Is it normal to completely ignore a family crisis

About a year ago, my mom and dad had a big fight (I wasn't home that day so I don't know what else happened) and my mom had a terrible mental breakdown where she had to be taken to a hospital, and she moved out soon afterwards but I kept on staying at my dad's place because he worked nights and I didn't wanna face anyone, especially my mom. I know it sounds awful because she was going through a terrible time and I wasn't there to support her, but everything about her at the time was just so depressing and I didn't want any of that for myself. I'd visit her once a week or so, and she'd always break down in tears and ask me why I was avoiding her. Looking back on that summer now, I really can't believe how apathetic and heartless I was. My mother was going through hell on her own and her only daughter was actively avoiding her. I live with her now and we don't talk about that period of time anymore, but recently she's had another breakdown due to her PTSD and I was there by her through all of it and it was really traumatizing for me. It's been a week and I still can't get the image of her crying and screaming out of my head. I'm currently working on music due this fall and I can't focus on any of it. Do you think it was necessary for me to be beside her or should I have kept on ignoring this whole thing for my own sake? It's really killing my creativity and mood in general.