My previous post, "The Stages of Grief" continues to be one of the most viewed posts on our page. On a daily basis a number of individuals are "googling" these terms, searching for something or someone to direct them through the grief process. In this post, I want to revisit the stages of grief after a suicide. Grieving the death of a loved one who died this way is extremely complicated. There are a number of elements that come into play. As a ...
Archives for June 2014
One Year Behind Our Side of Suicide
This month marks a proud moment for us – it’s our one-year “anniversary” of launching Our Side of Suicide. Early last summer, during one of our regular get-togethers, we each commented how we felt compelled to do more to bring awareness to the topic of suicide/prevention, support survivors and share about our experiences. Today, we reflect on what the past year has meant to us.
Becky's Story
We felt so thankful to have been brought together by ...
Father’s Day After Dad Died
Celebrating holidays after the loss of a loved to suicide can be extremely difficult. Becky and I wanted to take the time to talk about how we mark Father's Day after dad died and how it impacts us. While our fathers are no longer with us, their memories are strong. We continue to honor them on this blog and celebrate the lives they lived.
Becky's Story
It’s hard to believe another Father’s Day weekend is upon us. I still find it difficult to ...
Debating the Terms Completed vs. Committed Suicide
One of the more common questions I get as a survivor of suicide is how I prefer to describe my dad’s final act. In an effort to be “PC,” they wonder if it’s better to say he completed vs. committed suicide, or even something else, like “he took his life.” To be honest, it never really occurred to me to think about it until I was asked. This is certainly a personal “preference” for survivors, but for me, there was really no sugar-coating the fact ...
Psychotropic Medications and Suicide
In the aftermath of yet again, another mass shooting, I have found myself questioning what is contributing to the consistent rise in mass murders that often end in suicide? While at a friend's house the other night, her husband and I discussed the issue. "As a therapist," he asked, "what do you think the problem is? Is it a gun control problem or a mental health problem?" This is often the question asked by many in our society. The media ...