Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
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 ...
We talk a lot about reaching a stage of acceptance after the loss of a loved one to suicide. Today, guest blogger Rosemarie shares her perspective on acceptance fairly early in her grief journey, following the death of her husband in September 2015.
In Rosemarie’s words…
Acceptance is simply a choice. It’s something we choose to do in order to move forward. There are many challenging things that happen to us in our lives and we either choose ...
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 ...
In past posts, I have written about secondary loss, the additional losses faced in the aftermath of a suicide loss. The loss of additional friends and family members can make you feel alone as you fight the biggest battle of your life; learning to live without the person you lost. It is difficult to not become bitter, resenting the world around you. In my own experience, I have found that the people we lose were often not as supportive and ...
