Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
Five years ago (and for the entirety of my life before that point), I never would have thought that a loved one would die by suicide. I just didn’t think it would be in the realm of possibility, let alone for the head of our family. Since then, I have lived in a constant fear of losing someone suddenly again that way. Losing a loved one to suicide has left me with an unfortunate and somewhat debilitating paranoia I have to work very hard to ...
There are a number of emotions that consume us after losing a loved one to suicide. We talk about pain, sadness, and guilt, but anger often gets swept to the side. It took me a long time to feel angry. I spent a great deal of time feeling overwhelming sadness knowing that my dad's pain was so great that suicide felt like his only option. How can you be angry with someone in that kind of pain? So when the anger hit me, I was left asking, "Why ...
Whether it’s a suicide or another type of horrific tragedy, experiencing the public-facing death of a loved one in today’s online age is something I wish upon no one. It’s enough to experience the trauma and another to see complete strangers interjecting with their unwelcome opinions. This is something we didn’t face years ago and it can add an entirely new component to grief recovery.
I cringe when I see media reporting on suicides and ...
Fear has new meaning after losing a loved one to suicide. The first year without my dad was one of the most difficult. At first, I thought it was because he left this world in such a violent manner. Yet, as I look back I realize that my pain was enhanced by the energy I put into running from my pain. The guilt, the fear, the sadness, the pain; it was all too much. I believed that if I ran fast enough, the pain would eventually diminish. ...
Six months prior to losing my dad to suicide, I graduated with my Master's in Clinical Psychology. I entered the field working in community mental health where I received my first dose of reality when it comes to the stigma of mental illness. Working alongside individuals with chronic illnesses such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder One (yes, there are different kinds), and Major Depressive Disorder showed me firsthand how our society treats ...
