Of Memories and Metamorphosis: Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Sibling Loss to Suicide: Sasha / Amy

The Broken Pack™: Stories of Adult Sibling Loss

A Surviving Sibling's Sibling Loss Story of Devastation, Continuing Bonds, and Navigating Her Roles after Suicide Loss
Sasha openly discusses her sibling loss story of losing her sister, Amy, to suicide in July 2021. my was a kind, caring, loving sister. When Sasha lost Amy, her identity changed, as it does for many siblings. Learning to navigate her place in the family and to wrestle with many mixed emotions related to Amy's death have been understandably part of her grieving process.

• Sasha emphasizes the profound impact of such a loss.
• She highlights the unique bond she shared with her sister and the subsequent feelings of grief, guilt, and longing.
• Sasha also shares how she copes with her loss through connecting with nature, finding comfort in small moments, and seeking support from those who understand her pain.

Content Warning: Information presented in this episode may be upsetting to some people. It contains talk of suicide and suicidal ideation.
If you are in the US and need support for yourself or someone else with suicidal thoughts or other topics discussed in this episode, please call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or Text your 5-digit ZIP Code to 435748 (HELP4U) or call a warmline. For more immediate crisis call 911, 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.
In the USA, an updated directory of warmlines by state can be found at https://warmline.org/warmdir.html
A warmline directory for trained peer supports in over 20 countries can be found at https://www.supportiv.com/tools/international-resources-crisis-and-warmlines . (Some of those may be hotlines.)

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own adult sibling loss story, please contact me, Dr. Angela Dean, at [e-mail] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.
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Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT
Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by 27 Elephants Media
"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. MYLWD.)
Licensed for use by The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3vx3kk46

Luvut

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. About Sasha (00:01:27)

3. About Amy (00:02:21)

4. Their Sibling Relationship (00:03:43)

5. Sasha's Guilt (00:06:08)

6. Losing Amy (00:07:44)

7. A Sister Having to Make the Calls (00:13:40)

8. Sharing Her Devastating News with the World (00:16:41)

9. Immediate Support (00:19:09)

10. Absence of Support After the Celebration of Life (00:19:53)

11. Talking about Amy and Sasha's Advice for Talking to Grievers (00:20:53)

12. Continuing Bonds (00:21:56)

13. Hummingbird in Winter: A Visit from Amy (00:23:32)

14. Birthdays (00:25:07)

15. Family Dynamics After Sibling Loss (00:26:21)

16. Pushing People Away (00:27:57)

17. Sasha's Experience with Finding Professional Counseling (00:30:24)

18. Sasha's Wisdom: Be Intentional in Supporting Others (00:34:34)

19. Sasha's Favorite Memories with Amy (00:35:37)

20. Outro (00:39:08)