I work from home also . . not sure this is a pos or neg . . because I find way too many distractions these days to keep me de-focused. Prior to, I would put my nose to the task at hand and not stop until my project was complete. These days it seems everything is distracting, from the dogs, to my sore leg, to a million little excuses . . not to mention all of the other extra work that needs to be done around the house now. I guess my dilemma is different than yours. Suffice to say, I think we all have our own hurdles when it comes to working while grieving. Hang in there my friend. Hugs, D

Hmm... Yes and no. I worked with my husband, so it was a continuation of the "oh my God, here I am without him." I will say that it had its moments when it distracted me and moments when I just wanted to pull my hair out and scream. Also for the first six months at least, I had the attention span of a gnat. Or the dog in Up. Instead of squirrel though it death. I would be doing something and then it would be J.R.s dead. Back to work for two second and the thought again, J.R.s dead.

In the end I found a new job which helped me tremendously. I also found that it did not help that I didn't take time off. J.R. died on Thursday and I was back to work on Monday, planning a service and trying to juggle everything. Just stupidity on my part. It does get better, have some patience with yourself.

Hugs,
Val

you know it has just sort of dawned on me (ok I'm slow these days) I work for a health insurance company and reading clinical notes/files all day. I am not a clinician but work closely with them. I've been there too long to think about leaving but I bet that has a lot to do with it. Not as bad as if I worked in hospital but certainly not a neutral zone either.

Bingo! I think you might be onto something there. Extra triggers.

I was also working from home when Arlene died.

I was in the middle of a large project, that only I could do. I told my manager I was taking a week off to observe the Jewish tradition of shiva. When I returned, he said some people "noticed" that I was absent from meetings. I asked him, "Did you tell them my wife died?" He didn't answer, that was the last I heard about it.

My work as a web programmer consumes 110% of my attention and concentration. Sometimes I feel like my brain is sweating. In some ways, it distracted and occupied me. Occasionally, I told my manager that I was in too much grief to work for a day. I could catch up.

Even months later, I have a day or a few days when I have trouble concentrating on work.

I had already consciously designed a lifestyle for myself so that I could take an occasional day off for mental health, because I occasionally have a moderate Bipolar depression. Usually I do not give details about why I am taking off, I say I am sick, and it's a sick day like anybody else.

I have trouble coming to work everyday - the thought of leaving the house is overwhelming - when I am at home, I am around her, around her stuff, I am safe, out here in the big scary world - I am all alone.