If only I had known he/she was dying…
If only I hade made him quit smoking…
If only I had forbidden he/she to drive…
If only he/she hadn’t taken that trip…
If only I had gone with her/him…
If only he/she had seen his/her physician more regularly…
If only I had insisted his/her work shorter hours…
If only I had taken his /her symptoms more seriously…
Then there are the if onlys about changing reality:
If only I hadn’t fought with him so much about money…
If only I had been more loving…
If only we hadn’t moved…
If only he hadn’t retired…
If only we had more children…
If only I had been stricter…
If only I hadn’t nagged him…
Anything at all can become an if only. Our unfulfilled wishes as well as our mistakes can cause us great pain.
Grief can challenge us in many ways and impact greatly on our thinking. We can decide to hold on to certain thoughts or work towards changing them. Grief Therapy can be a beneficial way of growing after a loss.
Counselling and Psychotherapy available on a individual or family basis in Dublin 4 or Swords