Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
This week we welcome Marjorie, a survivor who lost her husband to suicide almost ten years ago. Marjorie wrote to us with highlights of her grief journey as a widow following her tragic loss. With her permission, we adapted her email into a post as both Becky and myself were touched by her words. We feel that many of our readers can benefit from what she has learned about herself along the way.
Marjorie's Story:
I lost my husband to ...
One thing I personally struggled with after the loss of my father to suicide, was finding others who not only understood, but who wanted to hear about my struggles long after the death occurred. Immediately following news of his death, I was flooded with support. Messages from people I haven't spoken to in years, flowers from acquaintances, people calling just to say, "I am thinking of you." Week by week, the calls became less frequent and ...
The single most life changing event that has happened in my life was my dad's suicide. Grief changes us, and alters our path in life. While it introduced me to a new level of pain, a level that I never knew existed, it also helped me "clean out" my life. I realized who truly was a friend, and who was only there for the fun. I learned a great deal about myself. Not only the depths of my insecurities and fears, but also my own strength and ...
After losing someone to suicide you can find yourself combing through every moment of the past, questioning whether you missed the signs. Every memory holds new meaning. What if I would have paid more attention that day? What if I would have questioned their thinking, or pointed out something that didn't seem right? Would they still be here today? Questions like this often contribute to the overwhelming presence of guilt we feel in the ...
You don't get over the pain, you go through it. There is a way to the other side, but it isn't easy. We have to allow ourselves to feel every aspect of our pain in order to get to the other side. This can be a difficult concept in the aftermath of a suicide loss. We all want to know what we can do to make the pain end. To wake up in the morning and no longer feel that gut wrenching feeling that reminds you of the magnitude of your loss. We ...
