When Caregiving Is Done: How to Process Your Loss & Take One Day at a Time by Debbie Howard

Losing a loved one is devastating, no matter what the circumstances. Your way of processing your loss and grieving will be different from others, and it may take more time than you thought. You may find that you have guilt about how things were handled. Or wish that you could have done more. It’s good to know that you can find your own individualized, positive way forward. But you might have to fight for it, at least a bit!

You might think that stress and anxiety are only part of the “planning” and “surviving and thriving” stages of caregiving, but actually, there can be a great deal of stress associated with the “relaunching” stage as well. Your loved one has passed. You need time to grieve and process this change. There are many, many details that need to be wrapped up. Then one day, the inevitable question pops into your head, “What now?” “What next?”

Reminding yourself that the process is different for everyone and that it takes time (sometimes quite a bit of time!), can help you to calm yourself and work on taking one day at a time.

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