92. Identity Change After Grief- With Sue Egan

Sue Egan lost her brother to suicide six years ago. As she sat in a therapist's office a year later she began to pick up the pieces of her belief system and learned how to live with his suicide. "I felt no one could possibly understand what it was like. I felt so alone in my grief, and had memories that would flash back of events I never thought would happen in my life. There had been no warning signs, no suicide note or explanations. I have spent the last six years on my own journey of making meaning of my brother's death and working out how I can live with suicide as a part of my new life story. Through my own psychotherapy, EMDR therapy and finding the strength to research sucide bereavement within my doctoratal research and hosting a podcast about suicide loss, I have healed as much as I can. By speaking to many others bereaved through suicide, I have found a safe place to talk - to share what seems to be unthinkable thoughts and to hear stories from those who 'just get it.' I have learnt that we often have to rebuild not only our own lives but how we feel about our lost loved one. I may never be fully healed or be able to fully accept my brother's suicide, but I am in a stronger position than I ever have been. So although life will never be the same again, it is the best it will ever be - knowing I cannot rewind time and stop my brother doing what he felt he had to." Sue is a psychotherapist and a final year doctoral psychology student and is devoted to providing a safe therapeutic space for others who need to rebuild their lives after a sucide loss. Sue is a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the British Psychological Society (BPS). Contact Sue Egan: https://www.suicidegriefsupport.com/ https://www.suicidegriefsupport.com/podcasts/the-healing-narratives-of-suicide-loss-2 https://www.facebook.com/suicidegriefsupport https://www.instagram.com/suicide.grief.support Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest or for coaching: http://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com