I miss my mum and cannot cope

My mum passed away several weeks ago and I don't know how to cope.  My mom was diagnosed in late August 2021 with bladder cancer and passed away in early November 2021 after another primary tumour was found. Both cancers metastasised quickly, she got an infection and died from sepsis. This happened so quickly that I did not have time to process what was happening. I am 21 and in my third year of college studying medicine, and I am finding it very to cope with the loss of my mam who was my best friend all my life. We were very close, I told her everything and spent a lot of time with her. In her last few weeks I did not visit her in the hosptial as much as I should have as her personality had changed due to a tumour and it was hard to be around her. She forgot my birthday and I was so hurt that I could not bring myself to visit her that day. I said some things that I shouldn't have. Although we resolved these issues before she passed away, I still feel very guility. I am finding it hard to deal with this

On top of the guilt, I just miss her so much that it is a huge effort to even get out of bed. I keep crying when I am by myself. I have no support from my other family members and it is just extra hard to deal with this because of that. My friends and boyfriend have been amazing, but it is not the same as having my mum here. I just wish I could talk to her again. How do you cope with this ? Does it get easier? It feels like I'm always going to be sad. 

  • Hello, 

    Firstly let me say I'm sorry that your Mum has passed away.  I'm 53 so much older than you, but was in my late 20's when my Dad passed away and my Mum passed away 4 years ago and now a week ago the first of my 4 sisters has passed too, all with cancer of some sort.  It is such an unfair way for a loved one to pass and so difficult to watch from the sidelines as you feel so helpless.

    I know people say it will get easier and you don't think it will, but I would say it just gets different, which may not make much sense, but you learn to live without their physical being in your life and you can find ways to keep them in your life.

    I'm not a massively religious person, but have always loved nature, so my way of coping has always been to think that, whilst my family aren't with me in the here and now their presence is still there when I need a bit of strength, advice or to just even say I love you and miss you, they are there in the breeze on my face, the ripple on the water or the stars twinkling in the sky.  My husband calls this my fluffy DTB world and says that we should all have a bit more fluffy in our world, but he is more of a scientist than I am and doesn't really believe in much, which I find weird.

    I have recently found it so difficult to believe now though sometimes, especially with everything we hear on the TV etc.. about the fact that stars are just in the universe and are bits of rock and ice and a ripple on the water is just the breeze and it's nothing more, but I realise now that, scientists can prove what they like about the physical aspects of the world we live in, but they don't know everything.  
     

    This has now led me back to continue to live in my fluffy DTB world, because it helps me to keep my Dad, Mum and now my sister in my here and now and helps me to cope when I miss them and what they would have said or done.  They may not be there physically to advise, support or just love you, but you still have their presence in you.  In your heart and mind through your knowledge and love of them.  Even when your Mum was still physically with you how many times have you known what she'd say before you'd even told her.  That little voice in the back of your head, saying I shouldn't be buying this extra expensive skirt or having this extra drink or she's going to be super proud of me when I tell her.

    I hope this helps you to cope a little better and if you feel a breeze on your cheeks then who can say it isn't your Mum giving you a little strength to make it through another physical day and if it helps you stay connected some how to your Mums knowledge, support and love then scientists can know what they like, but they didn't know your Mum and they didn't know my Dad, Mum and now my sister.

    D x

  • I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

    I lost my mum to pancreatic cancer 15/11/2020 like your mum it was all very quick 7 weeks from diagnosis to her dying,she was a fit and healthy 71 year old it was devastating, it was such a huge shock.

    Although I'm a bit older than you 47, losing my mum broke my heart she was a wonderful mum and a lovely person.

    The first few weeks after her death it didn't feel real,my brothers and I would talk all the time about her,remembering the times growing up how proud she was of her boys and how much she adored her grandchildren. 

    I visit her grave most weeks, talk to her keep her informed.

    The raw grief will pass and although there isn't a day when I don't think of her,it is more acceptance really thats helped me through.i really hope you can find a way through it and you will eventually I found just remembering how loving and caring she was helped me enormously.

    Unfortunately I found my Dad passed away on the 10th November 2021,he suffered a heart attack at home alone,I'm obviously upset,but in some ways relieved for him as he has really struggled these last 12 months without mum he's now back with her.

    I can't believe both my parents have gone so quickly but i know their back together now and that gives us comfort.