Emotions & Challenges:
Trauma
Suicide is a shocking event. It is far outside of what we normally expect in life. The reactions of suicide loss survivors often include and go beyond normal grief reactions in severity and duration.
Many survivors report symptoms similar to or associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Common reactions include:
- Distressing recollections of the death
- Distressing dreams about the event
- A feeling of reliving the experience
- Feeling numb
- Feeling emotionally detached from other people
- Always feeling “on guard”
- Difficulty working
- Difficulty in social situations
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Irritability or outbursts of anger
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hypervigilance
Healing is a gradual process. Most survivors find that as time goes on, reactions become fewer and less intense. Some survivors have a more difficult time healing and benefit from the help of mental health professionals. There are many positive ways to cope with symptoms of trauma. A trained professional, experienced in suicide loss or treatment of traumatic grief, can be very helpful.