lost mother due to an overdose. how to get through this?

[jorgia]

I lost my mother in April of 2020 because of a drug overdose. how do you cope with this? is there anything that helped you during a time like this? how do you get yourself out of drowning in your thoughts?

[BEQUET93]

Losing a parent is always difficult, but losing them due to an overdose has to be especially trying. Please accept my condolences. I am still in the process of developing coping skills, but I have been getting by posting on this forum, writing emails to friends, doing home improvement projects, painting portraits of my mother, and playing guitar. Also, I started a journal, so I could have an outlet for the externalization for my thoughts and feelings. When I find myself reliving the final weeks of my mother's life, I try to center myself in the present and remember that she wouldn't want me to always feel miserable. It can be a struggle, but I very much believe that there will come a day when all of us have come to terms and made peace with the absence of our loved ones.

[sierrakc]

Hi Jorgia, I recently lost my father to an overdose as well (October 2020). I'm new to this site/community, but just wanted to comment to let you know I saw your post and am probably feeling some of your same feelings. So far the most helpful thing for me has been therapy. I had never done individual therapy before the last two months, but it has been unbelievable helpful just to have a safe place where you can share your feelings, have them validated, and also learn ways to address them. If that's something available to you, I really recommend it.