My father died 2 months ago. He was a big part of our family life and always fit and healthy. His cancer was sudden and he deteriorated very quickly. With the invaluable help of the Macmillan nurses he stayed at home with us and i am grateful for that. However I keep getting flashbacks to some of the more distressing aspects of his illness especially at night when i am about to go to sleep. i am finding myself lying awake for hours with my mind racing and feeling quite panicky. Does anyone else have this and is it a normal part of the grieving process i feel like im becoming an insomniac.
Yes, I've had this. The only thing I've found that helps is making the decision to say thank you for one of the good times. That forces me to think about something good that we did together.
I'm so sorry to hear of you losing your Dad. My 36 year old daughter died 20 months ago and your symptoms are very familiar. I hope it helps you knowing at least I felt just the same. I don't know why I'm saying felt, as I have the same mind racing and my heart beating so much I can hear it, and lack of sleep still I'm afraid.
I've come to realise it must be grief and just have to put up/get used to it. One day it might go away, who knows! The days of going to sleep and not waking till the next morning seem a distant memory.
For me, 20 months on, I feel a little more 'ok now even though our symptoms persist. I have taken each day one at a time, some good, some awful. I'm hoping eventually the good days will overtake the bad.
Keep going, tomorrow is another day. Xxx
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