How I'm Finding My 'New Normal' After My Son's Suicide
The call came that my son was gone. All I kept asking was, “What do you mean he is gone?”
When my son of 27 years was taken from me by depression leading to suicide, the pain I felt came from a whole different paradigm. This was not what I signed up for when I became a mother. I expected to grow old watching my child live a happy productive life. Suddenly, a lifetime of watching him grow, become a man, start a family and become an adult were gone. To me, suicide seems to be an ending to the pain of the person who succumbs to it. Yet, it is only the beginning to those of us left behind to pick up the pieces of our existence.
I was in shock in the beginning and really didn’t feel anything. I don’t believe I cried during those first couple of days after Christopher’s death. I later busied myself with doctor appointments and self-care became a priority even though I was resistant to the idea. The psychiatrist, psychologist and even my primary care doctors all worked together to keep me capable of basic functioning. Slowly, the coping skills began to find their way into my perplexed and anxiety-ridden mind.
It seemed incomprehensible that everything in our lives we had taken for granted as the truth was forever altered. Hopes, dreams, the future as we knew it were all sent to oblivion in a single moment. However, even though I did not believe it possible in those first couple of years, things have begun to change into more of a “normal” pattern and flow. My husband and I tentatively moved on into our “new normal.” We acknowledge there will always be the rough days and they must run their course. We have learned we cannot rush our healing nor ignore our grief.
The most arduous battle was the immediate absence of someone I had spent a lifetime caring for. I wondered if he would be remembered as others moved on with their lives after the immediacy of the crisis. I pulled out every picture I had and went through his life over again remembering every detail of what made him who he was. I made albums, filled containers of all his childhood belongings. Carefully placing cherished awards and projects from school for safekeeping to give to his daughters when they are grown.
I found online support groups to be very useful as they allowed me to be in the throes of a “meltdown” and still communicating through the keyboard. This allowed real-time conversations with others who shared the same pain I felt. These groups allowed me to avoid the physical human contact I was not ready for in my delicate state, but still allowed me to interact with others. These groups provide families and individuals — in varying stages of recovery — the chance to help each other and provide hope to those who are not as far along in their own recovery.
My husband and I are and will continue to be our child’s parents. The fact that he is not here physically does not mean he is no longer our son. We still are the parents of three sons. My personal mission has become to make sure my son is never forgotten. I require his memory be in totality and not summed up the one heartbreaking moment in which he left this life. This purpose gave me the fortitude to begin looking for possible ways to become a stronger person.
I recently signed up for classes and am working on becoming a Grief Recovery Specialist. Helping others is also becoming a wonderful tool in my own recovery. Using the new competencies, I have and will be learning, to aid another is a healing process in and of itself. I want to tell others that though it may not seem possible right now, but at some point, you will be the person who is farther down the recovery path than the next. I want to tell someone, “You will know what works for you and what may work for another grieving parent. You will have informative insight of a child loss survivor because you are one.”
There will be pain which may seem insurmountable. Allow yourself to accept help and live life. Remember there is someone somewhere who has answers when you are ready. You may need a friend or family member to take the first step for you to begin healing. Sometimes you simply may not be capable of seeking help on our own. It’s perfectly respectable to receive and utilize the help you need. Alternately, so is being capable and strong. It doesn’t mean you cared less or aren’t grieving enough because you are capable of strength in adversity. The reality of grieving is that your grief won’t be like anyone else. Grief is as individual as the person grieving.
Every one of us as a survivor can truly aspire to live their life while preserving their precious child’s memories. Eventually, time and perseverance will allow you to forge ahead finding your way to hope and your “new normal!”
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If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources page.
If you need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “START” to 741-741.
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Carol is the proud mother of three wonderful sons and grandmother to beautiful baby girls. She takes pride in being an experienced nurse of geriatrics with psychiatric experience. Carol has been married to her husband Tim for thirty-four years and hopes for many more! Her life changed 5/11/2014 with the tragic death by suicide of her middle son Christopher. However, she has never been known as a woman who gives up easily and plans to conquer this crazy thing called life! Carol enjoys spending time with her family and friends, writing, reading, and is currently studying Grief Recovery so she can help others on their path to acceptance. Carol admits the elusive light of hope has finally shown itself again.
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