My Dad passed away 3 weeks ago

Jph23 5 years ago

3 replies

I lost my Dad three weeks ago. I am trying to learn how to grieve. I am looking for methods that might work for me. The last three weeks have gone by so fast I’m worried I’ve missed a crucial stage of the grieving process. Most of the time I feel numb. Sometimes I’m scared, sometimes sad, sometimes motivated, sometimes angry. He was diagnosed with cancer three years ago so I had time to ‘prepare’ but I don’t know how to grieve and cope now that he’s gone.

Angharad 5 years ago

Hello Jph23 ,

We’re sorry to read about the recent loss of your dad and all that you are going through.

It’s understandable that you are not yet sure what works for you or exactly how you need to grieve. The emotions that you have shared: of numbness, fear, sadness, motivation and anger, are all normal and natural feelings to experience after losing a loved one. You mention that you are worried you might have missed a crucial stage of the grieving process; we want to reassure you that there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grief is individual and unique to each person; there is no set path to grieving and no right order of experiencing certain emotions. With this in mind, it’s important to be kind and not put pressure on yourself and allow yourself to feel the emotions that come to you at the time.

We hope that other members here on the community will get in touch with you and share their experiences of what methods work for them. You may also find it useful to read some information we have on our website about grieving in your own way. If you wish to do so, you can access our website pages on this, here: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/bereaved-family-friends/dealing-grief/grieving-your-way .

In the meantime, you are more than welcome to talk to us on the Support Line; either through the online community, by calling us on Freephone 0800 090 2309 or by using our webchat service on our website.

Take care,

Angharad – Support Line Officer.

kelly41 5 years ago

my dad died 12 weeks to the day he was told...that was 15 weeks ago I'm on anti depressants and I still can't cope

Bonnie 5 years ago

Hello Kelly,

We’re sorry to read about the recent death of your dad and that he died 12 weeks after he was given his prognosis. It’s understandable that you are finding things difficult given such a loss.

If you ever need a listening ear, we’re here for you on the Support Line. You can reach us through our online community, or ring us on Freephone 0800 090 2309. As well as emotional support, we can talk to you about how to access more support if you think you would benefit from it.

Take care,

Bonnie – Support Line Officer.