E56: FINALE: I’m dreading the new year
As the new year approaches, a listener's grief for her dad is louder than ever. She's wondering if it's normal for grief to resurface, even though time has passed.
Listen to This Episode:
Dear Grief Guide,
As the new year approaches, I find myself dreading it like never before. Next week would have been my dad’s birthday, and just this past October marked the second anniversary of his passing. For some reason, the weight of it all feels five times heavier this year. I’ve been full-on crying as if I’m right back at the moment I lost him. It’s like the grief is fresh and raw, hitting me harder than ever.
I thought time would soften the edges, but it feels like I’ve been knocked off my feet again. Is it normal for the pain to come back in such an intense wave? As the calendar inches toward another year, I’m feeling more anxious, more depressed, and more exhausted than I anticipated. It’s as though the idea of moving forward in time—into yet another year he’ll never be part of—only amplifies the sense of loss.
I keep wondering if anyone else has experienced something like this. Is it common for grief to surge again, even when you’ve had a little distance from it? I’m struggling to make sense of why it’s so hard now and afraid that the new year will knock me down for good.
Signed,
New Year’s Grieve
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