Category Archives: Grief

Mother’s Day takes on a new significance after the loss of a child

Posted on March 30, 2014 by annwae

After the loss of a child it can be difficult to get through all the special days; birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas. But Mother’s Day is especially difficult. We are surrounded by fluffy images of Mums and children and all our friends … Continue reading →

Posted in Grief, Loss, parents, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Is acceptance the key to recovery?

Posted on February 16, 2014 by annwae

I read a great quote the other day from Michael J Fox, an American actor who seemingly had everything but was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease at the age of 30. “Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that … Continue reading →

Posted in bereavement, Grief, Healing, Loss, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Will I ever get over the guilt?

Posted on February 4, 2014 by annwae

‘GUILT. Guilt comes from a mistaken belief that we could have, or should have, prevented the death from happening, or from regret over irreconciled aspects of the relationship. In truth, we all do the best we can given our human … Continue reading →

Posted in bereavement, Grief, guilt, Healing, Loss, parents, suicide | 80 Comments

Can we separate the ‘death’ from the life?

Posted on January 26, 2014 by annwae

 I had a ‘suicide’ drawer in my dresser. When Toby died I accumulated all manner of upsetting papers and documents. The first was an ‘Interim certificate of death’. Imagine going to open the post and seeing ‘Toby Thorn’ ‘Asphyxiation’ and … Continue reading →

Posted in bereavement, Grief, Healing, Loss, suicide | 6 Comments

Awakening from a coma

Posted on July 28, 2013 by annwae

It’s been just over two years since I encountered the life shattering tragedy of losing my son Toby to suicide. I have spoken before about the trauma being like a brain injury, everything I knew, believed in and valued was … Continue reading →

Posted in bereavement, gratitude, Grief, Healing, Loss, parents, suicide | 22 Comments

I hope you had the time of your life

Posted on April 7, 2013 by annwae

I remember distinctly the first time I heard this song. I was watching a documentary on BBC2 about a family who had a son who was autistic. He got so distressed by eveyday life, they had moved to some remote … Continue reading →

Posted in bereavement, Grief, Healing, Loss, parents, suicide, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Grief doesn’t get any better than this.

Posted on January 27, 2013 by annwae

What if it doesn’t get any better than this? I asked myself this question today and I was surprised that the answer I found was ‘That’s OK’. I am OK with that, in fact better than OK. Mind you at … Continue reading →

Posted in gratitude, Grief, Healing, Loss, suicide, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

If only we could bottle memories

Posted on December 30, 2012 by annwae

I wonder if in these futuristic times in which we live, we will ever be able to store up feelings and memories and then re-experience them in virtual reality. One of the recurring statements I hear from people who have lost … Continue reading →

Posted in bereavement, Grief, Loss, parents, suicide, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

It is there

Posted on December 26, 2012 by annwae

Warning – this post contains some content that may upset bereaved parents It is there. It is there when I wake up in the morning, it is there as I get ready for work, it is there as I drive … Continue reading →

Posted in bereavement, Grief, guilt, Loss, parents, suicide | 15 Comments

I don’t want this to be the way my story ends….

Posted on November 24, 2012 by annwae

Hundreds, maybe even thousands of times, since I lost Toby I have pondered my desire to carry on living. I still don’t know how I have carried on, because if you had asked me 2 years ago how I would … Continue reading →

Posted in bereavement, Grief, Healing, Loss, parents, suicide | Tagged , , | 4 Comments