Does Time Heal All Wounds?

“Time Heals All Wounds”
Well...sort of, but not really.
Today marks 13 years since my youngest brother, Jason, took his own life when he was 19 years old. Over time, the open wound has turned into a scar for me. It still hurts at times (I’m fighting back tears as I type this) , but it’s a new normal.
I have several friends that I know have recently lost parents, siblings, friends, and even children. If I could say one thing to you, is that it’s okay to allow your wound to heal. This is not forgetting about your loved one.
Emotional wounds, just like physical ones, do not heal instantly. However, “time” itself is not the cure. These 5 steps will help you get “through” (not “over”) your grief:
1. Acknowledging your pain
2. Accepting that grief can trigger different and unexpected emotions
3. Understanding that your grief process will be unique to you
4. Seeking face-to-face support from people who care about you
5. Supporting yourself emotionally by taking care of yourself physically
6. Recognizing the difference between grief and depression
Instead of a wound, you’ll have a scar...their memories. Sometimes it might still be painful, but eventually (with time), the life they lived can positively shape yours.

Popular posts from this blog

Have I Really Learned Anything?

I often publicly post my thoughts regarding my brother's death on social media. For most part, it's something inspirational - and it's honest... I have been lucky to be surrounded by great people who helped me through a tough time many years ago. However, on very rare occasions, I have my shit days too. This morning is shit. One of the most painful aspects of Jason's death is not that he's gone - everyone dies. What hurts is knowing the pain he was going through. He opened up to me once, and I didn't know what to say. I knew he was serious when he said he wanted to kill himself, so I reacted with anger. This was the wrong response. He closed up , and I never really was able to have a good conversation after that. Jason wrote some pretty hateful things in his suicide note. He died thinking I, and everyone else that loved him, was against him. I've had people tell me, "Inside, your brother knew how much you cared." But if you think that, you pro
Read more

A Time to Heal

We’ve all heard the saying, “Time heals all wounds” when referring to emotional wounds. It’s most commonly heard after the death of a loved one, but there are many other ways one can suffer an emotional wound. You could have gone through a bitter divorce, been fired from a good job, or you could have been the victim of an abusive relationship. But what is time? Five seconds is time. Five hundred years is time. Saying “time heals all wounds” doesn’t really tell us anything. Yes, I’ll agree that it does take time for a wound to heal, but I’ll argue that time itself is not the actual healer. Much like a physical wound, in order for an emotional wound to heal properly, you must receive some sort of treatment. If untreated, an open wound can actually get worse with time. I remember when I was 10 years old, walking through the living room of our house. I saw my parents sitting on the couch as I continued towards to front door on my way out. Once outside I saw him – the neighborhood cat.
Read more