Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
For today's motivational Monday post, I wanted to try something a little different. I encourage all who read to answer one, two, or all questions below. You can write your answers in the comment section. Know that you aren't alone. Know that there is someone out there who not only understands, but feels the same way. ...
What picture comes to mind when I use the word "weak"? When I think about the word, I struggle to find an image. Weak is difficult to define, yet as survivors of a suicide loss we often use this word to define ourselves. Countless times I have heard another survivor call themselves "weak" noting that they struggle to get through the day. To me, that is the definition of strength not weakness. It takes strength to get up. It takes strength ...
Innuendos are everywhere. Like most things in life, we become sensitive to innuendos after we personally experience the pain that they cause. I know in my past I have used phrases like, "I want to kill myself" or made a gun with my hand and put it against my head. I didn't think twice about how they would impact someone who had lost a loved one to suicide. To me, they were harmless. Then I lost my dad to suicide, and innuendos appeared ...
There are a couple things that I tell people who ask me how to support someone who has recently lost a loved one to suicide. First, I tell them to be there when the rest of the world moves on. Second piece of advice: it's not about what you say, it's about being there. There is nothing you can say to take the pain away. In fact, the more you say the more frustrated the person can get because their pain is not being validated. Your words ...
When I received the call that my dad had taken his life, I was introduced to a new level of pain. Something that I never thought would happen, happened. Suicide. I have heard of others losing a loved one to suicide, but this was not something that I ever thought I would be faced with. Over time, I have found gratitude in my loss. While I experienced a new level of pain, I have also experienced a new level of joy. I am not sure I would have ...
