Dear AverageAusGuy,
Well done for posting and reaching out in this difficult time. I am sorry to hear of the sudden loss of your family member. Grief is the hardest, and heaviest of all emotions, I find. I would certainly think it quite normal, to some degree, for you to be going through the motions of considering your own mortality. But as you said, if it is way above normal, and interfering in your daily life and functions, then yeah, perhaps it is time to do something more.
Have you spoken to you doctor, and or a counselor about what has been going on for you? Do you think that might help? If not, then that is a suggestion I would like you to consider. Of course, I myself am no professional, and being here online, obviously there is only so much that I, or anyone here, can suggest or help out with.
Of course, with that in mind, you are most certainly welcome to come here as much as you like. After all, that's what we are here for.
In the meantime, try and remind yourself to keep your mind in the present; right here and right now. Focus on what you can see, smell, hear, touch and taste right now. Anxiety feeds off the unknown and the unfamiliar, and the truth is that none of us know what is around the corner.
For example, if I had've known, four years ago, that I was going to be in a high speed car crash, I would never have gotten in the car ...... mind you, I also may not be offering and hosting a regular girls night catch-up (about once a month or once every six weeks) either. One of the ladies is the one that was driving and she was an emotional wreck ...... anyway, long story there.
I now ride also ride a motorbike and I can tell you, I KNOW there are risks .... but if I spent my time being afraid of them, there is no way I'd be getting on that bike! And what a waste of time and money that would be: a perfectly fun machine just sitting in my shed!
Yes, life involves risk. But there is also protective measures WE can take to reduce the risk and harm, which means there is almost always at least SOMETHING that is within our control.
Your health and wellbeing is included in that. You CAN eat well, and get exercise, for example. You can drive safely, and work with safety gear ...... etc.
Moral of my story; do the best you can with what you have and let the universe take care of the rest. We may all have an expiry date, but we also all have plenty of living to do before then.
Take care. I'll be thinking of you. xo
