The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
This podcast focuses on surviving life after a suicide loss, an experience that can be devastating and leave you feeling lost as you try to pick up the pieces of your shattered heart. The host, Melissa Bottorff-Arey, lost her 21-year-old son, Alex, to suicide on August 7, 2016, and brings (& often shares) her insights from her personal journey.
In each episode, Melissa engages in honest and challenging conversations with other survivors of loss, healers, and mental health experts. She also produces shorter solo episodes where she reflects on her own thoughts and experiences thus far. The podcast covers a wide range of relevant topics and addresses difficult questions. Melissa explores all aspects of grief, including trauma, hope, healing, self-care, legacy, and stigma. She believes that we learn to live alongside our grief rather than get ing over it. Actual change comes through authentic, meaningful connections and mindful choices.
For supporters or educators, these conversations provide valuable insights and shine a light on suicide and grief genuinely and unapologetically. Listeners who are grieving a suicide loss can find comfort in the community and hope for a better tomorrow. Melissa aims to help others, like herself, transition from merely surviving to discovering a life filled with meaning and, potentially, even happiness amid the leftover pieces around you.
[Please NOTE: This podcast is for only relational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It candidly and openly discusses sensitive and sometimes activating topics. There will be no in-depth or graphic descriptions of the method, but merely the possible mention of suicide, murder, rape, and the like. Be guided and care for yourself accordingly. Also, Melissa is not a doctor or licensed therapist, and nothing on this podcast should be taken in place of, or as, medical/mental health advice or recommendations.]
The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
Grief Waves Years After Loss; Different or the Same?
Today I go “down the rabbit hole” to talk about when those 'grief waves' hit me even years (over 5 & 1/2 years) after the loss of my son to suicide. Are they they different now or the same as in the early days?
I talk about feeling your emotions - I believe it's the best way to
Even later - even forever - it is stil "ok" to cry and scream and miss then with ALL OF YOU ... there is NO F***ING TIMELINE for loving someone. BUT, how do the bad days or grief waves look later??
Here are a FEW of the 'resources' or suggestions that I offered, oor titles I mentioned, if you are interested::
Podcasts-
- Coming Back OR Grief Seeds (both by Shelby Forsythia
- Not Allowed to Die by Dan Maigler
- Good Mourning (by Imogen & Sally)
Movies / Shows - (all are about healing in some fashion but have a hopeful message)
- Hope Floats
- Nights in Rodanthe
- Chef
- Surviving Death a Docuseries (Netflix)
- The Starling (Melissa McCarthy)
- Rabbit Hole (Nicole Kidman)
Come with me “down the rabbit hole” every other week as I share my thoughts on topics surrounding life after suicide. On the other weeks, I release an episode where I have a conversation with a suicide loss survivor or perhaps an expert in a field connected to suicide loss.
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My website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is LIVE and that means my different SUPPORT SPACE Options are available and much more will be coming in 2022
Go DIRECTLY to my SUPPORT page here where yo9u will find ALL of the ways to connect and find support
My first two books (tools I am creating for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
The National Suicide Lifeline is there for you
IN a crisis you can also TEXT--->
TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK TEXT 85258
And Grievers, I am always here. You can find me at The Leftover Pieces