[BrookeM.]

I've been posting a ton on here lately, and for that I'm sorry, but I'm just seeking comfort. Tomorrow will make two weeks since my dad passed, and my anxiety and panic has been acting up in a ton of scary ways (dissociation, confusion, overthinking, nothing makes sense, lightheadedness, hot flashes, constant jittering, among many other things). I'm already on Zoloft and have been for around 9 years. I've been on 100mg since 2013, and it seemed to do pretty well until this happened. My question, is will I get better as time passes without the need to get a therapist? I have my mom that I tell everything to, and I'm trying to apply tips I've read online to my daily life (and more would be appreciated). But I really am trying to not have to get involved with a therapist, but I just need some reassurance that it will gradually improve without seeing one. Thank you all for all of your help, and I'm sorry to keep being such a bother.

[Skeezyks]

Hello BrookeM.: My condolences on your loss. Well... I'm an older person who, many years ago, was born into a quite elderly extended family. I spent my whole childhood going to one funeral after another as they all passed away one-by-one. My parents have now been gone for quite a few years too. So I have some experience with this sort of thing.

And, at least based on my personal experience, I would say yes. Given time, grief does ease without the help of a therapist. Time, as the saying goes, heals all wounds. But keep in mind that everyone's response to grief & loss is different. And there's no guarantees as far as how much time will have to go by before you begin to notice improvement or how much improvement you will experience. Of course, the same could be said about seeing a counselor or therapist too.

Personally I think the important question is: what are you doing to assuage the grief you're experiencing? Realistically the chances are this is not the only loss you're going to experience as you go through life. There is, perhaps, a sense in which the grief you're experiencing now could be viewed as a message from deep within your psyche that is telling you you need to find a way to heal from the types of losses we all experience as we go through life. Psych med's can help. So can therapy. Another option is to find some faith or spiritual practice you can anchor yourself in. Each of us has to find what works for us. I wish you well...

[lizardlady]

Oh Brooke, your grief is the equivalent of a fresh gaping wound. Of course it is going to hurt after only two weeks.

Skeezyks is right we all grieve in our own way, at our own pace. Two weeks is very early in the healing process. My advice would be to let yourself feel whatever you feel. With time the pain should ease a bit, but it never goes away completely. Hang in there, it gets better.