"A deep distress hath humanized my soul." -- William Wordsworth
Loss by suicide leaves survivors forever altered. Immediately following the loss of a loved one by suicide, we seek just to survive the next hour, the next day, the next week. We have become victims to an unimaginable loss and in the beginning, it takes all we have just to keep going. We wonder if we will ever experience peace or joy again. We are forever changed, but eventually most of us do experience peace as well as joy. We push ahead, conquering obstacles in our paths. Eventually we are brought to a place of wisdom, compassion, and of sensitivity to the pain of others. We know that we have experienced one of life's greatest losses ... and we have survived.
Many people speak of the time following loss as a journey. it is not an easy journey and no one chooses it. Survivors must mourn, question and rebuild their shattered lives. For many though, there is an unexpected gift: "a bond among survivors, which pierces through the isolation and the fear."
"Unlike our loved ones, whose pain was so enveloping that they were unable to hear our shouts of help, we refuse to be exiled by despair. As we reach out to others, we discover inner strengths we never knew existed. Although we did not ask for this test of our endurance -- and would reverse the circumstances if given the choice -- we discover that we are more resilient, less afraid, more empathetic and understanding as a result of what has happened to us."
Our website contains many stories that provide hope for survivors. These stories serve as a testimony to our ability to rise above the loss and pain without becoming bitter, jaded or hard. It is possible to survive. It is possible to overcome the obstacles and debilitating grief, emerging transformed from life's greatest suffering.
To find stories of hope and inspiration:- Click on: "Beyond Surviving" in the categories list.
