The knowledge that you, or someone you care for, is facing death is a jumble of cascading feelings; sadness, anger, frustration, loneliness, worry. You might find yourself imagining what it will be like when they are gone, or if it is you who are dying, picturing how your loved ones will carry on after your death. You seem to be living in a heightened store of continual anxiety about what will happen next, and fluctuating wildly between hope and despair. You might feel terribly guilty, or see it as disloyal and giving up hope if you have feelings of grief while the person you care for is still living.
Many people find experiences pre-loss even more stressful than what they experience post-loss, because it means trying to walk the fine line between holding on and letting go. It’s a confusing time of living in limbo, which is a lonely place to be. You might be having a strong desire to talk to someone—anyone—who understands how you feel and will listen without judgment. Counseling is that place where you can express the wide array of worries, hopes, sadness, guilt and anger you are feeling without worrying about how these feelings will affect those close to you. Maintaining hope while preparing for the worst is so painful, and having someone to talk to as you find ways to cope and tend to yourself will be time well spent.
CONTACT ME to schedule a free 30-minute introductory session to learn more about how counseling can help you navigate anticipatory grief.