How do you grieve when you don't know what to do?

I lost my grandmother about two weeks ago. We were very close, she basically raised me for a large part of my childhood, because my abusive dad really hurt my mom, and she needed a lot of help for the first few years after he left, so I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. She passed away after being sick for a long time, and we knew it was coming. But I haven’t been able to cry or really grieve yet. Something about it doesn’t feel real. I feel like I’ve become a zombie for the past few weeks. I’ve been having these horrible recurring nightmares about her dying (she died peacefully surrounded by family, but in my dreams, I’m all alone, and she’s bleeding, and I can’t do anything to save her), and it’s really starting to take a toll on me. Are there any websites or internet groups about how to deal with these things? The emptiness is really consuming me, and I’ve been reaching out to friends a lot, but not for support (I’ve mainly been acting like I always do, so I don’t think they realize how burned out I am.)

Answer #1

You can try and go into therapy and see if you can find some ways that work for you. Try wrighting, reading, doing something different for a change that just gets your mind away from her and from the pain her death brought. http://funadvice.com/r/3ju9ilvrmq This website is free and you can talk to a councelor there about what you are going trough and stuff and see if you can find some alternatives there.

Answer #2

Everyone grieves in their own way, and their own way, but I can say there is not much that is worth wrecking your own life. You need to think of what that person would want you to do, and I am sure it is not wreck your life.

Answer #3

Spend some time in solitude letting your memories of her fill your mind, maybe having an imaginary conversation with her (or speaking your heart to her spiritual presence, if you like). Tell her what you told us - how important she was to you, how you remember her, how you felt toward her when she was alive. If there is anything you wish you could have said to her, tell her now. You don’t have to believe or disbelieve anything to do this. It’s only a “real” conversation if you want it to be. Just let your attention rest on her lingering presence within you - because that presence is real to you - and notice the thoughts and feelings that pass through your mind as you do. It doesn’t matter whether or not they seem to you like what you think grief is “supposed” to be. As Chris said, people grieve differently from one another. Feelings that don’t come now may come later when you are ready, or they may be there now in ways you do not yet recognize.

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