Families of Prisoners Support Group
This community is dedicated to families that have been disrupted by prison. Having a loved one incarcerated or having been incarcerated comes with its own unique challenges that require support and understanding. Join the group to find others who know what you're going through, and to seek advice or share your experience.
Hello All,
This is my first time actively participating in an online support group.... This is the first time I have had to deal with someone close to me being in prison.... When my husband first went away I was so overwhelmed that I just huddled with my kids and tried to make sense of everything. I had thought about joining a group like this before, but thought, "what's the point." My feelings of isolation and loneliness tell me why I should be here.
At this point, my husband has been gone for about 3 years and you never seem to really get used to the idea.Considering the situation, I think that the kids and I have adjusted fairly well....AT HOME. For some of you who have any words of encouragement and/or wisdom.....do you ever NOT feel isolated from the rest of the world? Avoding conversations at work about your spouse? Avoid or always busy when you get invited to the office party or social? What do I say? Am I wrong because I am still a bit embarassed at the thought that my HUSBAND IS IN PRISON?!?! Help
This is my first time actively participating in an online support group.... This is the first time I have had to deal with someone close to me being in prison.... When my husband first went away I was so overwhelmed that I just huddled with my kids and tried to make sense of everything. I had thought about joining a group like this before, but thought, "what's the point." My feelings of isolation and loneliness tell me why I should be here.
At this point, my husband has been gone for about 3 years and you never seem to really get used to the idea.Considering the situation, I think that the kids and I have adjusted fairly well....AT HOME. For some of you who have any words of encouragement and/or wisdom.....do you ever NOT feel isolated from the rest of the world? Avoding conversations at work about your spouse? Avoid or always busy when you get invited to the office party or social? What do I say? Am I wrong because I am still a bit embarassed at the thought that my HUSBAND IS IN PRISON?!?! Help
None of this is to say that the absence is easier to bear, it's just - most of the time - easier to talk about. I still feel quite lonely because there are some portions of all of this that I cannot speak to anyone about outside confidential counseling sessions. None of my family or friends know the whole story, and I don't know anyone like me that I can share face time with.
I can come here and find others who walk the same path, even if we're each walking in different shoes.
I am not embarassed. Just sad. We all handle it differently. But god help them if they say something negative and stupid about him. Especially if they never knew him. Then I blast them.
Sending you love & support.
@October2014, I love what you said about us all on the same path, just walking in different shoes.
You will learn to go through all kinds of emotions. Sadness, anger, loneliness, frustrations of all kinds, and more. But in the end, it does make you stronger. You learn how to be.
You push your feelings away for a few minutes at a time. You focus on other things. You force yourself to go out there in the world and try to be happy even for an hour. Eventually it even works sometimes.
You get used to your new kind of normal as much as that is possible.
Get rid of the negative people in your life and stay only with ones that make you feel ok. Don't take their negative comments. Why should we have to? Just either walk away from them, or tell them what you think of what they said.