was with God, so this is the time for faith. Give your pain over to God and do the practical things needed. Call for help. We're all thinking of you here at Agingcare.
Blessings,
Carol

Call a friend, they will comfort you.. Please don't do anything tragic we are here for you..

I've just clicked to report my own post to get the moderator's attention and see if any of the site experts have additional words of wisdom!

You feel like you can't do this, but you can. Most people feel like they can't but they can. Go get help. Whatever is making you think that your whole life needed to be centered on your mom, and that it is at an end because your mom is gone, needs to be stared down with help from someone who can tell you that you have worth as your own person, on your own. You have just had the rug pulled out from under you and you have had thoughts like this before. Children are meant to survive their parents and carry on. Grief hurts like nothing else in this life does. I'm going to quote you to yourself: "You are a good daughter. You are doing the right things. Tell yourself that and believe it. You love your mother." Monday, you ARE a good daughter - a good person - who struggled with and did the right things as you saw them, even when family were no help - you have too much love in your heart to take yourself out of the picture. This world needs hearts full of love like yours. LOVE YOURSELF FIRST now, because you need to. You are deserving of help, support and love. And time and patience to build a different kind life again, centered on something else besides being Mom's physical caregiver, and that something else will without a doubt be revealed to you if you hang on.

Monday, I am so sorry about the death of your mother. You were very close and the pain is intense. You will always miss her, but the pain and sadness will become less intense as time passes. Give yourself time to heal. Surely your mother would want you to heal and to get on with your life and to carry memories of her with you always. But give yourself time. Don't expect that you are supposed to snap back to "normal" in a few weeks. Right now being overwhelmed with grief is normal.

Is there someone you can talk to and share your grief with? A pastor, a counselor, a best friend ... someone who can acknowledge what you are going through, and be there for you?

Hugs to you. Please come back frequently and let us know how you are doing.

Call 911 and go to the ER so they can admit you to the hospital. Depression is treatable and the grief will get better. Just give yourself a chance. Death is very final and we have no guarantees that what is on the other side will be better. Call 911 and check yourself in.