[Alffe]

Survivors of suicide will recognize these symptoms immediately.

Reexperience the trauma in one of the following ways:

* they have recurrent recollections of the event.

* they have dreams of the event.

* they suddenly feel as if the event were recurring.

Experience a numbing or reduced involvement with the world by:

* a lessening of interest in important activities.

* a feeling of detachment from others.

* a flat, emotionless feeling

Have some of the following symptoms:

* Sleep disturbances

* Guilt about surviving

* Trouble concentrating, loss of memory

* Exaggerated startle response

* They avoid some of the activities that arouse recollection of the trauma

[Alffe]

The symptoms of PSD can show up immediately or not for months or years. They can last a short while; they can last a lifetime.

Because we are very good at hiding feelings from ourselves, especially very painful ones, we may experience nightmares that seem unrelated to the death of our loved ones.

Having to go it alone makes recovery harder. Having no chance to talk about the experience makes it harder. Having no chance to understand what has happened and why it happened -guilt, stigma, and silence - all make recovery harder.


Quoted very loosly from Silent Grief by Christopher Lukas and Henry M. Seiden.

[Burntmarshmallow]

wow good info. I think I still have this . I thought I had gotten rid of it , but I can see at least 4 thigs on the list I still go threw. Maybe this never goes away?

[Alffe]

(((BMW)))

"some survivors become overwhelmed by anger, despair, depression, guilt, and anxiety- and others don't. It's important for all survivors to understand what they are going through, to recognize the symptoms that are part of grieving after suicide, part of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and to recognize when they are stuck in those reactions, and cannot move on. (((BJ)))

Survivors need to recognize that what they undergo in the first six months after the suicide is only the beginning of the journey. (((Nikki)))


*********

Loosely taken from Silent Grief by Lukas and Seiden

[Nik-key]

((Alffe))Its been a hell of a beginning Thank you so much for sharing
this with us. I personally needed to read it. My niece and nephew were
already diagnosed with PTSD due to the domestic violence divorce, when
Grampa took his life. They were already enrolled in an intensive 12 week one
on one in home sessions as well. I met with the lady in private, the next day.
She was wonderful with me and I give her some credit for me still being here.

Looking back now after reading the symptoms... isn't it odd I saw these
in the children and embraced their treatment. But, even after my break
down... I didn't see these signs in me. I was offered treatment many times.
It isn't that I don't believe in therapy, I do. But, with Lynn's care, it is
very difficult. I may have to rethink this, as I have a shocking number
of those symptoms.... hmm but perhaps you already knew this?

[Alffe]

It isn't unusual to miss the presence of those in ourselves Nikki. You, as a caretaker (of wonder...*grin) to so many family members, just naturally put yourself last..out of habit and necessity I think.

The problem is our bodies know better and start "talking" to us...we become ill and we ourselves need caring for.

Instead of shutting down when overwhelmed we need to remember that the shortest prayer is "HELP".....and it's there for the asking.

Very recently I needed help with a graphic visual I could not get out of my head...I was incapable of helping this person because of the horror of something her husband had said to her, and she repeated to me. I told the one person in the world that I dared to..my Pastor and in three short sentences, she lifted it from me. I was amazed.

The lesson for all of us is...when we need help...go for it!