Loss: I am stuck in the "angry" stage. How can I move on?

Posted by mikaylar @mikaylar, May 25, 2023

My brother committed suicide 2 years ago. How do I get out of the "angry" stage. It seems that's the only way I can deal.

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Their are stages to grief and you are locked into anger. I feel I can comment on this subject having survived cancer and death of a bi-polar son just a week before his 40th birthday (possible suicide, no clear evidence). I've been though the 5 Stages of Grief and now lead a normal happy life. Of course one never forgets, but I've accepted and moved on.
In my case I took up landscape gardening. I had a nice size yard, joined several garden clubs, became a Master Gardening (even though I was told I only had x number of years to live) and turned my yard into a botanical garden. I gloried in nature and would look up at the sky and thank our creator for his gifts to us. I am not a church goer, but when viewing nature it's impossible for me not to be awed. I lost my anger and depression and was filled with joy loving the time I had left on earth. As a side note I am the 1% for who adult leukemia, CLL, spontaneously regresses without any treatment. After a postive bone marrow test and dealing with failing blood counts for 10 years, my blood counts are completely back to normal, even the lymphocytes, are normal. My leukemia is simply gone.
It took over a year to not feel like I was suffocating thinking about the loss of my son, yet now 15 years later I no longer dwell on it and allow myself only the postive memories.
My point is that it is up to you to accept your situation because there is nothing you can do to change what has happened. Plow though the complicated legal aspects so you can put it behind you. Don't dwell on how unfair it is. Everyone has a story to tell, everyone sufferes losses. Find out what you are thankful for and surround yourself with that and you will enjoy the time you have left on earth.

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Why do we humans commit suicide?
It's an age-old question,,,and while literature has many examples of those for whom love was central issue, current steep rise in overdose deaths in North America is a subject that has intrigued me often. It also seems to me that that lack of human connection is so often the main culprit.
And yet the people is one 'thing' that we know is increasing everywhere.

While I am not sure what led to the decision in your brother's case, perhaps we all can provide some level of Meaningful Connection to Each Other to fulfill the need within our circle of interactions.

In the meantime, we all have Our Lives demanding us to be looked after and if we slip on it we can't avoid the consequences. Life never has easy answers and we EACH can arrive at the best one that matches our unique lives.

This is how I try to start my day...what else is the choice? (and with eight decades on this planet I, too, have had my share of ups and downs including a friend's fate that ended the way your brother's did.

I think there is a book along six? stages of grief,,,maybe u find it helpful.
Wish you well, fellow human,

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I lost my adult son to suicide a few months ago. I am devastated, sad, angry and at times still in disbelief. I have found that some people bring me up and some people bring me down. I gravitate purposefully toward those who bring me up. I resonate with gardenjunkie on this thread, who mentioned the wonder of nature. I find that incredibly soothing, and helpful, as well. At the urging of a family member, I also reached out to a member of the clergy and was fortunate to find someone who inspired me in ways that resonated within me, to deal with my loss. I believe we are all different in our grieving, and should do what helps and feels best. My husband, daughters, and I all have our different ways of grieving, and some similar ways, as well. We help each other in our similarities, and support each other in our differences. Knowing that others are going through similar situations helps me to keep going. One Day at a Time.

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My brother committed suicide too. He graduated top of his class at Oberlin University, he had such close friends they amicably argued who would be the pallbearer at the funeral, & he had the sweetest girlfriend. I was only 12 nonetheless I felt guilty bec' our parents & I were visiting from St Thomas,VI,&as we sat in car waiting for them ordering food at Hot Shops, I asked Steve if he had 3 wishes what would they be. He said first would be he was looking down from the sky at what everyone was doing. This was a hint the day before he did it & I told no-one.
My brother's intentional death DEVASTATED my mother & father, in their guilt they could not comfort one another,also blamed one another & hence, the marriage was severely damaged.

Yours is a VERY different case as he directly physically harmed others in the process. The only way I could get past my anger was in therapy and on my own, forgiving Steve through the grace of God. It takes a lot of time, the anger comes first, I recommend giving anger its place. But to achieve your own mental health,there comes a time,hopefully sooner than later, to forgive. The thing that helped me the most: I have a strong imagination & would imagine him sitting there,a therapist helped me 'see' the details of the room,what he was wearing,etc & I would tell him how he destroyed our family.I even shouted. Then I moved towards forgiveness.
And for me, true forgiveness is not possible on your own. You have to have whatever your higher power is...helping you. For me it was God and how He's forgiven much more. But I am not religious. Its a relationship with Him and His Son.

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In reply to @mikaylar: There are programs at churches called GRIEF SHARE and they are personable & phenomenal. Check around and see if any of your churches have this. It has helped a lot of folks in my church. Blessings & Prayers....There is hope precious one!

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@covidstinks2023

In reply to @mikaylar: There are programs at churches called GRIEF SHARE and they are personable & phenomenal. Check around and see if any of your churches have this. It has helped a lot of folks in my church. Blessings & Prayers....There is hope precious one!

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Yes, I did attend that. Thank you. It made me feel more sad and angry.

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@sisyphus

Why do we humans commit suicide?
It's an age-old question,,,and while literature has many examples of those for whom love was central issue, current steep rise in overdose deaths in North America is a subject that has intrigued me often. It also seems to me that that lack of human connection is so often the main culprit.
And yet the people is one 'thing' that we know is increasing everywhere.

While I am not sure what led to the decision in your brother's case, perhaps we all can provide some level of Meaningful Connection to Each Other to fulfill the need within our circle of interactions.

In the meantime, we all have Our Lives demanding us to be looked after and if we slip on it we can't avoid the consequences. Life never has easy answers and we EACH can arrive at the best one that matches our unique lives.

This is how I try to start my day...what else is the choice? (and with eight decades on this planet I, too, have had my share of ups and downs including a friend's fate that ended the way your brother's did.

I think there is a book along six? stages of grief,,,maybe u find it helpful.
Wish you well, fellow human,

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Great words of wisdom. Thank you!

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@mikaylar

Yes, I did attend that. Thank you. It made me feel more sad and angry.

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I'm so sorry it made things worse. I believe you will get past this. Hugs & Blessings.....

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Thank you. I know I will. I have family that needs me so I have to move on.

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@mikaylar

Yes, I did attend that. Thank you. It made me feel more sad and angry.

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My friend who lost her very close boyfriend w/ a sudden tragic death feels the same Mikaylar!

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