Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
Since my dad died by suicide four years ago, I’ve continued to debate how much of a “choice” he really had at the time. On the surface, it seems simple. He chose to take his life and stop struggling with depression and anxiety. He chose not to stay and spend more time with his family and work. He chose the time, place and method to end his life. However, the more I learn about suicide and the crippling effects of mental illness on a person, the ...
I’ve noticed a personal phenomenon lately as I scroll through my Facebook News Feed – I avoid or quickly bypass stories that make me feel uncomfortable. This is a highly subjective practice, knowing everyone has different emotional “triggers” - a term I learned in online forums. (I actually hate the word triggers since my dad took his life with a gun.) But, now I’m wondering if my avoidance of these tragic topics is making me a hypocrite. After ...
Anger at and forgiveness of a loved one are among the most popular topics survivors of suicide raise on the blog. Today, we welcome guest blogger Brandy L., who discusses her ongoing battle with both following the loss of her mother.
In July of 1991, as a ten-year-old little girl, I walked into my house to find my mom dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Her letter goodbye said not much more than “goodbye and good luck.”
In 2006, I ...
Since losing my dad to suicide, the winter holidays seem to exacerbate my feelings of anxiety. His absence and the dramatic way his death impacted our family traditions becomes painfully clear this time of year. Coupled with this are coincidentally-timed stressful events that only fan the flames of my worries. (For instance, in December 2014, I panicked about returning to work post maternity-leave and felt a bit of déjà vu again this year.) At ...
This holiday season, we'd like to extend warm wishes of peace, comfort and hope to our dear readers. Cherish the special memories of your loved ones, especially during this time. Here are some of mine from years past.
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