Suicide Grief and the Journey to Healing

By Dr. Tammy Isaac

Chaplain | Grief Counselor | Host of the Permission to Breathe Podcast

There are losses that shatter us—and then there are losses that leave us speechless. Losing someone to suicide is one of the most disorienting, soul-wrenching experiences a person can endure. It’s a grief filled with questions, silence, and an ache that feels both public and private all at once.

In the final episode of Season 2 of the Permission to Breathe Podcast, I opened a sacred space to talk honestly about suicide grief—what makes it different, how it affects survivors emotionally and spiritually, and what it means to keep breathing when someone you love could not. This blog is an extension of that sacred conversation—because some grief deserves more than a moment. It deserves presence. And permission.

Grief always hurts—but suicide grief cuts deep in unique ways. Survivors often wrestle with:

• Guilt: “What signs did I miss?”

• Anger: “Why didn’t they reach out?”

• Shame: “What will people think?”

• Isolation: “No one understands this pain.”

There is also the weight of unanswered questions—the kind that replay in your mind when the rest of the world has moved on. Suicide grief is complicated. It’s layered. And it’s valid.

Yes—grief can leave you feeling emotionally fragile and mentally foggy. You may:

• Cry unexpectedly or feel completely numb

• Struggle to focus or remember things

• Experience panic, exhaustion, or mood swings

• Feel like you’re losing control

This isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign that you’re human. Grief, especially after suicide, lives in the body and spirit. It disrupts your rhythm, and it takes time, support, and compassion to begin rebuilding.

Please know that help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—24/7, confidential, and life-saving. You matter. You are loved. You are needed.

If you’ve lost someone to suicide, your grief matters. If you’ve considered suicide yourself, your pain deserves care. If you’re just trying to make it through the day, that is enough.

Healing is not a straight line—it’s a sacred unfolding. And wherever you are on the journey, I hope this space reminds you: You are still here. You are still breathing. And you still have purpose.

This episode marks the end of Season 2 of Permission to Breathe, but I’m not going far. In May, I’ll be back with a special Mother’s Day Series, and Season 3 will launch in July with even more real, raw, and redemptive conversations.

Until then, take care of your heart. Grieve honestly. Love deeply. And always, always—give yourself permission to breathe.

Did this blog resonate with you?

Share it with someone who needs to know their pain is seen and their grief is honored.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Permission to Breathe Podcast, available on Spotify, Apple, and everywhere you stream podcasts.