My coworker came to work and shot himself today. I was the only person to talk to him and was one of the first people to reach him after he did it. I'm planning on speaking with the grief counselors they're bringing in tomorrow. But I'm wondering if there are any resources I should know about for people in a situation like mine, specifically: witnesses of the suicide of a coworker or friend. In case the details are relevant: they are below. [more inside]
posted by nerdcore on Sep 30, 2009 - 31 answers

Our somewhat estranged neighbors just lost their 19 y/o son in a tragic accident. How do we communicate our sympathies? [more inside]
posted by keith0718 on Sep 12, 2009 - 28 answers

My mother's grief is overwhelming me. How do I keep my cool? [more inside]
posted by Monsters on Sep 5, 2009 - 25 answers

Book gift recommendations for a professor who lost a child? I don't even know if I should get such a gift--but one of my professors lost his child recently (April 2009) to juvenile ALS, after watching her wither away for a year. She became sick in the Fall of 2007, and I was in his class when he told us, nearly breaking down, that our grades would be late because he had to fly back and forth to specialists for his daughter. [more inside]
posted by dhn on Aug 19, 2009 - 22 answers

My grandmother died this morning. I'm going home to help out the family, but I would like to make a list of things I might not remember before I leave so that we don't forget anything. [more inside]
posted by Unicorn on the cob on Aug 12, 2009 - 23 answers

I would like to help my friends, if I can; two of them are individually dealing with incredibly stressful and sad health-related situations related to their parents. [more inside]
posted by taz on Aug 8, 2009 - 7 answers

Help me go back to being a happy girl. [more inside]
posted by cobain_angel on Jul 20, 2009 - 20 answers

I'm lonely but I don't want to be around anyone. Please advise how to get through this grief. [more inside]
posted by giggleknickers on Jul 13, 2009 - 27 answers

What is the "language of victimization"? I don't get it. More context to that behind the fold. [more inside]
posted by LOLAttorney2009 on Jul 11, 2009 - 13 answers

My husband of 17 years had an affair and left me for someone else. Three years later, I’m still feeling bitter and vengeful. Please help me cope. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 3, 2009 - 38 answers

How can I help a suicide's widow? A dear friend committed suicide yesterday. My husband and I were notified by a mutual friend because the dead man thought of my husband as a friend (one of his few, I think). His partner (they never married) is staying with some closer friends for now. My question is: What can I/we do to help her? [more inside]
posted by dbmcd on Apr 20, 2009 - 17 answers

How do I convince my friend that she didn't make a mistake in choosing to put her dogs down, and that she's not selfish for missing them. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 1, 2009 - 27 answers

Calling all experiences with surrogate pregnancy - on any side of the equation. I am considering having a child through a surrogate mother, and wondered if anyone had any anecdotes, experience, advice, warnings, etc. [more inside]
posted by bunnycup on Mar 4, 2009 - 10 answers

Someone close to me recently passed away. For the most part I'm okay, but what stops me in my tracks is the idea that there may not be an afterlife. How do I come to terms with this? [more inside]
posted by Metroid Baby on Mar 3, 2009 - 41 answers

How do I simultaneously save my personal and professional life in this time of grief over my father's two year anniversary? Is this grief even "real" so to speak, or an excuse to explain some other issue(s)? [more inside]
posted by fiasco on Feb 19, 2009 - 13 answers

What can I say when my boyfriend gets scared about his Dad dying? [more inside]
posted by trampesque on Feb 9, 2009 - 12 answers

What can my mom do about a self-destructive friend of a friend in vacation-land? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 22, 2009 - 11 answers

My step-father died unexpectedly about two months ago, leaving behind my mother and my 13-year old sister. We are going through the 'normal' grieving process, but I am worried about my family and how they will get by. Is there anything that I can do to help and should I move closer to them? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 11, 2008 - 6 answers

How do I sort out whether my feelings are due to grief, or depression, and how do I proceed after the suicide of my brother-in-law? [more inside]
posted by alpha_betty on Dec 11, 2008 - 8 answers

Help me design a multi-pronged approach to dealing with longstanding depression/grief/craziness. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 8, 2008 - 14 answers

My dog is my best friend. She is getting older, and I worry. Will losing her wreck my (finally) happy life? [more inside]
posted by Pennyblack on Dec 3, 2008 - 35 answers

I've been debating for two weeks now but this question finally made my decision for me. I finally got around to seeing The Bridge. Bonus points for anyone who's seen it. This is a little long...I am Very Much Not OK now. [more inside]
posted by geckoinpdx on Dec 2, 2008 - 17 answers

How did you deal with pet loss grief? I want to collect people's experiences with waiting to get another pet or getting one right away and the relative merits of each. [more inside]
posted by zennoshinjou on Nov 19, 2008 - 24 answers

Recommendations for a cognitive behavioral therapist in the Houston area for my mother? He/she is going to have to deal with a lot, especially because she is irrational and suspicious. [more inside]
posted by Nattie on Oct 22, 2008 - 6 answers

I can't stop obsessing about my parents' mortality. Yes, I will probably seek therapy at some point, but for now it would be nice just to hear how others have dealt with this. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 - 16 answers

Angst and melancholy aside, I persistently fear that I will never be able to happily integrate into society. I know I need help, but I can’t figure out how to overcome my negative emotions and in succumbing to them I only feed into my cycle of avoidance and disappointment. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 3, 2008 - 14 answers

