Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
When the shock of my father's suicide began to wear off, I became a rambling mess. My brain was on overdrive as I worked to process the events that had occurred a few short months prior. As I worked to sort out what had happened in my life, a common response surfaced. Over and over I was told, "There is nothing you could have done." Reflecting back on what I can remember of those days (they all seem a little blurry), I know that this response was ...
`Guilty until proven innocent?
In the aftermath of suicide, most survivors discuss their grief at some point. (If you haven’t gotten that far and are reading this post, that’s ok.) Some discuss anger and feelings of betrayal. The guilty feelings, that I assume some feel, are swept to the darkest, furthermost corners of our minds, never to be spoken. The place that you only allow yourself to go occasionally, because the thought is too painful for ...
While we never wish for anyone to relate to the reflections we share about suicide loss, this blog gives us an opportunity to connect with survivors from all walks of life and in many corners of the world. Suicide loss is traumatic and complicated. And because of that, the accompanying grief journey is also complex.
Suicide is shocking. It feels like a rug was pulled out from under you – at best. Suicide loss often comes without warning, ...
The holiday season can be a difficult time for those who have been touched by suicide. For me, the holidays are a reminder of my own dad's suicide. I will never forget the phone conversation I had with my dad the night before Thanksgiving, 2011. He wasn't himself; something just wasn't right. While a month would pass before his life ended, I often consider that night to be the turning point in his life. For a survivor of a suicide loss, the ...
Halloween after a suicide loss can be challenging as you become aware of how much focus there is on death. Everywhere you look, death lingers making it incredibly difficult to put your own loss to the side. What was once a holiday filled with laughter and fun, has now become a living nightmare. If this is your first Halloween after a suicide loss, know that you are not alone in the wide array of feelings that exist inside you. Halloween can be ...
