Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
I remember my toughest challenge was getting through the day after the tragic loss of my dad. After maxing out my paid time off to go back to Colorado to make funeral arrangements, I came home to the standard three days of bereavement time. I still cringe when I hear that this remains the norm. How is someone expected to grieve in three days time? This only contributes to the isolating feeling one experiences in the aftermath of a tragic loss ...
This week marks my sixth year as a survivor of my father’s suicide. On the day, I faced a heavy schedule of work meetings, which didn’t leave much time for doing something specific or dedicated. However, I did go back and read all of the posts I’ve shared on my dad’s death day with the intention of observing how my grief has evolved. I found the process interesting and thought I would outline my diary of survivorship six years in with excerpts ...
Guest writer, Kimberly Starr, reminds us of the unexpected surprises that we encounter after the loss of a loved one. It is often the unexpected that knocks us off our feet. In my own experience I have found that it is about embracing these little surprises. They are reminders of the time spent with the person we lost. May we always receive these little reminders, and take a minute to acknowledge the memories we made with our loved ...
Guest blogger Andrea Caruso shared her first post with Our Side of Suicide last summer on facing fear after the loss of her son, Cameron, to suicide. (Read it here.) In her latest reflection, she reflects on the pieces of his life she still isn’t ready to let go.
Holding Onto The Little Things After Suicide Loss
My husband Sean found a pair of Cameron's shoes yesterday and I was undone. The black sneakers had been there since the day he left ...
I have struggled with this idea of being complete. It all began with the infamous quote from Jerry Macguire, "You complete me." After losing my dad to suicide I began to wonder if we have to be complete? Does having an empty place in your heart make you incomplete? Or does it simply mean that you have suffered a great loss; a loss so great that it took a piece of your heart along with it. Part of the grief process is learning to live without the ...
