Quote Originally Posted by Jez Hellewell View Post
I'm no coroner, but it looked like a possible heart attack to me. Both fists were tightly clenched & blood on his top teeth. Maybe suggesting he'd bitten down on his lip of tongue?

The police said it's incredible how many people ignore a dead body!!
Really sorry to hear that you've had that awful experience Jez.It is a massive shock when something so unexpected and so tragic crashes into our normal and day-to-day life experiences. It understandably rocks our sense of security in the normality of things. While living in Namibia, I once came across (first at the scene) a car crash on a lonely bush road where the parents of two children where fatally killed and their two children very injured. Fortunately I wasn't alone and we were able to contact the local services eventually. As a psychologist, I can vouch that those experiences you've been having, such as intrusive thoughts and unsettled sleep, are all very natural, healthy and happen to everyone. They're a kind of re-running/processing to try and make sense of something which isn't always easy to make sense of. It is good to talk, but sometimes having to tell and retell the experience can compound the shock. However, the best thing I believe is to also emphasis the positives in 'the story' of what happened and they are there too. Such as: you were really well equipped (phone etc) and probably the best person to have made the discovery (rather than a group of kids DoE etc. or less psychologically resilient person); you did exactly the right thing and the authorities got there; etc. It might even be comforting for the family of the person that you stayed with their kin, and didn't abandon them as the Police told you some people are minded to do. I think your deciding to run the route again the following day was not only courageous but a really positive step for your psychological wellbeing. Good on yer.