Understanding and Managing Grief, September 18 - September 24, 2022

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Now I worry that — by perpetuating false ideas about how one should grieve — the new definition of PGD will potentially result in even less social support for bereaved individuals when they really need it. The Hidden Dangers of Pathologizing Grief « Medscape Nurses

Coping with "Moment of Death Guilt" in Grief

[Reviewed and updated February 24, 2025]

Protective parents tend to not die with their children in the room, even if that child is seventy years old.  ~ Barbara Karnes, RN

A reader writes: My mom passed away 28 days ago. She was very sick and I took care of her for the last 10 years - she was living with me. I never left her alone, in fact our family dynamic changed because she was our priority. She was in the hospital for 12 days and everyday I was there for 12 to 13 hours, but could't stay overnight because I have a knee injury and it was necessary to rest my leg to be ready for the next day. On November 30th the doctors told me they couldn't do much for her, just wait to see what happened during the following 24/48 hours.

Understanding and Managing Grief, March 13 - March 19, 2016

Best selection from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

7 Things No One Tells You About Losing A Parent As A Child, http://j.mp/1R7mp8O « BuzzFeed

Self Care After Devastating Loss, http://j.mp/1pSTdcM « Christina Rasmussen

Making Time for Grief During Pregnancy, http://j.mp/1Ujh5CJ « What's Your Grief?

In Grief: Coping with “Moment-of-Death Guilt”

Find the updated version of this post here:

Coping with "Moment of Death Guilt" in Grief

A reader writes: My mom passed away 28 days ago. She was very sick and I took care of her for the last 10 years - she was living with me. I never left her alone, in fact our family dynamic changed because she was our priority. She was in the hospital for 12 days and everyday I was there for 12 to 13 hours, but could't stay overnight because I have a knee injury and it was necessary to rest my leg to be ready for the next day. On November 30th the doctors told me they couldn't do much for her, just wait to see what happened during the following 24/48 hours.
That day I was there for over 12 hours and a friend came and volunteered to stay with her that night. I did not want to leave...I knew she was dying...but I was in denial. I was expecting her to get better to take her home. I left the hospital at 8 pm, but inside of me I had the urgency to tell her how much I love her, and I did before I left that night. At 12:02 my mom passed away...and this is killing me!!! Why I did not stay with her, I'm the only daughter...it was my responsibility to stay, but I was afraid and in denial. She was alone, my friend left at 11:30 pm and I wasn't there. How can I take this guilt out of my chest...if she is not here to forgive me?