Aimlessness
Even after years of caregiving, there are some widows who say that the death brings little relief or freedom. Instead they have a sense of aimlessness and disconnectedness, of floating about with no base, no anchor. This new lack of structure and routine can be paralyzing, and it can be hard to plan anything, make decisions, manage the small tasks of everyday life.
Some widows say they feel homeless, that the spouse—not the address—was the home. They wish there was someone to phone, to ask, “Want anything while I’m out?” Sometimes widows may wander, in spare moments, buying things they return the next day. |
There can be a sense of being untethered, unconnected, alienated from the rest of the world. It may feel as if you
have no destination, no purpose. There is a background of anxiety to this sensation, and it may feel very strange and overwhelming. |
Read on: Sadness for the Dead Spouse