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My mom lives with me. I have cared for her 24/7 for six years. I think she is approaching the end. I want to enjoy my time with her, but I worry so much about what is coming that I feel sad and depressed.

You might want to speak with your minister/pastor about your feelings as well as ask your doctor for meds for anxiety or depression.
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Reply to JustAnon
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I personally don’t believe there’s such a thing as preparing for death. It takes the wind out of us when it comes. It’s also an inevitable part of life with no escape. My mom has been gone a long time now and I still miss her daily. I do now think of her with more smiles than tears as memories bring good thoughts instead of pain. Worry is a useless emotion, never accomplishes anything, just a trap to keep us from moving in any direction. Hold mom’s hand and reassure her of your love and care. Reminisce about good times, play music you both enjoy, read to her. Hopefully you have help from hospice and will avail yourself of their chaplain services. I wish you both much peace
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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Therapy or counseling could help. Hospice may offer options for this for you.

What Is it you worry most about? Her losing more abilities? Her suffering? Her dying? The afterlife? Whether you have done a good job or the right thing? You being without her and losing the main person you have centered your life on these past many years? These are questions to consider with a therapist or counselor.
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Reply to Suzy23
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I’m so sorry you are going through this. Losing a Mother is one of the hardest things to go through. But I agree with funkygrandma59. Hospice is a wonderful resource, a Medicare benefit that many people fail to access. You could both benefit from the support and services that hospice provides. I believe that we pass to a state of glorious existence with The Creator when our bodies die. Death is not the end. You will certainly miss her but focus on being with her now, while you can. Worrying about what’s to come is stealing precious time and energy from the present.
May you find peace and comfort during this difficult time.
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Reply to Yesterdayanurse
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If you consider death as the "worst is yet to come" then yes the worst is yet to come.
But for people that have suffered with any illness for any period of time, death is actually a relief. And it can also be a relief for those of us that have chosen to care for our loved ones for years, as it most certainly takes its toll on us as well.
Definitely bring the hospice of your choice on board now, so your mom can die as pain free and comfortable as possible, and just enjoy whatever time you may have left with your mom. And by all means make sure that you leave nothing left unsaid.
And it may be time to talk to your doctor about going on an anti-depressant to help with your depression.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Hire hospice to come in and evaluate mom. Once she's on board, hospice has grief counseling and a chaplain to help you cope with the impending loss.

Best of luck with a difficult situation.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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