A Journey from Grief to Healing- Fidel 24

I had never experienced such emotional depletion.

It was the lowest point in my life. I had never experienced such emotional depletion and emptiness before.

We were deeply in love.

I had been in a deeply loving relationship with my girlfriend since 2019. She introduced me to her family, and I had plans to do the same. Her love was extraordinary, the kind every person dreams of.

Taken away before we reconciled

But then, things changed. In May 2022, just 13 days before my birthday, she passed away. It was a week after we had a disagreement. She felt I wasn't putting enough effort into our relationship. She even said that I would never find someone as loving as she was. I brushed off her words until the 10th of May, when I received a call from her brother. He informed me that she was having really bad stomach pains and had lost consciousness for three hours. Despite my best efforts, she couldn't speak when I called her. Her siblings updated me on her condition. At midnight, her brother called again with the devastating news that she had passed away on their way to the hospital.

Pain then regret

The pain was unbearable, and I cried like I never had before. Regret started to eat at me after her burial. I couldn't stop thinking about how I had treated her, the lack of effort I had shown and the hurtful words she had spoken. Depression took hold of me. I lost weight, struggled to eat and sleep, and isolated myself from the world.

I opened up

A friend of mine noticed that something was really wrong. He recommended that I seek counselling and even generously covered the cost. At the counsellor's office, I poured out my heart, narrating the story of my loss. Through therapy, she helped me realize that her passing wasn't my fault. She educated me about the tendency to blame ourselves for things beyond our control. She taught me healthy coping skills to deal with my overwhelming emotions. She listened and provided much-needed emotional support during our sessions.

Try it; It worked for me.

Today, I can wholeheartedly recommend counselling to anyone in need. It proved to be the anchor that pulled me out of the abyss of grief. Counselling taught me that seeking help is a sign of strength, and with the counsellor's guidance, I found healing and peace. Though the pain of her loss remains, I've learned to cherish the love we shared and honour her memory by living a life she would be proud of.

You only have to reach out.

In sharing my story, I hope others find solace in the fact that they are not alone in their struggles. There is support and help available for those willing to take the first step toward healing.