Very sorry for your loss. Yes.Zoloft 50 mg a day and Lorazepam 1 mg daily. They help

I don't take any medications. My doctor offered once....because I started to cry during a checkup. I worry too much what the stress has done to my health, as if that helps...Yes, only people on the same journey can understand. Hugs to you missingt.

No medications here, my Dr. did give me some ativan but I never took it. If I had trouble sleeping I took a 1/2 dose of NyQuil and that usually helped me. On occasion I will take some St Johns wort for stress. Ask your Dr about a natural stress relief.

I didn't take medication for quite a while after losing my husband, but after 3 years I was functioning on the outside, but on the inside I knew I wasn't where I wanted to be. I trust my family doctor and made an appointment to talk with him. He started me on lexipro and set up an appointment with a psychologist. I feel the combination of both were a huge healing tool for me. Nothing can cure grief but there is no reason we can't have help with tools. It's no different than any physical therapy. Sharon

At first I didn't want any medication, I hate taking pills. But three months after my husband passed I was not feeling any better. My doctor prescribed wellbutrin. I've been taking it for 5 months.

Is it helping? I don't know. Maybe it's the antidepressant, maybe it's time passing, and I'm coping better?

My doctor has not prescribed anything for me. I have wondered if it would help or not. You are right, others think you are OK and you are dying inside (or least I am). Yes, only those who have experienced this great of a loss can understand and each is different depending upon their relationship.

I keep thinking of everything about this. In 2.5 years, I met, dated, married, and lost my wife. I feel everything from grief to anger to depression. It hits in waves.

I lost my wife less than 2 months ago. The grieving has been unbelievable. No one, except those who have lost a spouse, seems to understand how lonely and empty things are when you wake up to four walls, etc. I have gone to numerous group meetings including GriefShare...and have met some nice people there. I have not taken any prescription drugs and do not care to. The side-affects to all the drugs mentioned bother me more than what they may help me with in coping with my loss. Many of the drugs mentioned were the same drugs my wife was on. I think they hurt her more than helped. Thanks

I do believe the stress of grief is very real and can have long term effects on health. I find I am just about getting through the grief and all that comes with it day by day, however I have had lots of extra happenings, which have been extra stressful, lately.
So far, with God's grace I haven't needed to take anything. However,
I would not be opposed to asking my doctor for some kind of medication to help through anything I couldn't cope with.
Celestial Seasons herbal sleepy time tea is my sleeping pill at night.
One soothing mug of that, helps me relax and sleep.
I realize moving forward in the grief is the key, however, I will never put a timeline on the extent of my grief, even if friends tell me I should feel ok. As you said....sometimes it's not O.K.
You are in my thoughts......Sandra

My doctor prescribed two medications for me, I had them filled, I put them in the medicine cabinet and I haven't taken one of them yet. It's that psychological thing that if you have it, you won't need it!

If I need something to help me I won't hesitate to take it, as long as it doesn't interfere with my functioning on my job.

I know that grief is a process but sometimes I get lost in the process of it all! And, all I want is my life back!

Roz

I started having anxiety attacks a few weeks ago. My doctor prescribed Xanax. I did not want to take it (HATE drugs)....... but I have taken one when I was having an attack and it did work. I am not going to take it daily, but it is good to have when I need it.

The way I look at it is if I had an infected wound and my doctor prescribed antibiotics I would take them to clear up the infection. If you have a problem that medication can help fix, there is no shame in it. You are not weak because you need some help.

It does not have to be a long term either. But if you are taking antidepressants do not stop taking them on your own. Many of those require a slow reduction of dosage.

Thank you so much for sharing! Hugs and peace for all!

It has been 15 months since my husband was killed in a freak accident and some days it feels like it was just yesterday and others feel like he will walk through the door any minute - it is especially hard on the weekends. I seem to have more of a depression because that is when we would go out or just do things around the house but mainly it is just feeling the loss. I have been busy helping plan my youngest son's wedding in June and so my mind has been busy - I know that event alone will be bittersweet since the loss of my husband and also due to the fact that he and the youngest were so close. I plan to go to a grief counselor next week and see if that will help some. I really do not think there is anything that will help fill the void in my life. Hugs to everyone out there going through this too.

mary1950 @15 months you're still early... esp w/wedding planning taking up your time/energy. Pretty much went thru the same @ about the same time w/daughter's. My husband died w/in 7 days of pancreatic cancer dx. Healthy 58 yr old. Yeah. Life.

So year one was shock... year two brutal w/ reality hitting... year three not that much better. Retired early @ 1.5 yr into it after getting my footing. Read somewhere that it takes one year for every five married. Seems about right. Were married for 33 so @ 3 + still have a few to go... we were blest to be able to say goodbye... that's helped so much. Yes they were God's not ours.

Life is slowly falling into place 3.5 yrs later... finding widowed friends (most others DO NOT get it) volunteering @ church and just working on grief. It all still takes so much energy and sleep is most important ... sometimes need melatonin or Benadryl (both OTC). Yes my body is feeling it. Nothing is the same. Thanks missingt ... God hold us !

1 year for every 5... So my 354 days should give me a couple of months? I don't think that will happen.