My mom died when I was in college. Though she was in some sense a single parent to me and we were extremely close, I barely shed a tear about it since she died over six years ago. This past weekend, I'm not exactly sure why, but the dam finally broke and I've been overwhelmed with a tidal wave of sadness for the past couple of days that shows no signs of flowing back out. I have a couple of questions for you. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 29, 2008 - 13 answers

How to deal with long grief leading into depression? I lost my boyfriend last year in a very sudden, very horrifying suicide. (there are links in my post about it last year if you're a trainwreck gaper like i am...) I'm in weekly therapy with a great therapist. I see a great psychiatrist monthly. I am on two antidepressants that don't seem to be doing much for me but I can't really tell, because am I depressed or am I still grieving? [more inside]
posted by Soulbee on Sep 17, 2008 - 27 answers

I live in the Cleveland, Ohio area (live in upper far east side, work in lower far east side) and am looking for grief resources for any of the following: people with a DBT background who are grieving, people in their 20s who are grieving, people whose parents died young, "radical Catholics" or "glass-half-full agnostics" who are grieving, Italian-Americans who are grieving a fellow Italian, people who are grieving a loved one that died of a liver ailment. I am kind of an introvert, so while getting a feel for what groups are out there is good, I could also use websites, books, etc. re: same. Thanks. [more inside]
posted by RobotHeart on Aug 17, 2008 - 5 answers

How can I feel less alone in my grief? [more inside]
posted by Alligator on Jul 9, 2008 - 15 answers

My boyfriend's best friend just died over the weekend. He is inconsolable. I know I can't make it better, but how can I make it suck less? To complicate matters, this is not a "normal" situation, and we're not a "normal" couple. MeFites familiar with BDSM culture and psychology encouraged to reply, particularly those familiar with roleplaying/puppy play. Lengthy details inside; probably NSFW (concept, not content). [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 8, 2008 - 7 answers

Do you have any advice for helping a family deal with the death of an infant, with the added fuck you from god that the mother can't have another child? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 26, 2008 - 23 answers

Reading/poetry to say goodbye to a dog? [more inside]
posted by Liosliath on May 29, 2008 - 17 answers

The new normal sucks. How am I supposed to cope after my father's suddenish death? [more inside]
posted by bash on May 19, 2008 - 29 answers

My good friends' cat just died. What can I get them/do for them? [more inside]
posted by Maia on Apr 26, 2008 - 27 answers

My dad died recently, and the resulting grief and intense emotional state I'm in have ramped up feelings I have for an unattainable person... a crush. I'm happily married, and this is confusing and painful. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 21, 2008 - 14 answers

My employee may or may not have a genuine psychological problem. How should I address this? [more inside]
posted by Joey Michaels on Feb 8, 2008 - 30 answers

Having kids or not when you have chronic health issues: how did you decide and come to terms with it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 21, 2008 - 12 answers

Please suggest resources for dealing with the loss of a loved one – how to cope with grief. When you moved to the area just before it happened, you’re now all alone, and don’t have friends established, or anyone to talk to - it’s hard to cope with the enormous bills, the life change and deep emptiness. You go to work and pretend all is fine, but it’s not. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 17, 2008 - 8 answers

Periods after Miscarriage? I had a miscarriage on 10-28-07. The first period after that was November 28 through December 3rd. It was complete and there was no D & C. I had a follow up with my OB 11-28 . Before the pregnancy and miscarriage my body was more predictable. Can a miscarriage change my body and periods? [more inside]
posted by Snoogylips on Dec 26, 2007 - 7 answers

Is there any place in Chicago to go for free, extremely cheap, or sliding-scale-rate therapy/counseling? [more inside]
posted by white light on Dec 21, 2007 - 9 answers

A very dear friend had a miscarriage earlier this year. Suddenly our friends are getting pregnant, and I think it's difficult for her. Are there any extra ways I can support her? [more inside]
posted by thehmsbeagle on Oct 3, 2007 - 11 answers

I need help deciding whether to continue seeing my psychologist (who i really like) and see a psychiatrist (who I also really like) for med management, or see the psychiatrist for both therapy and med management? Also, does anyone have experience with Harvard Pilgrim HMO's mental health benefits? [more inside]
posted by Soulbee on Sep 15, 2007 - 9 answers

One of my good friends died a few days ago. Can you recommend some suitable works of literature (fiction, essay, poetry, etc.) to help me along? [more inside]
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam on Sep 11, 2007 - 24 answers

I don't know whether it's time to put my dog down or not. Long, rambling, a few gross details - but your help appreciated. [more inside]
posted by Quidam on Aug 31, 2007 - 15 answers

How do I record a voice mail message from a landline onto my computer? [more inside]
posted by annathea on Jul 4, 2007 - 10 answers

What steps do you take to grieve companion animals? [more inside]
posted by vers on Jun 15, 2007 - 29 answers

Processing and dealing with a sudden death. [more inside]
posted by atayah on May 30, 2007 - 19 answers

How can I deal with anger/fear over a senseless death? [more inside]
posted by Liosliath on May 18, 2007 - 18 answers

Help me think of a song to illustrate the fifth stage of grief. [more inside]
posted by puddleglum on May 1, 2007 - 68 answers