My step-dad hung himself a little over a week ago, after a mental breakdown and severe depression that lasted about a month before he killed himself. My mom blames herself because she was supposed to be with him at the time, but he convinced her to go on home (he was at his woodworking shop) and he'd be joining her at home soon after, when he was finished cleaning up. He had been doing fine all day. My mom was exhausted from caring for him, because he would wake up several times every night having panic attacks, so she had a lapse in judgement. So she won't accept the normal "you can't blame yourself, you didn't know this would happen" condolences, because she says she should have been with him.
She also was the one who found him, so in her mind she will always have the image of him hanging.
I've never seen my mom so broken. I want to help her through this but I don't know what to say. I know that she shouldn't blame herself, but how can I help her realize this?
2007-10-29
03:53:07
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8 answers
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asked by
mizpriz30
3