Pat's Answer

I'm afraid to say goodbye to my Dad when he dies

Your Question

im afraid to say goodbye to my dad when he dies because my dad means alot to me and not having him around would kill me. what will i do 

Answer

Welcome to Ask Pat, 

Thank you for contacting us with your concern. We know how hard it can be for people to open up about their fears and thoughts, but it is so important to share the load; no-one should feel like they have to do it all on their own. It is a very positive step for you to share and open up. 

You have said that you are afraid to say goodbye to your dad when he dies. We are sorry to hear you have this on your mind. Is your dad currently unwell? If your dad is still alive, is it something you have talked with him about? Death is a very difficult part of life to have deal with and saying goodbye to loved ones is not easy. We believe it is very important to look for support from those around us. Would you have a trusted adult that you could talk to? This can be a parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, or grandparent. It is good to be able to share our worries with someone we trust and feel comfortable with as they may be able to help us make sense of our feelings or if need be, help us get additional support from relevant professionals. You may not want to approach a family member because the issue is too close to them but know that you can always approach another trustworthy adult such as a teacher, sports coach, neighbour for support. 

You might not have anyone that you feel able to talk to right now about your dad, if that is the case know that Childline are here and ready to listen to any concerns or issues you may have. Childline is a free and confidential listening service which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can contact Childline through a telephone service on 1800 66 66 66 or text service on 50101 or by web chat which you can access at www.childline.ie. Another website you might want to have at look at is www.rainbows.ie as it deals specifically with bereavement and loss.  

We hope that you find the information above helpful. Look after yourself and know that you have made a very brave and positive move forward in reaching out for help. 

Thanks for getting in touch and mind yourself. 

Pat 

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