Remnants

A few weeks ago, I went to the cemetery to see mum for the first time in over a year. 

I feel terrible even saying that. Just leaving the house is hard enough, but I do not know how to deal with heavy emotions without alcohol. And I’m only just starting to feel confident enough in my sobriety (coming up on 15 months) to be able to go to the cemetery and not be tempted to drink. 

Because for me, it was never just taking flowers. It was a day trip. I would take bottles of Not Water, and I would drink and cry and fall apart. I’d sit there for hours. I’d get stuck. I would feel guilty about choosing to leave. Twice, I ended up going home, only to end up in the emergency room that night due to various self-injurious behaviors.

It was a mess. I was a mess.

This time, I asked S to drop me off and pick me up at the end of our support time. Although I only took a coffee and an electrolyte drink, I still need the set times to stop me spending all day there and spiraling into the abyss (which I am perfectly capable of doing without alcohol). But I feel good having been.

It’s been a heavy few weeks, with my birthday, mum’s birthday, and Mother’s Day, all in the space of 11 days.

I ended up staying up obscenely late on the night before my birthday, had a few hours sleep, saw my psychologist, then slept through a good chunk of the afternoon. I thought I had a lot to talk about with her. But I just wasn’t able to. I felt too fragile, and didn’t want to break. I tried to keep it in, clenched my jaw, but I couldn’t help a few tears leaking out when she pressed.

Mum's birthday falls exactly one week after mine. I did more for her birthday than I did for mine. I finally began to unpack some of her memorial items, things that I haven’t had the strength to since the move. I usually spend birthdays and anniversaries poring through boxes and folders, immersing myself in memories. It breaks my heart every time, and I couldn’t allow myself to get lost in it.

I’m trying now to pull myself out of the depressive episode that seems to have enveloped the past few weeks, though they seem to be happening more often this year. 

I can’t help but feel a lingering discomfort with life. When I hit these slumps, I tend to deal with it by trying to avoid life to the best of my abilities, often destroying my sleep schedule in the process, though still spending a great deal of time in bed. 

I find myself looking at Tomorrow with dread, not wanting to face Another Day. So I rush around that night, doing my morning routine, housework, getting the necessities out of the way. Then I force myself to stay awake as late as I can, knowing that for the rest of the night and tomorrow, I won’t have to do anything. At the end of the next day, after having a quiet day, rinse and repeat. Continuously dreading Tomorrow. 

The late nights just feel easier. Quieter, in the world and in my brain. 

This week has been a bit better, trying to get back into my usual routine. I’ve had a few good days doing so, but also a couple of bad days, and I immediately slip back to my more nocturnal inclinations. 

I also went out to visit my Great Aunt last week. Especially now that I don’t particularly have much contact with my brother outside of the obligatory birthday and Christmas messages, she is really the only family I have left. 

I do try to visit her every few months. It’s always good to see her, but in the past year or two, each visit feels heavier. Some visits have been more distressing than others, but this was a better day. Though when we talk about her failing health, she’s become rather fond of saying 

“Well, I am 94 years old…”

I’m scared there won’t be long left with her. And I’m not even sure if anyone will call me to let me know. 

On a selfish note - the past few visits, she’s made comments about how I’m ‘looking good’. Though, logically, I know this could mean many things - my skin, outfit, makeup, hair… But I’ve always taken it to be a compliment on my weight loss in the past 12-18 months (which, of course, is not a compliment to me, if I still look ‘good’). 

It would always ‘factory reset’ my body image. I might’ve been starting to think that I was finally beginning to get somewhat thin again, but that one comment would set me back to ‘fat’. She’s the only one who ever comments, so it’s the only external input I get these days. 

But last week, as we pulled back from our hug, her hands rubbed across my back, firmly down my arms, and she looked me up and down before declaring 

“You’ve lost weight.”

It seemed neutral - neither compliment or concern, merely a statement of fact. But it felt better than the ambiguous “you’re looking good!” - at least I didn’t have to stress about what it meant. 

I feel bad, because I genuinely don’t want to worry her. But the AN part of my brain still seeks that validation. I don’t want to be seen as big enough to still look ‘good’ (although I know I can still get away with it). And I immediately thought “she’s finally noticing, now I have to be noticeably thinner by the next visit!”

Birthday goodies from S. She knows me so well!

xxBella