Celebrating Father's Day without dad can be difficult for those who have lost a father to suicide. I still feel this sense of sadness when I visit the dreaded card aisle at our local pharmacy. As I pick out the cards for the fathers in my life, I am quickly reminded that there is one card I will not be purchasing. I have found this holiday to be particularly difficult. Not necessarily because my father is not here to celebrate, but because I am ...
Mental Health Resolutions for 2015
I came across a great article, 7 Mental Health Resolutions for 2015, in Time Magazine that highlights the importance of caring for our mental health. When I sat and thought about it, I couldn't think of a single person who had set a New Years resolution pertaining to their mental health. Or maybe people do, and just don't talk about it out of fear of judgement. We focus so much time and attention on our outer self, why not our inner? In my ...
Battling Seasonal Affective Disorder
Living in the Midwest, it’s common to succumb to the doldrums of winter. The blistering cold, the mountains of snowfall and the lack of sunshine can all contribute to seasonal blues. For some, seasonal depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can hit during the holidays. The time spent either with or without family can influence people significantly. For others, this feeling may come after the bright and happy holiday timeframe, when ...
Coping with Halloween as a Survivor of Suicide
We're days out from one of the darker holidays of the year, when visual and audible reminders of death are prevalent throughout our communities. Coping with Halloween as a survivor of suicide can be difficult. Non-survivors have no idea how their graveyard displays or costumes impact us. One of our more popular posts from the past year was one I shared last October on this topic (click here to read it). I thought it might be helpful to revisit ...
Father’s Day After Dad Died
Celebrating holidays after the loss of a loved to suicide can be extremely difficult. Becky and I wanted to take the time to talk about how we mark Father's Day after dad died and how it impacts us. While our fathers are no longer with us, their memories are strong. We continue to honor them on this blog and celebrate the lives they lived.
Becky's Story
It’s hard to believe another Father’s Day weekend is upon us. I still find it difficult to ...