Grieving - my nana

[Sophiet]

Hello, my names Sophie and I'm 23 years old.
I lost my nana two years ago in January and I am still coming to terms with the overwhelming effects my loss has caused me. 
She was my best friend and second carer.
I just wanted to know if anyone here had lost someone similar or had any advice to give me on how to cope with my grief. 

[kayc]

I am sorry for your loss, I realize your Nana may be a grandparent but often they serve in a parental capacity as well, so I'm sending you this link to a good article I hope you will find of help.  I was not close to my grandmothers but there was an elderly lady across the street from where I grew up, and she served as grandmother to me.  As a young adult I lived a short distance from where she went to assisted living so was able to visit with her frequently.  She had a profound influence on my life and even though it's been many years since she's been gone (I am old now), I still think of her.  My own mother passed 4 1/2 years ago but my father when I was young.  

https://www.griefhealingblog.com/2013/02/parent-loss-continuing-their-song.html
http://www.griefhealingblog.com/2014/08/grief-understanding-process.html
http://www.griefhealingblog.com/2010/04/finding-grief-support-that-is-right-for.html
http://www.griefhealingblog.com/2012/10/seeing-specialist-in-grief-counseling.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Youve-Got-the-Power-How-to-Know-If-You-Are-Doing-Your-Grief-Work&id=9047323

[Saraneth]

I lost my beloved grandma last year and it’s still hard sometimes. I took care of her in her last years of life and we were so close. I miss her everyday. Something g that helped me was creating a “space” to share time with her memory. For me it’s making a cup of tea that we both loved and thinking of her while I drink it. I call it Grandma’s tea and it makes me feel so close to her and so loved.  

[kayc]

I love that. I will use this idea after my dog is euthanized...he has nine days left (cancer).  Not tea, but maybe on my walks...he always went with me.

[Jessika]

I’ll be 21 in a few months but I lost my grandmother this May. So far it’s been easier but there’s moments where grief takes over and it’s difficult. Now things are going to get harder cause it’s the year of a lot of firsts without her, first Christmas without her, Thanksgiving without her, etc... I told my sister I’ve gone crazy cause now I want a tattoo to symbolize her. And it’s all these things and it’s just been one thing after another.  

[kayc]

Jessika,

I'm sorry for your loss, Jessika. June 6 I got the news my dog had inoperable cancer, August 16 I had him euthanized so he wouldn't suffer any more and it's been a hard summer, I imagine yours was too.

No, you haven't gone crazy.  My daughter got her cat's paw tattooed on her ankle when she passed away.

[widow'15]

On 9/18/2019 at 10:53 PM, Jessika said:

I want a tattoo to symbolize her. And it’s all these things and it’s just been one thing after another.  

Jessika:  So sorry you lost your Grandmother.   When I was a child my Grandmother lived upstairs in the duplex I grew up in.  Whenever I needed someone to listen to me or just to be with someone I knew loved me unconditionally I would just walk up the flight of stairs to that special person.  My daughter had a similar relationship with my Mother.  When my Mother was suffering with dementia my daughter and I took care of her her last eight months of life.  After my Mother passed away my daughter had a tattoo of her Grandmother's face on right leg, from the knee to the ankle.  At first this didn't make me too happy, but I have come to understand how very much she loved her Grandmother and was her final way of showing her deep love for her.  You are not crazy.  You were Loved.

Hugs to you.  Dee