I don't think I can do this anymore

[namechangedyetagain]

I lost my brother 6 weeks ago. I've been putting one foot in front of the other but I'm not sure I can go on without him. I need him. I miss him. My children are so sad. My mum is so sad. My SIL is so sad.

We are all just devastated. I have medication from the gp and counselling booked. But it's not actually going to change anything is it. I just sit with tears streaming..I don't understand how it can be? Just how? And why would he leave me? He knows I'm not the strong one. What will I do?

I'm wondering how you are, Namechanged? I'm so sorry for your loss.

Try not to take on the grief of the rest of your family as well as your own. It just makes things seem totally overwhelming for you, and doesn't lessen their own grief one iota.

In one way, you can't help them any more than they can help you, when the only thing that will help is to have your brother back. But in another way, you can all help each other, just by being at the end of a phone, maybe, or having someone there to make a cup of tea. It is not all on your shoulders.

Does it help to be with other people? At least then you have to exert some sort of control, and the distraction gives you a bit of a break from your own distress. I hope the counselling will help too.

And even if you feel there is no hope or point in doing anything any more, your children still need to have hope for the future. Try to help them keep that hope.

You can cope, and you will, because you have to.