).png)
The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations
Suicide loss changes everything. This show is about life after suicide—real talk and practical support for grief after suicide: parents, partners, siblings, and friends finding their footing again. Each week, we explore what helps in suicide bereavement so you can keep going with honesty and hope.
Hosted by Melissa Bottorff-Arey, whose 21-year-old son, Alex, died by suicide in 2016, the podcast blends intimate conversations with survivors, healers, and mental health experts with short solo “Daily Nugget” episodes you can actually use. We cover child loss, trauma and nervous-system care, anniversaries and seasons, stigma, faith and meaning, legacy, and the everyday practices that make life livable again. You’ll hear grounded tools, language that honors your person, and the reminder that you are not broken—you are grieving.
For supporters and educators, these episodes offer insight into the realities of suicide grief and what genuine, non-fixing support looks like. If you’d like to share your story or expertise, you can request to be a guest via my website. 💜
Content Note
This podcast speaks candidly about difficult experiences and may feel activating. We avoid method details and graphic description. Please care for yourself as needed. I’m not a doctor or licensed therapist; nothing here is medical or mental-health advice.
The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations
Suicide Loss Daily Nugget: Being Seen on Purpose
In grief after suicide, witnessing redistributes weight—asked for cleanly, without apology.
Journal prompt: "What healing looks like—even when I can’t feel it—is…"
Witnessing redistributes weight. Not gone—carried together. Today we practice asking to be seen, cleanly and without apology.
A Flicker (Hope) — You’re allowed to be heard
Five quiet minutes. A nod. A text that lands. Hope isn’t a speech; it’s an accurate reflection without fixing.
To Rebuild (Healing) — The five-minute witnessing ask
Text: “Could you hold five minutes for me today? No fixing—just listening.”
Live/Call: “I don’t need solutions—just five minutes to be heard. Is now okay?”
If no one’s free: 3–5 min voice memo, a not-sent letter, or a 60-second mirror check (one feeling, one need, one next inch).
Take a Step (Becoming) — A boundary you’ll actually use
Draft one sentence for this week:
“I’m heading out now; I’ve met my limit.”
“I’m skipping this year, but I hope it’s meaningful for you.”
“Listening is all I need right now.”
Choose-your-energy menu:
Hollow (low): 5-4-3-2-1 grounding (see, touch, hear, smell, taste). Stop there.
Healing (medium): Send the five-minute ask—or schedule it. If no person, record a 3-minute memo.
Becoming (higher): Use your boundary once in a low-stakes moment.
Food for Thought Today:
Your story isn’t a public utility. Curate who gets access. Clarity is care. You don’t owe anyone a perfect explanation to deserve compassion; a simple “this is what I need” is enough. It’s also okay if the right listener isn’t available today—self-witnessing still counts, and choosing silence can be a boundary, not a failure. Keep practicing these small, clear asks until your body believes you’re safe to be heard.
Exhale. Keep what serves you; leave the rest. I’ll be here again tomorrow. 💜
__________________________________________________________________________
Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE
💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.