Shock and Disbelief
The initial responses to suicide are shock and disbelief. Survivors have difficulty understanding what they've seen or been told because the event is so far outside our normal expectations.
Survivors often report feeling confused, numb or empty of emotions for a while and unable to follow a daily routine. Events may seem surreal. There is a feeling of: “This can’t be happening to me.” Shock is a normal reaction to traumatic loss and may in fact be healthy because it protects survivors from the initial pain of the loss. It may help survivors get through the first few days of funeral arrangements and services. The shock may last a few days or go on for several weeks. The journey through grief after suicide is neither short nor easy. The initial shock and the painful feelings that follow are a normal part of the grief process as survivors understand, process and come to terms with what has happened. |
After the initial shock, other emotions will creep in. They will arrive on their own schedule and may overwhelm you all at once or may surface gradually. |
