When my brother died, I dissociated from myself. I saw what was going on, but it was as if I was watching from afar like nothing that was happening was real. The only thing that shocked me from my numb state was when people came up to me and told me said, "I know how you feel."
No, you have no idea how I feel. You cannot begin to imagine how I feel, nor can I understand what is going in your head if a loved one of your's has died. It seemed so rude that while I could barely speak people couldn't help but say that they went through the same thing I was going through or go as far as to compare the death of my brother to the death of their cousin four times removed that they spoke to once. Why do you have to insert yourself and make the conversation about you when even his name is too hard for me to say. Why must I listen to you say, "You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers" when you can't be bothered to even come to the viewing. You will never understand how I feel, or what's it like to remember something funny that you want to email to your brother, but realizing he'll never open it. I understand that death no matter who it is or their relation to you, is a painful process. I'm not saying you should suppress everything you feel because the death of a loved one was expected or came suddenly. What I am trying to express that every death and life is different and should be treated as such. Don't pretend to understand everything I feel when I don't even know how I feel.
