Even though many of the feelings listed go with any grief event, they are exacerbated in a suicide death. Here’s how a loss by suicide feels for many of us:
- It feels confusing. The coulda, woulda, shouldas play on autopilot in our heads. Trying to talk us out if it invalidates our feelings in the early stages. Active listening is the most important skill.
- We think or say:
- “Didn’t he know how much I loved him?”
- “I thought he loved us. How could he do this?”
- “My brother would never do this. Someone had to have caused this.”
- “Can I