Why do I feel nothing

Hi, I'm sure this has been asked before, but, anyway...

My mum died on Dec 10th after being diagnosed with eosophogus cancer in April. I have got upset/cried previously, especially when I found out she only had 2-6 months left (turned out she had 2 weeks )  

Mostly I haven't cried (I think this is because I have a 5yr old to look after) 

I sat with her in the hospital while she was dying, however, I wasnt there when she died as I had to be at home with my daughter (it was 5am) so, I feel guilty about that, but she did know I was there as she woke up briefly while I was in the hospital

To get to the point, since she has died I don't feel as sad as I think I should. I have been sorting her house out, and getting on with the rest of her affairs, but even on xmas day, I did not have time to feel sad and cry.

Obviously, I really miss my mum, and I think of things we can no longer do etc....but why do I not feel as sad as others seem to be? I feel like a bad daughter/person for not falling about weeping etc. 

Is this normal? 

Thanks

  • Hello Frankie77 and welcome.  Sorry that you have lost your mum.  My mum died from cancer many years ago and I like yourself didn't spend time crying.  Everyone copes in their own way.  I thought a lot and did what had to be done but didn't cry much.   My mum died in a hospital ward and there were no hospices so we were not with her when she died.  In fact I do not remember many tears from my father and sister either apart from a few shed at the funeral.    We talked a lot and I don't think there was any question of the love we had for our mum - this was just the way it happened.  You cannot solely measure love by the amount of tears shed.  I still have a photo of my parents in my livingroom and still hold imaginary conversations with them; I never felt the love communication was broken even though of course they could not reply to me!  Please don't beat yourself up over this.  You are not a bad daughter and are doing what your mum would want you to do.  Annie

  • I was surprised with my feelings when my brother died of diabetes in September, I’m 55 and he was 58, we were real close, was the first family member we lost out of a family of 9 children, we New he was going to die because he wanted to and refused any more treatments and would not hook up to his dialysis machine, It took 10 days for him to pass once he would not hook up to his machine, I too did not cry, of course I loved him with all my heart but it was more of a relief when he died, I thought lots about why I was calm, I was by his bedside, I seen him suffering, I seen my family members suffering because he was suffering, so I guess it’s similar to what you went threw, I believe we don’t always have to share tears we all grieve in different ways, like you we were probably so drained with grief already, like it wasn’t a sudden thing, I noticed allot of my family looked relieved also , plus I’m a big believer I will see him again, I say we just borrow these bodies but will all be in a better place eventually, I’m not religious, I just have my beliefs, so your not a bad person, you went thru so much you had time to grieve slowly and were drained when your mom passed away, your not alone, I felt a little guilty also but took time to think my feelings out, you take care and so sorry for your loss,