Devastating news of the recent suicides of two young adults in my personal circle moves me to write about suicide bereavement.
As a counsellor who has met with hundreds of people grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide, and as one who years ago lost a best friend to suicide, I know that grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide is heart-wrenching, exhausting and complex.
Mourners sometimes feel the pain of their grief so intensely that they themselves become suicidal.
Healing from a traumatic loss to suicide is possible over time.
If you are grieving a loss to suicide, here are some ways to help your healing happen :
- Allow yourself to name and feel ALL of your painful grief emotions
- Find a nonjudgmental counsellor who knows about complex grief
- if your grief keeps you awake at night, take time to lie down in the day
- Breathe into your sorrow; as you breathe out, send compassion to others who are also suffering.
- Without editing, write out your feelings of grief.
- spend time in nature to allow its beauty and peacefulness to comfort you
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