A Guide to Healing After Death,
Loss and Suicide
By:Iris Bolton
13. Expect setbacks, don’t panic if emotions return like a tidal wave.
You may only be experiencing a remnant of grief.
14. Try to put off major decisions.
15. Give yourself permission to get professional help.
17. Be patient with yourself and others.
18. Set your own limits and learn to say no.
19. Steer clear of people who want to tell you what or how to feel.
20. Know that there are support groups that can be helpful, such as
Compassionate Friends, or Survivor of Suicide groups. If not, ask a
professional to help start one.
21. Call on your personal faith to help you through.
22. It is common to experience physical reactions to your grief, I.e.
headaches, loss of appetite, inability to sleep, etc.
23.The willingness to laugh with others and at yourself is healing.
24. Wear out your questions, anger, guilt, or other feelings until you
can let go of them.
25. Know that you will never be the same again, but you can survive and
go beyond just surviving…
1. Know you can survive. You may not think so, but you can.
2. Struggle with “why” it happened until you no longer need to know
“why”, or until you are satisfied with partial answers.
3. Know you may feel overwhelmed by the intensity of the feelings, but
all your feelings will be normal.
4. Anger, guilt, confusion, forgetfulness are common responses. You are
not crazy - you are in mourning.
5. Be aware you may feel appropriate anger at the person, at the world,
at god, at yourself.
6. You may feel guilty for what you think you did do, or did not do.
7. Having suicidal thoughts is common. It does not mean you will act on
these thoughts.
8. Remember to take one moment or day at a time.
9. Find a good listener with whom to share. Call someone.
10. Don’t be afraid to cry. Tears are healing.
11. Give yourself time to heal.
12. Remember, the choice was not yours. No one is the sole influence in
another’s life.
Created with Love for
ALL of our loved ones by:
Elaine Davison
Mother of Mark Baker
Rose City, Mi
07/31/80 to 01/05/98
© 06/2004
All rights reserved
Parents of Suicide
Friends and Families of
Suicide
