I trust my intuition. I trust myself to do what I need to do. I grieve the way my inner all-knowing self, the wise person deep inside me, guides me to grieve. I follow that wisdom.

I think I will always grieve for him – in the same way that I will always love him.

After a death by suicide, your grief is likely to be different from any other you may have experienced in the past, and it may also differ from that of other people who knew the person who died. You may experience changes in your life and relationships; powerful, unpredictable, and sometimes confusing emotions; physical reactions; and changes in thinking and memory.

The need to seek answers, understand what has happened, or find some meaning in the death is often one of the most difficult aspects of grieving a suicide. In time, you may find some answers; or you may come to view the death in a way that, while not ideal, makes it tolerable.

At some point, you may begin to think about re-engaging with your life: returning work; reconnecting with friends or family; taking up activities that you once enjoyed; or pursuing new interests. Even thinking about this can bring up feelings of guilt if you think that these actions might mean that you’ve forgotten or are neglecting the person who died. Be patient and kind with yourself.