Loss by Suicide

It’s complicated.

It’s the middle of the night when the phone rings.

It’s a frantic voice; through the tears and screams, you hear the word “suicide.”

They are gone.

You blame yourself…

You are helpless to change what happened, but still, the blame, the guilt, the what-if, and if-only thoughts intrude your every waking moment.

Feelings haunt you of how you could have stopped it, how you should have been able to stop it.

Thoughts like, “This doesn’t happen to people like us,” “I talked to him yesterday, and he seemed fine,” or “He was depressed a couple of years ago but seemed fine lately” play on repeat in your mind.

You tell yourself that you should have known something was wrong, and you wonder how you could have prevented this from happening.

Then there is the anger…

You wonder if you’re a horrible person because you also feel anger with your loved one.

“What were they thinking?”

You feel a whirlwind of emotions all at the same time – anger, rage, guilt, regret, and remorse.

You struggle with talking about it…

There is often a cruel stigma attached to suicide.

You feel judged, as though your loss is not as worthy of sympathy or grief as someone else who lost a loved one to a terrible illness. Those people get sympathy and kindness.

There is a sense that your loved one “brought this on themself” and is not as worthy of mourning.

You and your family get awkward glances and even insensitive questions about the events and details of the death.

Your pain deserves to be seen and heard…

I will walk this journey with you with kindness and compassion.

We will talk through the feelings you are experiencing and destigmatize suicide. You will no longer blame yourself.

Release the guilt…

During our work together, you will come to know and accept that you did not cause this to happen and that you could not have done anything to prevent it.

You will feel peace again.

Call or text me now for a consultation and get started on your way to healing.