![]() ![]() Sadness This is one of the most common feelings. ![]() The pain you experience may be so intense that you find yourself having thoughts about taking your own life – you must seek help if you have these thoughts, get support from your Doctor. ![]() Despair and depression Following a bereavement by suicide, the constant swings of emotion, the never ending questioning, the physical pain and lack of sleep all have an effect and you may need to consult your doctor. How will you and others cope? What will the future be like? These are normal concerns. Fear and anxiety You may be worrying about the welfare of other family members and terrified about the consequences for vulnerable relatives. This feeling of shame is often made worse by the stigma still attached to suicide and may be intensified if we isolate ourselves from people who we fear will blame or judge us. Shame Some survivors feel ashamed because they feel that the suicide has branded them as, say, a bad parent, sister or partner in eyes of the community. “It was only many years later that I learned my private, guilty, sense of relief was an understandable reaction to the stresses of living with my mother and her subsequent death from an overdose.” We are relieved not that the person’s life is over but that they are no longer suffering and perhaps that constant threats of suicide or other destructive acts will not happen again. It can be difficult to admit this to ourselves and, when we do, we feel guilty about it. Relief When the person who died was known to have had a troubled or unhappy life, or made repeated suicide attempts, it is common for relief to be mixed in with other emotions that we feel. Those bereaved by suicide are plagued by thoughts of “if only…” Very often it can be some time before we realise that the decision the person made was a result of many factors and that the apparent reason for their decision was just the last in a long series of events. Guilt You may feel guilty about things you believe that you could or should have done, or about your feelings about the death. Angry with you for so many things – none of which is truly your fault.” Angry for the way my life has changed since you died. “I feel so guilty when I get angry with you and I do get angry with you. ![]() You may also feel angry with the person who died. You may be angry with others and this can take the form of blame – there is a danger of tormenting yourself if you pursue this. You may be angry with yourself because you feel that you should have realised there was a problem or that you could have acted differently. Anger This is a common response to bereavement. You may find yourself behaving in ways which appear odd to outsiders but which help you to feel close to the person who died. You find yourself searching for them and thinking that you see or hear them. “I walk down the street and nothing seems real, including myself”Īnguish, longing and searching You may have a desperate longing, not just to see the person again but to sort out whatever problems they were having and change the outcome for them. I cannot find the words to describe these moments… nothing made sense” You may also feel disorientated and out of touch with the world around you. “My world fell apart when my gentle, beautiful son died. You may feel dazed and numb and you may have nightmares. In many cases the suicide was not expected or there was little warning. Shock and disbelief These will often be the first reactions. You may experience disturbances in your thinking and behaviour, as well as the following emotions: ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |