Five years have passed since losing my dad to suicide. It is often hard to believe that so much time has passed, while other times it feels like just yesterday. My dad's death has been the most life changing experience thus far. It introduced me to a new level of pain; a level that I never knew existed. The year of firsts, as we survivors of a suicide loss call it, was a difficult one. Not because of his death, but because of my inability ...
How to Survive Thanksgiving after a Suicide
The holiday season can be a difficult time for those who have been touched by suicide. For me, the holidays are a reminder of my own dad's suicide. I will never forget the phone conversation I had with my dad the night before Thanksgiving, 2011. He wasn't himself; something just wasn't right. While a month would pass before his life ended, I often consider that night to be the turning point in his life. For a survivor of a suicide loss, the ...
What We Want Others to Know About Suicide Survivor Day
In the wake of losing our dads to suicide in 2011, we met at a local support group for newly bereaved young adults. In the years since, we’ve bonded over our grief and committed to helping others navigate their journeys as survivors. Saturday, November 19, 2016 marks International Survivors of Suicide Day and we wanted to share how our experience as survivors over the past few years has reframed how we perceive and acknowledge the day.
Survivor ...
Five Years as a Survivor of Suicide
I can’t believe I’m writing this, but today marks the five-year milestone of my dad’s death by suicide and my position as a “survivor.” Today, I’m reflecting on how my life has evolved in that time.
I’m thankful for the resources and survivor friends who have been there for me. Early on, I was able to find my footing and begin healing with the help of Catholic Charities’ Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide support groups. I attended my ...
Birthdays After Suicide
I feel I’ve reached quite a milestone in my grief journey, which is slightly bittersweet. Less than two weeks ago, I passed the fifth birthday following my dad’s death by suicide. He would have turned 69 this year. It's amazing to see how my emotions and reaction to this date have changed over time… Thanks to Facebook’s “See Your Memories” prompting, I scrolled through the posts I issued in his honor through the years.
In 2012, just eight ...
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