Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
This past weekend I had another “bittersweet celebration,” an event that was very exciting, but was bittersweet because my Dad wasn’t there to help us celebrate. My brother graduated college in May, and our old neighbors (some of my Dad’s best friends) threw a graduation party for him. It was such an awesome gesture, but it stung knowing that the reason they threw the party is because my Dad isn’t alive to throw the party himself.
Going to the ...
My pleasant, sunny drive to work this morning took an annoying turn when my usual FM radio show hosts started to share their thoughts on a new study about the correlation between coffee consumption and suicide. According to WebMD, people who drank more than four cups of coffee a day were 53 percent less likely to commit suicide than those who drank less than one cup a day. The researchers said that caffeine in coffee can increase ...
Suicide is and will always be a shocking notion. Because of this, people don’t always know what they should or shouldn’t say to someone in the wake of their loss, or if they should say something at all. As a survivor, I can say that it’s always better to say something to the bereaved versus avoiding the subject. It shows you care. Following are a few of the tips I would offer to someone who wants to reach out to a suicide survivor with words of ...
Today is the two-year anniversary of my Dad’s suicide. I can't believe he died two years ago. Two years is a long time, and I am pretty sure that I think about him all day, every day. He’s always on my mind…not in a crazy way, but I just always think about him. When walking around PetsMart with my Dog yesterday, I saw a “Tommy Bahama” clothing line for dogs and thought of my Dad who loved that brand. I think of him whenever I drive on the Dan ...
I’m sure everyone has told you that this grief process is a roller coaster and your emotions will take over at any moment out of the blue. Some are obvious; when I was buying a Father’s Day gift for my father in law in June, I started balling at CVS as I read several cards that were perfect for my Dad.
One thing that caught me off guard several months ago was a smell that reminded me of my Dad. I was in the hallway outside of my bathroom and ...
