Anonymous asked this question on 4/16/2000:

Before my mother died many years ago, I purposely distanced myself from her physically and psychologically because she made multiple suicide attempts and I couldn't handle it.

When she died, I was living in Atlanta and she was living in Chicago. She died in February and the last time that I had seen her was at my sister's wedding the previous August. We had been in touch by phone and mail, though.

I have felt guilty about distancing myself since her death, but at the time I made the decision to distance myself, I felt that I was doing it for my mental health. Was I wrong? I know that I can't undo what is already done, but I still feel bad about what I did.

MARTIE gave this response on 4/16/2000:

You are never wrong in doing something to help yourself,we all feel this way after such a situation and it is very normal to feel the way you do.There is a process we all go through when we are involved with the death of a loved one,there are different stages of this process.Feeling guilt is one of them,you will find peace within yourself just give it a little time..Martie

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