Newsletters & Articles

---

Caring for Trauma Reactive Children after a Suicide Loss
Wednesday, August 16, 2017 by Cynthia Waderlow MSE, LCSW

In a suicide bereaved family it is conceivable that each survivor bears some level of trauma. The sudden intrusion of paramedics, ambulances and police with flashing lights, witnessing distraught reactions of parents and especially, exposure to the scene of death will impact the central nervous system of every family member. Even those not physically present at the time the suicide is discovered may be disturbed by intrusive imaginary images and sounds. Parents who seek counseling for their bereaved children know that this loss feels incomprehensible and has far-reaching impact. Whether a child openly shows reactivity and emotional dysregulation or has learned to mask their distress it is smart to assess for trauma. Not all traumatic experiences meet the clinical level of Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome, as defined by the DSM-5, but the extraordinary and shocking nature of suicide loss can give rise to trauma symptoms, which include intrusive remembering, emotional numbing and avoidance as well as general hyper-arousal. Intrusive remembering can look like recurrent disturbing dreams, flashbacks of the experience or heightened reactions to reminders of the loss.

From the desk of Deborah Major
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 by Deborah Major

When LOSS members first come to our support groups we sometimes hear them say, “I know I’ll never ‘get over’ this.” Or they might ask, “Does anyone ever ‘get over’ this?” We also hear these same worries from clients in individual counseling.

From the Desk of Father Rubey
Monday, August 01, 2016 by Father Rubey

As people experience the loss of a loved one from suicide there are a few basic questions that survivors are challenged to address as they traverse the grief journey. The first question is what can be learned from this tragic event, if anything? The second question is how can the survivors become better persons as a result of losing a loved one from suicide? These are very basic questions that each survivor can grapple with.  Instead of being paralyzed by this loss some survivors challenge themselves by asking this first question and busy themselves in the immediate aftermath of the suicide by just trying to get through each day and respond to the daily tasks of surviving this tremendous loss. 

From the Desk of Father Rubey
Friday, July 01, 2016 by Father Rubey

One of the great holidays in our country is the Fourth of July. We celebrate our independence from a tyrannical oppressor who has become over the years one of our staunchest Allies. It is a time of great celebration during the summer months.