My annual pre-Thanksgiving breakdown

@shaggin (74988)
United States
November 23, 2015 8:04pm CST
My husband died March 21, 2011. The Thanksgiving after he died was the hardest holiday for me to get through of all the holidays during the year. I will never understand why it was like that but it is the same thing every year. Today I woke up and didn't want to do anything. I just wanted to lay in bed and sleep but I had to babysit my little nephew for a few hours. I just felt more emotional and sad and filled with anxiety the longer the day went on. I developed a headache along with it. I could not figure out why I was feeling this way. I looked at the calendar so I knew I didn't have PMS. I made sure to eat and that didn't help. I got enough sleep so I knew that wasn't the problem. I was doing the dishes when I finally realized what the problem was. Every year I struggle with the days before Thanksgiving. I get such bad anxiety. The first few years I spent the day with my head in the toilet. I don't understand why it is but it is the same anxiety around the same time every year since his death. It isn't so raw as it was then. I used to wonder when this grieving would get better. I realized about a month ago that it will never get "better". It is less raw but better is never a word I will associate with his death. People who break their arms get better. People who have a cold get better. Living through someone you love dying does not get "better". I think it is an important thing I realized this. It will never get "better" but I will get through it one day at a time .
5 people like this
3 responses
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Nov 15
I don't know why it is particularly at Thanksgiving that you feel this overwhelming grief, but I think you are right that you don't get better from the pain of the loss, you just get better at getting through each day.
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
28 Nov 15
That is it exactly. You just get better at getting through each day. I tell myself all the time deep breaths.. relax... you can do this. Little pep talks all the time. I wish I understood why Thanksgiving upsets me so much without him but I have no idea. Maybe someday I will figure it out who knows. This year was pretty bad!
• Dayton, Ohio
24 Nov 15
My condolences for your loss. You are wise to take it one day at a time. The grieving process is a strange and mysterious beast. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
@zebra2222 (5268)
• United States
24 Nov 15
I can understand how difficult it must be. I've seen the passing of some of my dearest friends and relatives in the last couple years.