Loss by suicide is a traumatic loss. The pain that survivors feel is often scary and overwhelming. It will not last forever, but it also cannot be ignored. It is fairly common for survivors to experience strong and debilitating emotions, such as sadness, fear, anger and guilt. Survivors commonly report nightmares, difficulty sleeping and other physical symptoms. Many of these symptoms resemble the symptoms of post-traumatic stress. These feelings are normal. They are a normal response to an abnormal situation.
Our advice: Do not hesitate to seek help from a mental health professional who specializes in working with survivors of suicide. This is a challenging time in your life. It is not a sign of weakness. Individual counseling can help you to process your grief, address the traumatic nature of your feelings, and better understand the crisis you are facing. A good counselor who fully understands the nature of loss to suicide can be invaluable in your grief journey.
In the last decade, technology has made it possible to obtain specialized support from experts in all fields, via telephone and Internet, regardless of distance.
SurvivorCounselor.com offers expert confidential and compassionate support for those grieving a loss by suicide.
