08-13-2014, 10:39 PM
Nothing to be ashamed of at all, aussie.
I think the personal experience you bring to your profession is probably quite helpful to people who've lost a loved one to suicide. You know first-hand about the impacts, though I'm not suggesting everyone processes it the same way.
From what I've seen and read, it's very common for loved ones to directly or indirectly blame themselves and focus on "what-ifs", and to feel like they weren't important enough to give the deceased a motive to live. I understand those feelings, but don't believe that they reflect reality in the large majority of cases. In my experience, the large majority of mature adults who battle severe depression and eventually commit suicide are convinced that their struggles make them a burden on others -- that the right thing to do for themselves and those closest to them is to cease to exist. Past a certain point, that conviction can't be easily changed, if at all, IMO.
Anyway, if you can help family and friends to better understand and cope with losing a loved one to suicide (with less self-blame and shame), that's a great gift, IMO --whether you do it on a professional or personal basis.
And, now I'm taking off my serious hat.
I think the personal experience you bring to your profession is probably quite helpful to people who've lost a loved one to suicide. You know first-hand about the impacts, though I'm not suggesting everyone processes it the same way.
From what I've seen and read, it's very common for loved ones to directly or indirectly blame themselves and focus on "what-ifs", and to feel like they weren't important enough to give the deceased a motive to live. I understand those feelings, but don't believe that they reflect reality in the large majority of cases. In my experience, the large majority of mature adults who battle severe depression and eventually commit suicide are convinced that their struggles make them a burden on others -- that the right thing to do for themselves and those closest to them is to cease to exist. Past a certain point, that conviction can't be easily changed, if at all, IMO.
Anyway, if you can help family and friends to better understand and cope with losing a loved one to suicide (with less self-blame and shame), that's a great gift, IMO --whether you do it on a professional or personal basis.
And, now I'm taking off my serious hat.