I spoke with another survivor awhile back.  He mentioned to me that today was "a bad day."  He continued to discuss how his week had been "full of ups and downs," leaving him feeling depleted.  Isn't it strange how we examine every single day after losing a loved one to suicide?  It's as if we never had a bad day before our tragic loss.  Life in general is full of ups and downs.  We reach exhaustion after a long week.  Something at work happens ...

While I believe that the Stages of Grief are outdated, and often do not apply to a violent loss like suicide, I love this quote from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.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. ...

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 ...