Suicide is and will always be a shocking notion. Because of this, people don’t always know what they should or shouldn’t say to someone in the wake of their loss, or if they should say something at all. As a survivor, I can say that it’s always better to say something to the bereaved versus avoiding the subject. It shows you care. Following are a few of the tips I would offer to someone who wants to reach out to a suicide survivor with words of ...
Archives for July 2013
Two Year Anniversary of My Dad’s Suicide
Today is the two-year anniversary of my Dad’s suicide. I can't believe he died two years ago. Two years is a long time, and I am pretty sure that I think about him all day, every day. He’s always on my mind…not in a crazy way, but I just always think about him. When walking around PetsMart with my Dog yesterday, I saw a “Tommy Bahama” clothing line for dogs and thought of my Dad who loved that brand. I think of him whenever I drive on the Dan ...
A Random Sign from My Dad
I’m sure everyone has told you that this grief process is a roller coaster and your emotions will take over at any moment out of the blue. Some are obvious; when I was buying a Father’s Day gift for my father in law in June, I started balling at CVS as I read several cards that were perfect for my Dad.
One thing that caught me off guard several months ago was a smell that reminded me of my Dad. I was in the hallway outside of my bathroom and ...
How Family Members Grieve Differently
Three years prior to my Dad’s suicide, my Mom died suddenly in a car accident. I remember not being able to cry at the wake or funeral, and how so many people kept telling me “it’s okay Lindsay”, as if they thought I was trying not to cry. It’s not that I wasn’t upset, I was insanely upset-- My Mom died suddenly six months before my wedding. For some reason, I was so in shock I couldn’t cry. I cried on my own when trying to fall asleep (when I ...
After Death Communication: Looking for Signs after Losing Someone to Suicide
The sudden, unexpected loss of someone to suicide can leave survivors searching for answers. Following my dad’s passing, I frantically sought out clues or signs that he was ok, wanting to know that he reached a better place and was now relieved of his emotional pain. Even more, I wanted to know I was somehow still on his mind and that we would maintain an eternal connection.
After losing someone to death of any kind, I think it’s natural to ...