Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
The below article was written by Darci Sims, a bereaved parent and child, a grief management specialist, a nationally certified thanatologist, a certified pastoral bereavement specialist, and a licensed psychotherapist and hypnotherapist. I have always challenged the The Stages of Grief, arguing that they do not apply to those who have tragically lost a loved one. Darci, challenges the way we view grief in the article below.
The New Language ...
In the wake of losing a loved one to suicide, it’s common to pour over every detail of their final days, including last conversations. Filled with guilt, survivors may wonder if things that were said – or maybe not said – could have made a difference. I think that because suicide is so shocking and lacks closure, we reach for something – or someone – to blame.
I remember in the weeks leading up to my dad’s death, I could tell he wasn’t feeling ...
I myself am guilty of believing that suicide is a selfish act. Then I lost my father to suicide, and my belief system has completely changed. People who die by suicide have an illness; a disease of the brain. It just doesn't manifest itself like other illnesses, making it difficult for those to see the depth of the individual's pain. John's Mom lost her son to suicide at the young age of 25. We wanted to share her grief story as it ...
This quote made me smile, and I wanted to pass it along to our readers. While there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss my dad and wish he were here, I like to think that he has finally found his peace. For that is what he hoped to accomplish the day his life ended. I believe that is what every person is trying to accomplish when they end their life. The thought of him being happy, free from the demons that filled his head, has brought ...
To be honest, I hadn’t planned on doing anything of significance to mark the four-year anniversary of my dad’s suicide this week. I tend to think it’s better to focus on happier occasions, like his birthday or the holidays we enjoyed together. The craziness of chasing around my 10-month-old, coupled with picking up the house and getting ready for the day certainly served as helpful distractions. However, as the date loomed, I received a couple of ...
