Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
I have written a few posts on why grief following a suicide is so hard. It is that lack of closure that makes it difficult to move forward. We ask the same questions over and over..."Could I have prevented this?" "Why didn't I see the signs?" "How could they have left me like this?" It's like a record playing over and over in your head. It makes it difficult if not impossible to look forward when you are mentally stuck in the past. I ...
As a survivor we often struggle with guilt and shame after losing a loved one to suicide. How did I not see the signs? Michelle joins us today to discuss how she overcame the guilt and shame of losing her only son to suicide. Thank you Michelle for sharing your story.
Six years ago, my husband and I lost our only child to suicide. He was 21, had a long-term girlfriend who was the love of his life, and the love and support of a very close-knit ...
The lack of understanding after a loss by suicide often leaves survivors feeling alone in their pain. I remember people comparing the loss of my father to losses they experienced, all of which occurred naturally. Initially, I took them in stride but over time I began to resent them for thinking they understood the depth of my pain. I spent time and energy trying to make them understand, and when I was unable to do so, I began to isolate. I ...
As a survivor of a suicide loss and grief therapist, I have found that majority of survivors feel like the ground below them gives out 3-4 months after experiencing a tragedy by suicide. Not only does the reality and finality of the situation begin to set in, but the distractions start to end. The people who were once there for us begin to move on, often making us feel like they no longer care about the tragedy we have faced. People stop ...
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the differences between depression and grief. While depression and grief can look similar, they are not the same. I wanted to share a recent interview I gave on The Gift of Second site where I talk about complicated grief. After losing a loved one to suicide, many experience symptoms that look similar to depression as you search to find your place in a world that no longer looks familiar. For most, the ...
