Grieving, not depressed. No bipolar depression. No depressive thought process. Just grief. Just a deep overwhelming feeling of loss.
I miss my father. Miss him deeply and dearly.
Going to individual therapy and taking my medications for bipolar disorder, but now may be time for additional support, time for a grief support group, preferrably one led by an excellent licensed mental health professional.
As a licensed clinician, I have a bias. I need a group leader with advanced clinical knowledge of serious mental illness like bipolar disorder, as well as grief. As someone with bipolar disorder and a history of depression, I’m at risk of complicated grief.
Not only did my father recently die, my mother is a stroke survivor living with vascular dementia. She lives in memory care, but wants me to visit more often than I can afford to emotionally.
Squeezed between generations, I cheer my newly adult son as he takes steps to overcome social anxiety and manage his migraines. Until he gets his driver’s license, I chauffeur him to and from specialists appointments.
Rather than spend all my time and energy caring for the needs of others, I must care for myself. My personal boundaries are poor. Groups overwhelm me. I take care of others, not myself. Find myself overstimulated and become mildly hypomanic. Perform, rather than sit, listen and accept help from others.
Always a been performer, love being onstage, enjoy public speaking. Now’s not the time to be the center of attention, to be right, to be smart, to solve problems, to be the hero.
My brain isn’t functioning at its best. Grief-related brain fog. Can’t concentrate. Can’t remember. Simply overwhelmed emotionally. Often, I can’t even come up with a simple word to answer a question my husband asks. Cannot make a yes or no decision.
Today I deleted emails of great content I would usually share as a mental health advocate. I leave that to others for now.
Now, I grieve. Now I cocoon. Now I draw mandalas and patterns using iOrnament. Now I do jigsaw puzzles on my iPad. Now I watch TV.
Now, I cry softly, sometimes gently sob, for the father I love and miss.
Grieving
Comments
25 responses to “Grieving”
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I send you my deepest felt condolences for the loss of your beloved father. Thank you. God bless.
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I lost my father two months back and it has been a nightmare. He was my everything.
He was the most amazing person I have ever met.
I find a lot of strength in thinking and feeling that he is watching over me. And trust me, your father is watching over you too. Every moment! He wants nothing but your happiness.
Please feel free to reach out to me.
You are not alone and we will get through this!
Hugs! -
Thanks for accepting and following my blog.
I’m available to read your post at my convenient time.
You have such an interesting topic I will love to read in
your blog.
I still remain the simple blogger…..
#PATRICKSTORIES
Peace ✌and Love ❤ -
Hi
Thank you. I am happy to see your writing. It gives me a thoughtful thinking and am happy for that. That is always my intention to see a post that gives me happiness.
Am happy to share at least a part of that happiness and love here as am writing now.
What you said in your post is true, sometimes just a drop of that magical post in your blog is enough to get a person to be happy.
Good one
Well, If I wish to be happy is inevitable to keep the vibes flowing.
Cheers,
PATRICK
#PATRICKSTORIES
Peace ✌and Love ❤ -
Faith helps when we grieve. Thank you.
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My condolences to you and your family for your loss. I recently lost my dear grandmother and it took me some time to get back to functioning normally. I had this overwhelming sense of guilt that I was still alive and she wasn’t. I look forward to the time when we’ll see and embrace our loved ones again in Paradise (Luke 23:43, John 5:28,29). Here’s an article with practical suggestions for dealing with grief: https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&issue=2018-11&pub=g18&srcid=share
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Thank you.
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I’m sorry to hear of your loss and all that you are going through. It sounds like you are well aware of what to expect and what you need to do. That puts you way ahead of the game. Grief is a huge challenge. Your wisdom and heart seem to be leading you toward the help you need.
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[…] via Grieving — Kitt O’Malley. […]
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((Hugs))
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Thank you. You know what my mother is going through, having lost her husband, the love of her life. God bless.
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Thank you. We all grieve differently. Whether or not we shed tears. In your silence, you may have grieved. Thank you for the hugs. I hold you in my prayers. I like to believe that our loved ones are in heaven now. Still I feel an emptiness where I used to feel my father’s presence.
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Thank you, Joy.
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??? I feel it. Thanks. Miss you.
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Thank you ?
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I may hate it, too. Groups vary widely, just as we do.
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I’ll let everyone know how it goes if I join a grief support group.
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I’m so glad to see this post. I’ve been thinking about you recently and wondering how you’re doing. I’m sorry the grief process is so difficult, but as you know, there’s no way around it except through it. I think you’re holding up better than you give yourself credit for. Please keep posting as you’re able…you have a lot of friends here who care about you. God bless.
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Yes, facing the wind, it is better in the long run. I don’t think I have really cried for either of my parents or my brother. One short sob at first hearing the news then silence. I always have had a low level of depression on meds (less threatening to me than mania) – but I imagine I could be a little freer if I faced the facts a little better. ((HUGS))) for you Kitt.
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Self-care is so important, especially during the grieving process, so kudos for recognizing that and taking steps to build the support system you need.
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Always, always sending you my love, Kitt.
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My condolences to you and your family for your loss. As you know, and have alluded to, grief can be healthily or unhealthily processed. I pray that you will be able to take care of yourself as much as possible during this trying time, and that your grief process will be healthy.
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I’m sorry for your loss.
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If you think it may help try all the support you can. Looking back I wish I had found somewhere to talk. I ended up internalising my grief when normally I’m a very social being. For me it wasn’t healthy. Yet I remember speaking to a colleague who tried a bereavement support group and he hated it. Everyone is different. Look after yourself.
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Firstly, my condolences to you on the loss of your father. I understand that losing a parent or a loved one in general is tough. Beyond that. Grieve as much as you need, if that’s what you need. I haven’t joined a group as I’m scared to but I suppose if it’s something needed might be worth considering
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