Hi everyone. This is my first post here.

I lost my brother in December 2024 to an accidental overdose. He passed away suddenly in his sleep. We were only a year and a half apart in age, and he was the closest person I've ever had.

One thing I've been struggling with ever since is that I feel an overwhelming pressure to reply to texts and answer calls as soon as I can. If someone messages me and I don't respond right away, my mind starts thinking, "What if something happens to them before I reply? What if this was the last conversation we were ever going to have?"

Losing my brother so suddenly has made me feel like anyone can be taken away at any moment, and now I carry that fear into almost every interaction. It can be exhausting because I feel guilty if I leave a message unanswered, even when I know I'm busy or need time for myself. Even something as simple as someone sending me ten TikToks in a row can make me anxious because I feel like I need to watch and respond to every single one.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this after losing someone. Did it get any easier over time? How do you cope with that fear?