Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
Suicide isn't just about the loss of life. It's about the loss of self that we as survivors experience after our loved one takes their life. New and powerful internal messages begin as we ask, "Why was I not good enough to live for?" This week we welcome Brandy, who discusses the shame and guilt she experienced after the loss of her mother to suicide.
On July 12, 1991, as a ten-year-old little girl, I walked into my home to find my mom’s ...
While I believe that the Stages of Grief are outdated, and often do not apply to a violent loss like suicide, I love this quote from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. It sums up life after a great loss, and challenges you to think about loss differently. Grief does not have an end date, nor should it. How can someone just wake up one day, and no longer miss the person that they lost? It isn't realistic. As a society we believe that people should "get ...
As a survivor, I have become accustomed to what is often referred to as "The New Normal." Life after suicide is different than it was before. While we have been introduced to a new level of pain, we also have been introduced to a new type of living. Since losing my father to suicide, I can say that I have become a much more confident person. I appreciate the little things more than I ever have. I strive to find happiness in the here and now. ...
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” ― Lao TzuChange is inevitable in this life. Change after suicide is impossible to avoid. Whether we want it or not, change will occur and our lives will never be as they once were. For me, my life was forever changed on December 27th, 2011, when my father decided ...
What exactly constitutes strength after a suicide loss? There is little I remember in the first weeks/months after losing my dad to suicide. While it all seems like a blur, I do remember the comments I received about my strength. "You are so strong" people would tell me. Still to this day I have people comment on my strength. My response, "What other choice do I have?" The pain of losing a loved one to suicide is overwhelming. It ...
