Grief, Loss, Suicide Prevention

Well today I had to deal with loss of a close family friend by suicide. It is never easy dealing with loss and it is ten times harder I believe when it’s unexpected and it’s by suicide. Telling a family member that we have suffered this loss is never easy. I had to tell my granny today that one of her close friends growing up just committed suicide. she was in shocked and couldn’t believe that I was telling her that.

For those of you who have ever dealt with this, How did you cope? I know that all grief is hard. For those contemplating suicide, find someone that you can talk to, someone that you can confide in and let it out. there has to be another answer.

Whats makes us make those decisions?

stress is something we are now realizing is one of the biggest killers in our society. Reach out to family and friends. Check up of your family and friends. Once that time has come and gone there is nothing you can do to change the course. Most of us tonight are asking ourselves why and what could we have done differently. sometimes there is nothing you could have done, but when you are plagued with the guilty that if you had only done more, reached out sooner. Could that have changed the outcome? we will never know.

How do you cope?

• Stay connected with other family members — isolating oneself when you are hurting is the last thing you should do. stay connected. For those of us who have had someone commit suicide stay close to family and friends that are very supportive. This friend of ours had his twin brother kill himself some years back he was never the same since. so I urge you to stay connected. Talk opening about your feelings, don’t feel guilty for feeling down and alone. A concerned and loving friend and family will understand.
• If there are small children involved in the grieving process give them special attention.
• Holidays are stressful times — the most crucial time is coping during those special times. the birthdays, the holidays, the anniversaries and those events that will remind you of your loved one. stay connected.

How do we prevent it

Look for warning signs. 

"Suicide never only affects the person that committed it. It affects everyone and the person too. But many suicidal thoughts can be prevented if the warning signs are recognized and proper action is taken. This means that they have already considered actions to harm themselves some way in order to feel something different than what is causing them distress." 

Find a Good therapist that will help you sort out your feelings and learn how to live again. it is never easy loosing a loved one and it is especially hard when it’s like this. stay connected, I really can’t over emphasize that. talk to someone.