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My dad's dead.

#1
The title says it all. My dad <Mod edit:Methods> himself on Monday. Yesterday, my mom texted me to come home as soon as possible. Wouldn't tell me what was wrong on the phone, just that my sisters were safe, my grandparents, too. So I went home today. I listened to Preacher's Daughter on the way, which seems a little macabre today because I really like Hard Times and that's about Ethel's dad dying. (sorry if I'm rambling and formating this badly)
I came through the door and my mom met me in the hallway, put her hands on my shoulders and told me. My dad shot himself. Possibly on Monday, but they only found him yesterday, Thursday.
My dad was difficult. My mom forced him to move out in 2021 when I was 14 because his verbal abuse had ramped up so much she was scared to have him and the hunting riffles in the same house. That was after I'd been hospitalized for a suicide attempt. I think to give you a clear picture of my relationship to my dad I just have to tell you that he never once spoke to me about my attempt. But I do remember how it felt to put my head on his belly while watching TV.
My dad was an alcoholic. High functioning, I guess, because I could never really tell when he was drunk or not, but the empty bottles of vodka and beer still piled up. He had a history of burnout and depression, too, I think, I'm not too sure on the depression part. He lived alone, but kept in contact with my mom, calling occasionally. He'd take care of our two cats if my sisters, mom and me went on vacation. I was always a bit scared he'd hurt them in a rage, though.
It doesn't feel real at all. I haven't cried. I feel a little like crying right now, but it's not this open wound in my chest that I've heard others talk about. He was dead for half a week and I didn't even know it.
Tomorrow we'll go see about funeral arrangements. I'm trying my best to support my mom and my sisters. They're crying more than me. It's just like when my grandpa (my dad's father) died. I remember holding my dad's hand at the funeral. I was ten, it was the first time someone I knew had died. I hadn't really cried about my grandpa, either. It also felt unreal. But I did feel sad for my dad. He seemed so unsure then, vulnerable almost. I held his hand because my mom told me to, to give him a little strength.
My mom is destroyed. She tells me she's more angry at my dad than grieving right now, but I know that part will come in time. She told me she wonders what she did wrong in her past life to deserve all of this. I don't know. She told me she never wants to have police on her doorstep again. I know I can't be selfish after that. Somehow, I have to hold on.
My dad is dead. I feel a little like a monster for not feeling it more deeply. But I'm not. Because it doesn't feel real yet. Or maybe, because he's been out of my life for so long, it doesn't even really matter, which is a horrible thought.
My dad is dead. I wonder, did he think about me? He didn't leave a note, so I don't know.
 
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Licorice

Well-Known Member
#7
I'm so sorry this pain has come to you and your family, Brutus. I hope you can find comfort and strength in the weeks and months ahead. This kind of loss takes a long time to get used to. Grief will leap out of nowhere to strike you down when you least expect it for months and maybe years to come. Whatever happens, please hold tight to the knowledge that everything you're feeling is normal and nothing to be ashamed of.
 

seabird

meandering home
SF Supporter
#10
That's horrible for you and your family @brutus61120 I'm so sorry your dad struggled with so many things and deeply sorry that he decided to kill himself. May he rest in peace. Sudden death leaves you in a massive struggle of your own. I'm glad you posted here. I hope you're able to give healthy and loving care of yourself right now. It'll take a long time to find some normality while also grieving.
 
#11
The title says it all. My dad <Mord edit:Methods> himself on Monday. Yesterday, my mom texted me to come home as soon as possible. Wouldn't tell me what was wrong on the phone, just that my sisters were safe, my grandparents, too. So I went home today. I listened to Preacher's Daughter on the way, which seems a little macabre today because I really like Hard Times and that's about Ethel's dad dying. (sorry if I'm rambling and formating this badly)
I came through the door and my mom met me in the hallway, put her hands on my shoulders and told me. My dad shot himself. Possibly on Monday, but they only found him yesterday, Thursday.
My dad was difficult. My mom forced him to move out in 2021 when I was 14 because his verbal abuse had ramped up so much she was scared to have him and the hunting riffles in the same house. That was after I'd been hospitalized for a suicide attempt. I think to give you a clear picture of my relationship to my dad I just have to tell you that he never once spoke to me about my attempt. But I do remember how it felt to put my head on his belly while watching TV.
My dad was an alcoholic. High functioning, I guess, because I could never really tell when he was drunk or not, but the empty bottles of vodka and beer still piled up. He had a history of burnout and depression, too, I think, I'm not too sure on the depression part. He lived alone, but kept in contact with my mom, calling occasionally. He'd take care of our two cats if my sisters, mom and me went on vacation. I was always a bit scared he'd hurt them in a rage, though.
It doesn't feel real at all. I haven't cried. I feel a little like crying right now, but it's not this open wound in my chest that I've heard others talk about. He was dead for half a week and I didn't even know it.
Tomorrow we'll go see about funeral arrangements. I'm trying my best to support my mom and my sisters. They're crying more than me. It's just like when my grandpa (my dad's father) died. I remember holding my dad's hand at the funeral. I was ten, it was the first time someone I knew had died. I hadn't really cried about my grandpa, either. It also felt unreal. But I did feel sad for my dad. He seemed so unsure then, vulnerable almost. I held his hand because my mom told me to, to give him a little strength.
My mom is destroyed. She tells me she's more angry at my dad than grieving right now, but I know that part will come in time. She told me she wonders what she did wrong in her past life to deserve all of this. I don't know. She told me she never wants to have police on her doorstep again. I know I can't be selfish after that. Somehow, I have to hold on.
My dad is dead. I feel a little like a monster for not feeling it more deeply. But I'm not. Because it doesn't feel real yet. Or maybe, because he's been out of my life for so long, it doesn't even really matter, which is a horrible thought.
My dad is dead. I wonder, did he think about me? He didn't leave a note, so I don't know.
I'm sorry..my deepest condolences. I hope your father has gone to someplace good. I'm so sorry.
 
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#12
Update: I'm back home. Pulled out of my chemistry lab and realized just how badly I fucked up this semester. My big sister has an appointment with my old therapist. Apparantly she's doing really, really badly. Figures. I came home because being alone just felt... wrong. Everything feels sort of wrong. It was that way before dad kicked the bucket, but now I don't even really have the relief of thinking about death because I'm seeing grief play out right in front of me and I sure as hell don't want to add to the pain. So what do you do when even breathing feels like too much sometimes and you're drowning in the smallest responsibilities? I don't know. I wish someone had the answer, but that's a pipe dream.
Thank you everyone for your kind words. I'm pretty sure my dad wouldn't appreciate me yapping about him to strangers on the internet, but he's dead so he can suck it.
 

seabird

meandering home
SF Supporter
#13
I am sorry you had to leave your chem lab. Grief comes in waves. With time, the sense of not being able to handle any tasks or responsibilities will shift and change and it's a natural process. Animals, at our core so huge loss sometimes brings us back to needing to stop everything and deal only with the shock and sadness.
Is there anything you can share with your sister to support one another?
We are strangers, but on SF it's a fairly special sub-group of internet. We are here because we care for and respect one another, in the midst of whatever is going on in our lives.
 
#14
Sudden death leaves you in a massive struggle of your own.
Ain’t that the truth.

@brutus61120, I’m really sorry about your dad, I wish I had something helpful to say.

I lost my own dad this year. Our relationship and the way he passed were different, but I imagine some of the feelings are the same. I only mention it because I want you to know you’re not alone in this.

Lean on your sister, if you can, and let her do the same with you. Shared grief is a (small) comfort.
 
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