I just can't do this.........Can I?

What "it" is,i just don't know. Time has gone so quickly that when I actually realize we are coming up to ten whole years without my beautiful boy,i canNOT breathe. 

It seems the first few years, I was completely and utterly numb. I have kept myself so busy so as not to feel.When I did feel,it was anger at whoever was closest. Realizing this,I found a therapist and worked really hard at that emotion,but just could not get to the heart of the matter and discuss Keith fully.

Every day-every single is agony. Physical pain. Severe neck aches, headaches, jaw clenching so bad I can't tolerate it. Terrible sleep. Every test you can imagine...and I am a healthy girl.Thank goodness. I have a few minor issues,but my issues are all centered around my loss. I can't handle it. 

I am fine on the outside..made up-hair done-clothes clean....but the terror inside is unrelenting and exhausting. I am sick of it. 

I say I don't know what "it" is as I just can't figure out what I am supposed to do to come to a place where I can understand a loss SO great that my life begins to have meaning again. This is a terrible sentence,and I know people on this site will understand but when I say "my son died"as an EXCUSE (for lack of a better word) for oh...why i can't focus...why i ran a red light.....why i can't go to weddings...and the person says "Oh,I'm sorry when did that happen?" and I say 2006-they STARE at me. Which has NOW made me think"what is wrong with you Lisa??" 

Every single person who loses a child loved their child without exception,but for me,i seem to be having quite an issue understanding it is okay to move on. That child was everything to us. I just think the sun rose and set with him and what we did to help him overcome his addiction was astounding, to no avail .To have it end one and a half hours out of his 18th rehab at age 20 ,I still can't comprehend. 

I am actually in awe of people who say they accept their child's death and can continue to live....i will never accept Keith's death. I understand it happened. I understand I have to keep going. And,i do. But,I am so changed,it horrifies me. And I don't know how to begin to be an eighth of what i once was. 

When I think of how hard this is,I can't breathe. When I think of the rest of my life ,i just don't know what to do. Stuck. Even though I am productive and busy...inside I am just....stuck. I know Keith doesn't want me to be sad, but I never imagined a life where he wasn't a living,breathing human being. I carry him with me and think of him always. I say I can't do this,but I AM doing this. What choice do we have? 

About the Author

My name is Lisa McCarthy.I am married 3o years now to Tim and we have two children.One is thankfully here with us,our beautiful daughter Randi,who is now 24 and our wonderful son Keith who left us and rocked our world at age 20, February 26,2006. To say we have not recovered would be an understatement.I can't fathom a life without my golden boy.Yet,I wake up every single day,and I go on. We go on. Thankful for memories and the terrific life we gave him....but it just isn't enough.Seven years have passed in a blur. A lifetime of this struggle?? I can't imagine.

I'm Grieving, Now What?