The practical matters that need attending to when someone dies by suicide can be especially complex and challenging. Knowing what to expect in the months after will help you cope and begin healing.
Emotional reactions to a suicide are intense and overwhelming. Most survivors find it hard to think clearly. You may feel as if your brain is numb, you may forget things and you may replay the suicide over and over in your mind asking ‘why’. Know that you are not to blame for the choice made by another person. You are not to blame for the suicide of someone close to you.
It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed by sorrow, ashamed, anger, guilt, physically ill or suicidal yourself. People react in different ways when they are mourning such a loss. There is no timeline for grief, so heal at your own pace.
Let Others Help You
When you are first bereaved by suicide, your sense of confusion will likely be so great that it will be hard to cope. One of the simplest things you can do is let other people help you. When you are open to it, you will realise just how many people will reach out and help in different ways.
Support can come from:
- Friends
- Family
- Place of Worship
- Community
- Work Colleagues
- Health Professionals
These people can help you deal with affairs that may be difficult for you to handle at the time, such as callers, organising a funeral and other arrangements. They can assist you in remembering what you need to do in your day-to-day life and help you make decisions. They can also be there to simply listen.