Why have I not cried when I received my mums terminal diagnosis?

Hi,

My mum has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer and I mean the latter stages. I am not adverse to crying but for some reason I have not cried. 

She has been losing weight and getting weaker and weaker over the course of this year and would not seek help, until it was recently unavoidable.

So in a way, we knew what was coming, so have I not cried because it was expected.

Or have I not cried because my older sister is a mummy's girl and she immediately broke down and I was trying to protect her?

Or having to tell my dad and with me being a daddy's girl, had to be strong for him when he cried. 

I love my mum dearly but I feel terrible because I have not cried.

Have you heard of this before 

  • I have cried and certainly feel sad a lot of the time - but recently I feel very little. I wonder if I am in denial. She was diagnosed 4 weeks ago. 

  • There is no right or wrong way to react to this kind of news and really no way of knowing why you'll react in a particular way. It could be because it was expected. It could be because you wanted to be strong for your dad and sister. It could be that you are still in shock or haven't fully taken it in yet.

    There's nothing wrong with not crying and it doesn't mean you don't love her or that you aren't grieving normally.