What You Should Know If You Lost Someone By Suicide

When you have suffered the loss of a loved one in any way, it is difficult. However, losing someone by suicide is an experience unlike any other. If you have recently lost someone in your life in this way, it is important to know more about the situation, both how it affects people and what you can do to handle the situation. Learn some of these facts so you can try to manage your feelings and your grief when you have lost someone by suicide. 

Anger and Resentment Are Legitimate Emotions

When grieving, many people think that the only emotion they should feel is sadness. However, when grief has been caused by a suicide, the emotions can run the gamut. Many people feel anger or resentment when a loved one has died by suicide. 

It is important to acknowledge and accept these emotions and feelings. These are a legitimate and "allowed" reactions to such a loss. Do not try to ignore or suppress anger, resentment, or similar feelings. You are allowed to feel however you feel about the situation. 

You Have Experienced a Trauma

Death by suicide is deeply traumatic event in the lives of those touched by it. When a person experiences a trauma, it means that they have gone through an event that is deeply disturbing and that causes great distress.

Oftentimes, traumas linger in a person's mind. If you have lost someone by suicide and you cannot get it out of your head, you are having dreams or nightmares about it, you are having extreme emotions, or you just cannot bounce back from the situation, you are not alone. 

Trauma Therapy Can Help

Going through trauma like a loss by suicide can oftentimes require help to recover from. Trauma therapy is offered for people who have been through all different types of trauma, including loss by suicide. In trauma therapy, you will work through your emotions and thoughts regarding the traumatic event and help you to learn how to cope with those feelings. If you have flashbacks or nightmares, you can learn how to prevent and cope with those as well. 

There are many different approaches to dealing with trauma of this nature. Cognitive processing therapy, for example, is a form of therapy that involves writing down your feelings about your trauma and your experiences rather than having to speak them out loud. You can also try talk therapy techniques that allow you to discuss those feelings. Trauma therapy is highly effective at helping people learn to cope with and accept the loss they have experienced. 

Now that you know some of the important facts you should know when you lost a loved one to suicide, you can be sure you take the necessary steps to take care of yourself following your loss.  

Share