How long do you grieve?

My dear wife died about 14 months ago, from secondary oesophageal cancer. We had been together for over 38 years. I also cannot avoid thinking (and thinking, and thinking, ...) about her final hours. So I think I understand your pain.

wesurvived said:

The guilt and sense of loss have, if anything, amplified. I read it takes six months to recover. Really? How have others coped?

Six months? I don't know about that. We are all different, but I still find myself in tears several times a day when the realization of what has happened hits me all over again. In truth, I am not coping very well - and I think my wife would have been much better with coping with this, had the situations been reversed. But all I know is that we have a duty to carry on, in loving memory of those we have lost.

For me, what helps is activity, good company, and socialization. I hope that you can also find things which help.

I send you love and best wishes. You are not alone.

Thank you. We had a full-size (ten-pole) allotment that we had to cover in his final year so I'm now digging it over. He would have wanted to leave it in good order.