Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
Despite the lasting grief we carry with us after a loss, survivors continue to experience happiness after a suicide - and we have every right to soak up those feelings of joy. On August 13th, at 7:01p.m., my husband and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl to the world. I was overcome with emotion, as I never imagined I could be so in love with someone who I had just met. She was absolutely perfect!
Tomorrow my daughter will be 12 weeks old. ...
Several nights ago, I had my first dream with my Dad in it. He was only in there for a fleeting moment, but it was great. In the dream, I was walking somewhere – I think I was walking near the plaza of a downtown skyscraper, and I saw my Dad sitting on a concrete bench outside of the building. We made eye contact, smiled and waved as I walked by.
It was so short but I remember the smile on his face and he looked ...
I've become exceptionally inspired by celebrities who voice their connection to and struggles with being a survivor of suicide. This topic is so often avoided and veiled in stigma - I applaud stars like Melissa d'Arabian of the Food Network (and others) for using their public platform to elevate the conversation.
Frequently, Melissa posts about her mom and her efforts to raise awareness of suicide prevention with the AFSP on Facebook. In ...
On Saturday, a handful of my friends and family participated in the AFSP's Out of the Darkness Walk. The AFSP is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and all throughout the country they organize "Out of the Darkness" Walks in which suicide survivors can raise money in honor of their loved ones. Quoting their website, "AFSP funds research aimed at improving our understanding of suicide and ways to prevent it as well as educational ...
In the days, weeks and months after losing a loved one to suicide, it’s common to experience fleeting suicide grief attacks. These can be characterized as unexpected waves of severe grief that strike out of nowhere or even without prompting. They can present as depressing thoughts or full-on, tear-filled panics. Generally, they lessen in frequency over time, but they can occur even years later.
I remember a few of my most “severe” cases. The ...
