Hello all,
My mother died in December 2016, 6 months after her diagnosis of lung cancer. She had been diagnosed with COPD a number of years before, and her lung capacity was at 18%, meaning that it was not safe to perform any kind of surgery and she was not well enough to have any chemotherapy. It was terminal.
It was an extremely difficult time for us. I chose to leave University to care for her and I was forever changed. I lived in her home after she passed and no one came to see me, and only a few were able to support me on a superficial level, after the fact.
8 years on, I am struggling, all be it later and later each year, but I still feel a lot of sadness around December time.
I was wondering what people do for self-care this time of year.
Thank you in advance for sharing :)
Hi Ng87 welcome to the forum. I am so sorry to read all that has happened for you and how this has left you feeling. I always think of Christmas as quite a sad time as well as it reminds me of Christmases gone past with a full table of family, most of which are now gone. All the adverts make it sound like it is a time for families to be together but I can't help but wonder what happens the rest the year when people grieving still need family and friends. It's OK to be sad and it's also OK to remember happy times it may even bring a tear. You need to do what makes you feel a little better to self care. Missing our loved ones never really goes away 
we keep them in our hearts and memories. Sending some heartfelt hugs your way for now.
gail
