Dear Wynonna and Ashley, I lost my momma in the same way you lost yours. When I heard Naomi passed on Saturday and read what you wrote about losing her to “Mental illness,” my heart sank for you both. That night, as I was going to bed, I said a little prayer for each of you because I remember what … Read More
Losing a loved one to suicide is devastating. While any kind of grief is difficult to bear, grieving the loss of someone who took their own life can come with another level of pain. Along with asking yourself “why?” repeatedly, some people may feel uncomfortable reaching out to you or show less sympathy for a “self-inflicted” death. If you … Read More
Living on after the passing of a loved one is incredibly difficult; dealing with finances adds to the stress, and this is especially true for the survivors of suicide victims. The Gift of Second is a place for anyone suffering from this tremendous loss to find hope, encouragement, understanding, and community. Reach out to find out more today. Four Ways … Read More
We sat on the front porch all night long. My youngest 2 children and my sister beside me. I still remember the thickness of the air that night. As the sun came up and I was all alone I remember the silence. It was the quietest I’ve ever heard my house but yet it was deafening. Sitting there feeling everything … Read More
I was never prepared for it to be six years post loss. With each year it has gotten easier. In fact, I rarely think of him now. Of course, there are always small things that sneak up out of nowhere. My mind and body know the anniversary of his passing is creeping up without looking at a calendar. I can … Read More
I work in the field of suicide prevention and postvention. Every day I work alongside colleagues doing everything they can to prevent future suicides and help in the healing process for those whom have lost a loved one. I help launch LOSS Teams all across the country. I am an author and a licensed therapist doing grief work for new … Read More
This beautiful poem was discovered by one of The Gift of Second’s readers and passed on as she felt so many of us could relate. To Honor You To honor you, I get up everyday and take a breath. And start another day without you in it. To honor you, I laugh and love with those who knew … Read More
I was asked months ago to write a blog for this site and I tried many times but I couldn’t find the right words. That is until now. Right now it is 3am in the morning sitting in my kitchen on a snowy night. As all of us know, when you lose a love one to suicide, sleep can be … Read More
In December of 1990, my mom bought four hand-crafted Christmas ornaments at a local craft-fair. Each one had our names written on it. My mom and I had matching green stocking ornaments and my dad and brother had matching red. They were part of a set and adorable as could be. We hung them on our tree that year in … Read More
Suicide-Loss is such a unique type of grief. Our experience feels very different and isolating than other losses we may have experienced before this. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. I created this short 3-minute cartoon video. See if you can relate to this in your own grief.