The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations

Today, I  talk about the holidays after suicide loss and how we can approach them - you see there really is no 'should do's' only "could do's" -- remember -- your journey, your way. I will also dispense with the notion that many of us didn't (somewhat) dread the holiday season before - you know all of the stress and money and expectations and family and, and and....

Today I go "down the rabbit hole" to discuss HOPE. Suicide loss survivors struggle heavily with allowing hope back into their lives. I know that I choose to sit in hopelessness too long. So why is hope so important? Why do we need and how we get it -- a nd I even give you a tool to help facilitate taking the steps toward it! I could not find a link that I loved to show you where to place...

Today, I have the unique privilege of having a conversation with a podcast listener. Vickie Stam and I began messaging earlier this year after she reached out to tell me that she was enjoying the podcast. Vickie lost her 31 year old son Calvin to suicide on Dec 9, 2019.  She is a bubbly, genuine and warm soul. It became obvious to us fairly soon after she reached out that  our sons connected us an...

This episode release on HALLOWEEN 2021 - so, Happy Halloween! Now that we have had a  whole week of Instagram Posts, a live pop ins .... HERE is the HALLOWEEN SPECIAL EDITION RABBIT HOLE. Why did I "do" this whole week of spooky, fear-themed post?  Well, because grief and fear and spirits and sad, dark and terrifying things all happen this time of year. AND because I love Halloween and b...

Today I dig into the topic of fear and grief. They are intertwined, so how appropriate is the tie into Halloween? This episode is coming out the week leading up to Halloween 2021. I am planning a whole week of Instagram Posts, Live pop ins and even a Special Halloween Edition of "Down the Rabbit Hole" Episode next week - WHY you ask? Well, because grief and fear and spirits and sad, dark...

Laura lost her ex-boyfriend to suicide - does that "count"? Can she still grieve?  Is that "OK"? Well, OF COURSE IT IS! But Laura and I talk about her unique perspective and how the past four years have transformed her. There is a lot to unpack with this spirited English woman who now teaches art to children in Entebbe, Uganda.  She talks about stigmas, delayed grief and art as...

We regularly find suicide as a subject matter on TV and in film these days. But since suicide is such a pervading theme in this life we now live, the question remains - to watch or not? Does the content activate you or help you? Since the reasons these films,  or shows, are made can be so diverse - to educate, to cause fear or shock or disgust, or even to provoke or bring about change and awarenes...

Today I speak to a mom who lost her son to suicide just over a year ago.  Suzanne lost her 17 year old son Samuel to suicide on 2nd September 2020. Samuel struggled with his mental health for 4 years prior to his death which had a huge impact on Suzanne and her family. Suzanne is determined to make a difference in Samuel's name and support others who have travelled this lonely path. Suzanne s...

Today I dive DEEP into the rabbit hole and discuss perception vs reality and if they are one in the same. I talk about where I am in this grief journey and the evolution of my thoughts on what we have the power over with regard to grief - in my opinion. I think that the real destruction lies in allowing ourselves to go on auto-pilot - you know when we are not intentional about how we are grieving...

Today I share my conversation with Sharon Ehlers. She lost her best friend Joy and ex-fiancé John within a few years of each other, both to suicide. Sharon is the founder of Grief Reiki® - a multidimensional approach to grief and loss using emotional recovery, Reiki and other spirituality-based tools. She is also an award-winning Author, Grief Educator, Death Midwife and Reiki Master Teacher. She...

Today I talk to Imogen Carn who is a suicide loss survivor. "Im", as she goes by,  is the co-host of the Good Mourning Podcast (with Sally "Sal"  Douglas). Im & Sal believe that "together, let’s make the topic of grief more open and less awkward." They speak to grief and loss of many different kinds as they both lost their mothers (but to different manner of death...

Today, I go "down the rabbit hole" again.  I specifically wanted to talk to you about why I do this podcast; why I do all of the things I do in the area of suicide loss and grief. In the simplest version I could just say "because I lost my son Alex to suicide" and while that is of course the catalyst, my motivation and reasons run so far beyond that. Thank you for giving me a s...

