Category Archives: Grief

Torn between remembering and forgetting

Posted on November 2, 2014 by

This is the conversation that goes on in my head quite regularly. “I feel OK, today quite content really. I feel quite happy, life is good.” “But how can you possibly be happy? Your son is dead. You can’t possibly … Continue reading →

Posted in bereavement, Grief, guilt, Healing, Loss | 13 Comments

A bright shining star

Posted on September 7, 2014 by

So I have had a bit of ‘writer’s block’ this summer, and haven’t written much at all. I was prompted to write something when Robin Williams died and this week I have been touched by the story of a grieving … Continue reading →

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

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

Posted on March 30, 2014 by

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

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

‘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 | 75 Comments

Can we separate the ‘death’ from the life?

Posted on January 26, 2014 by

 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

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