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Grief and Mental Health

Sometimes, Grief Feels A Lot Like Panic after Losing My Mother

Sometimes, grief feels a lot like panic. While buying birthday cards at Walmart a few years ago, I caught sight of these floral Mom and Grandma cards. I instinctively wanted to reach out and grab the teal card with the antique-style, delicate pink rose for my grandmother. But a feeling of panic stopped me in […]

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Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Grief and Mental Health

My Mother Left Her Mark on Everything She Touched Before She Died

My mother left her mark on everything she touched before she died. She’s been gone for almost a decade. Early onset Alzheimer’s disease took her from me. But I still find signs of my mother everywhere I look. My mother left her mark on everything she touched before she died. I still find her handwriting […]

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Grief and Mental Health

I Miss the World that Made Sense because It Included My Late Mom

I miss the world that made sense because it included my late mom. I miss the world where my mother went to events. And I miss the world where my mother had friends. I miss the world that made sense because it included my late mom. My dad recently attended his 50th high school reunion. […]

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Grief and Mental Health

Your Grief Does Not Make Me Uncomfortable because I’ve Been There, Too

Your grief does not make me uncomfortable. I won’t try to fix your grief. I won’t tell you platitudes like, “They’re in a better place,” or, “At least you had x amount of time with them.” I won’t dismiss or invalidate your feelings. I won’t tell you not to cry. I won’t tell you that […]

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Grief and Mental Health Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Motherhood and Parenting

I Will Never Stop Grieving the Loss of My Mother to Alzheimer’s Disease

I will never stop grieving the loss of my mother to Alzheimer’s disease. I thought that when my mother died and was freed from her earthly suffering, my grief would soon be over. After all, I felt that I had really been grieving since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. I had already lost her, a little more […]