It’s been tough to escape the news of the unfortunate crash of Germanwings flight 9525 in the French Alps, which appears to have been caused by the co-pilot’s suicide. In addition to ending his own life, he killed 149 passengers onboard. As they commonly do, the media have spent days covering the ins and outs of the tragedy, including analysis of the mental state of a depressed or suicidal person. While I would prefer to change the channel, my ...
Archives for March 2015
The Heart vs. the Head after Losing Dad to Suicide
My father would have celebrated his 66th birthday this past January. As we have every year since the day he left this world, my sister and I post a message on his FaceBook page as a tribute to the man we called "Dad" for so many years. Many people "liked" this message, and commented about how they miss his audacious self. Among those comments lied one in particular that initially angered me. Yet, as I thought about it throughout the day I ...
The Relationship Between Strength and Pain
Experiencing Anxiety after Loss
I was born an anxious person. Before most things have a chance to happen, I worry about the “what ifs.” I fret over things that could happen later today and 10 years from now. This is a trait that’s engrained in me and I really don’t know any other way. I like to feel prepared with lists and solutions for all of the possible outcomes I could experience in life. (Which sounds a lot like my dad.) Whether this was all due to nature, nurture or a mix ...
Can you really be thankful for loss?
Thankful, is rarely a word to describe your feelings after losing a loved one to suicide. While I am not thankful that my father died, I am thankful for the lessons I have learned during my grief journey. So for today's Motivational Monday, I encourage you all to find something to be thankful for. I promise you there IS ALWAYS something to be thankful for. ...