Basically the title.
Not to trauma dump, but my mom died almost exactly a month ago. I was with her for her last hours and it was…as peaceful as it could be, honestly. The facility was so nice and the hospice nurses did a wonderful job at keeping her comfortable. But her lungs were pretty damaged from the flu and lung cancer, so there was also a lot of gasping and breathing struggles, and the last two hours were especially rough (for her and for me).
I know I have some kind of acute traumatic something or another because of it. I can handle the daily intrusive thoughts and I do try to sit with my feelings as they happen.
But the nightmares are terrible. Out of the 29 days since she died, I’ve had nightmares for at least 23 of them. They range from disturbing to straight up “waking up feeling like I’m actively being chased by a serial killer” panic-inducing.
I have them at night, and I have them if I take naps during the day. It’s getting to a point where I’m afraid to sleep because I just don’t want to see those things or feel those feelings.
Has anyone else dealt with this? When did it stop for you?
P.S. I’m in therapy, and I know everyone is different. I’m just trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel.
almost three years without my dad. the nightmares have pretty much stopped. every once in a long while i’ll have really what i’d call a stress dream more than a nightmare. they’re different, bearable. so it really will get better.
the grief might be there a long time. perhaps forever. i remember sobbing when i realized that he’d always been there for my whole life but now he’d always be missing. for the rest of life. but your relationship with that grief will change tremendously. therapy will help, i promise. if it doesn’t, get a new therapist.
there’s some great advice in this thread. mainly i wanted you to know you’re not alone. it’s not just you. it’s not abnormal. and i wanted to join in because these comments have been valuable to me, too. to rephrase, your question has helped me. so thank you.
my heart goes out to you, friend. stay strong. stay hopeful. stay grateful.
may their memory be a blessing to you.