Today I share my conversation with Linzi Meaden around the loss of her brother Stuart. "Stu" died by suicide in the height of a global pandemic in June of 2020, just over a year ago. Linzi and I have a conversation, of sorts, every week for an hour. We co-moderate a Clubhouse room (along with Sue Egan) called "Life After Suicide" but this conversation goes deeper and is much mo...

What is my WHY??? Such a complicated topic, right? Well … yes and no, BUT definitely a relevant & essential one for grievers.   So much changes after suicide loss and nearly everyone who experiences it finds themselves reevaluating and needing to re-tool, or re-build, some (or all) of life as they knew it. Finding, or 're-finding', what our "WHY" is after suicide loss (of a...

Today I have a vibrant and enlightening conversation with Jennifer, aka J India. She is not a suicide loss survivor but IS an attempt survivor and a trauma survivor turned healer. This is a very relevant conversation for us as trauma survivors. Jennifer is the producer and host of "Two Inches Off the Ground," a podcast where the metaphysical meets the practical. Her master’s degree in cr...

Today, I go "Down the Rabbit Hole" to talk about a topic that is NOT new to me -- in some form I have been living with this since losing Alex nearly 5 years ago.  Unless you have not left your house yet, I am certain that you too have experienced some form of this isolating feeling that comes when you start to interact with people and they bring up children … or mental health … or look a...

Today I talk with Victoria Moore, aka Yogi Mami.  Victoria lost her husband, and her children lost their father,  in May of 2019 to suicide and she talks openly about his struggles with depression, and the help they were actively getting him,  prior to his death. This is a poignant and honest conversation. I think  that this episode will really resonate with widows of suicide who are still raising...

Today, I go "Down the Rabbit Hole" to talk about my amazing son Alex. As we approach five very long, yet somehow also short,  years without him it feels like the perfect time to share more of what we had with him while he was alive.  Today, I do share a little more of the story leading up to his death by suicide on Aug 7, 2016, but mostly I just talk a little but more about his life and...

Today I talk with Rebecca of "Rebecca Jax Holistic Healing". She lost her only sibling, her brother Jack, to suicide in 2018 and her life was completely turned inside out and she nearly followed in his shadow. Becci tells us of her battle and how she discovered true healing. This is an insightful, deep and enlightening conversation. I think there is something for all grievers of suicide...

Today, I am publishing Part 2 of "Tools" … the first one is (way) back in Season 1, Episode 15. It's worth a re-visit even if you listened to it then. Today I talk about MORE TOOLS that I use in my daily (or weekly) life to help me not only survive the hard times but also stay focused and thrive through into the good. These tools really engage all of your senses to help you achieve...

Today, my conversation is with Jamie Fabroa.  She lost her father Wilmer, to suicide 10 years ago but he is still always with her in heart. Jamie now works to bring awareness to help prevent suicide by furthering conversation and not hiding behind the "s" word!  Just 4 days before Jamie's 25th Birthday, she would lose her father to suicide. From that moment, Jamie's life would...

"You used to be …much more muchier"   Whether we are saying it to ourselves in the mirror or hearing it from others (either literally or in those 'loud glances' we get from someone), I am certain you too have heard this "You used to be …" and can finish the sentence many ways! ME TOO! Today I head "down that rabbit hole (again)" to share my thoughts on accep...

This episode is my conversation with Dr. Joshua Black who is arguably the world's leading expert on the topic of GRIEF DREAMS. It was so eye opening for me. We all dream but dreams are so complicated… and no surprise, especially grief dreams! This episode is riveting to the end! Find all ways to CONNECT with Dr. Joshua Black HERE on his website Joshua spent his young life believing he was des...

Today I go 'down the rabbit hole" in this BONUS episode between seasons. I talk talk about grief trauma from loss by suicide & how it affects our brain - suicide loss causes brain trauma . Say that again, Suicide loss causes brain trauma . How do we deal with it and how do we BEGIN to heal that trauma, that INJURY to our brain? Join me while I share & ponder this all to real part...

Today I take a 'mini-dive' into the new(ish) & super relevant social media app "Clubhouse" that is creating a lot of buzz out there in the social media world. Today I just give you some "basics" because IF you are going into ANY grief space we are already anxious enough & trying to "learn" a new things can just be TOO much! Listen to hear me weigh in...