Worried I won't cope

First sorry if I ramble, but I need to get this out

My husband of 22 years was diagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer last year, our teenage children are autistic, as is he. At first I cried constantly, now I'm at work all day, and it's like everything is normal and nothing is wrong. He has just started his second treatment of ecx chemotherapy, after a 4 month break from treatment. I feel like I should actually feel something, but I don't, he's still works a few hours a day, i think I need him to be working, because otherwise, it means things are worse. My children rely on me to keep everthing normal,  I am terrified for the future, I am terrified for my children, they need him more than me and always have, they make up a complete unit, like 3 sides of a triangle. I fine myself behaving like a nesting hen, in the same way I was just before the children were born, I'm running around like a headless chicken, making everything in the house perfect. But I don't feel anything. What do I do if it all crashes down? How do I take his place ?  I am so scared

Parents
  • Hi Louman,

    By a strange coincidence, I have Oesophageal Cancer and an autistic son (now in his twenties), so I may have an idea of what you are going through.

    "Not feeling" anything is probably your mind's way of coping with having so many things going on in your life. Not exactly denial, but more a knowledge that if you were to give in to your feelings everything would become too much and you'd be overwhelmed with emotions - far better to keep busy and keep in control.

    I'm not saying this is a good thing, or a bad thing, just that I recognise something similar to the way I cope with my own situation. If it works, why knock it?

    Not knowing what the future holds is the hardest thing any of us has to face, especially when you have been through so much as a couple and as a family.

    I realise this reply doesn't offer much practical help, but I wish you and your family all the best and hope that the chemo works for your husband.

    Good luck
    Dave

      

     

      

Reply
  • Hi Louman,

    By a strange coincidence, I have Oesophageal Cancer and an autistic son (now in his twenties), so I may have an idea of what you are going through.

    "Not feeling" anything is probably your mind's way of coping with having so many things going on in your life. Not exactly denial, but more a knowledge that if you were to give in to your feelings everything would become too much and you'd be overwhelmed with emotions - far better to keep busy and keep in control.

    I'm not saying this is a good thing, or a bad thing, just that I recognise something similar to the way I cope with my own situation. If it works, why knock it?

    Not knowing what the future holds is the hardest thing any of us has to face, especially when you have been through so much as a couple and as a family.

    I realise this reply doesn't offer much practical help, but I wish you and your family all the best and hope that the chemo works for your husband.

    Good luck
    Dave

      

     

      

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