Coping with a loss that doesn't feel real

Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone has gone through something similar. My father passed away in January from liver cancer, and I flew back to Australia to spend his last couple months with him. I live in the UK and usually go home to see my family a few weeks out of the year, which may be why this doesn't feel so real.

I absolutely loved my dad, he was a huge part of my life and he was only 60 when he passed. I think of him every day. I'm finding that I just feel numb to everything, but not upset. There's times where I do feel sad about his passing like whilst I write this, but I don't think it's properly sunk in that he's gone. I know he is, but my mind still thinks oh he's just in hospital like usual and he'll be there to pick me up from the airport like usual at Christmas. But I said my goodbyes, I was there when he passed, and I don't know, I feel I should be much more upset then I am. He had cancer for several years, and we knew he didn't have so many years left but he had a fantastic quality of life up until the last few months.

I suppose my question is, is there something wrong with me that I'm not feeling upset every day? That I just feel numb about everything? And does it ever sink in? Thank you

  • Hi,

    I lost my Mum to cancer in April and my Dad to complications of cancer 2 days later. Their joint funeral is next week. I am dealing with their affairs and for now I also am not crying, grieving in any way and have not gone off my food etc. I have faced much less than this in my past and had depression but losing both parents seems not to have touched me. It will, when it does it may debilitate me but I hope their strength lives in me and I get through it. My point is what you are feeling is normal and not a reflection of what your Dad meant to you. Together we get through this day by day. I miss them incredibly and so do my children and it feels they are just on holiday x

  • Thank you for your reply Kieran. My thoughts go to you and your family