How do you get past the end of life very graphic images?

Try to focus your thoughts away from those painful images. Do the best that you can. This is easier said than done.

These memories could bother you for a long time . . . But they will recede somewhat.

Death is frightening, but you were there for her. She was comforted by your presence. This is why we are called “survivors.” Because they get to go and we have to go on. It is a real blessing for her that you were there to see her through. What a wonderful angel you were when she needed you.

Several months after Mom died I had to run out of a movie theater when confronted by a comedic representation of something that happened during her death. It wasn’t funny to me.

Every once in a while, now several years out, I will be startled and upset, triggered by some image.

Do your best to be kind and understanding to yourself. What makes you feel better? Be gentle and thoughtful to yourself. Take comfort in knowing there are many of us going through the same thing.

I hope someone is there there for me someday like you were there for your mom.

You go to Lord, thy God in prayer.

Think on the things that make you glad,
Not on the things that make you sad.
Bring your thoughts into captivity,
Remember the happy times.
This works for me.

Dr Bach Rescue Remedy will help you. A few drops in each cup of juice or just rubbed on wrist or behind ears every hour or 2. Its available at most big pharmacies and supermarkets in the vitamin dept. Also on Amazon. You can read about it online.. All natural. It will help you to regain your balance.

It does feel like a nightmare and then there is the shell shock. Then there are the things that have to be done immediately to get you through the funeral service and take care of your loved one a final time. I didn't go to counseling immediately; I didn't have the time. But the process of having to do some of these things helped me to move through my feeling of helplessness at the end and focus on the bigger picture of a live well lived. 3 months later, I may be ready for grief counseling. Yes, everything fades with time.

Time is a great healer but so is getting our mind on something else. I suggest going through the old family photos and using them to relive more pleasant memories. Try to remember the day the photo was taken, how you felt on that day, what did you or the family eat? I use Microsoft's OneNote to take a photograph and write a story about it. The kids love it now and I think they may love those "documented" photos more in future years. For me, the process transports me out of present pain and allows me to release stress.

Thank you for your helpful replies. I have had to take a break from this forum for a bit. No. I will not be sharing the graphic images. I don't want to traumatize anyone else. This is something we all have to muddle through. As some other posters have said, there are so many things you have to do at the end, that the grief bomb can't prevent you from doing what you have to do. Hospice will provide the counseling.

Thank you all.

My sons father passed in August of 2015 he had oral cancer I kept with his sister at her house. We had not been together for about 20 years but to me we still shared a 24 yr old son. My father passed on Dec 25 2015 in Miami I hadn’t seen him in 10 years, my mom was in No in Miami they were married 65 years. I moved mom to ohio I had to put her in nh she needed hoyer lift she needed 24 hr care. My healthy brother who was my rock really paid for me to bring home, brother had massive heart attack passed on March 23 2017 Mom passed on March 29 six days later. Hospice was a great help to us. Please please trust me it gets better. Remember God never gives us more than you handle. I will pray for you

One year ago today, mom died in our living room set up by hospice. That night she struggled to turn around and look at the sky or the lake. When I heard her I went to comfort her and change her and found she had taken off all the skin on her shin and it was bleeding. I laid the skin back on and tied it up with gauze. She wasn't fully awake. I sat there for awhile and walked back to the end of the room where our bed was. When I woke a few hours later she was gone, but had totally turned herself around again to see the sky or the lake. She died like that.

tlhanger, I can picture that. The image brought tears to my eyes.

I'm sorry for you. But try looking at it this way. She saw something beautiful before she died. What more can any of us ask for during our last moments.

((((hugs))))

I think about this. My mom is home with me. This could be me.

I am so sorry for loss and your suffering. Have not read all of the answers so if you said already, forgive me. Have you spoken to a grief counselor? It helps. Even with counseling it takes time to work through grief.

I hope you find peace very soon. Hugs!

USCG: I feel for you and am so sorry that you're in pain. God only gives us what we can handle even though it sometimes seems like a MOUNTAIN. Believe me, I've hurdled some mountains myself so I know that it's not easy.

Please do not take this the wrong way, but I hope and pray that the following may help you. 3. Romans 8:17-18 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later