The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations

Grief After Suicide: Tiny Courage—The Ask You’ve Been Avoiding


Listen Later

Courage doesn’t have to roar; in life after suicide loss, one small ask can unlock support, information, or relief.

Journal prompt: “If Future-Me spoke up today, she’d ask me to…”

What we mean by a “small ask” (so we’re on the same page):
A small ask is specific, short, and time-bound—one clear request that lightens the load. Examples:

  • Support: “Could you check in with me Sunday evening?” / “Would you sit with me on the phone for 10 minutes—no fixing, just listening?”
  • Information: “Can you point me to the right form/link for X?” / “Who handles scheduling for Y?”
  • Logistics/Relief: “Do you have 15 minutes Tuesday to help me sort this?” / “Could you pick up milk when you’re at the store?” / “Can you walk with me into the event and help me leave early?”
    Keep it to one ask, one time window, one person/service. Clean is kind—to them and to your nervous system.

A Flicker (Hope) — Relief after a sent message
Often the worst part is holding it. Notice the ease that arrives once the ask leaves your body.

To Rebuild (Healing) — Choose your micro-ask
Pick one:

  • Information: “Can you point me to the right form/link?”
  • Support: “Could you check in with me this weekend?”
  • Logistics: “Do you have 15 minutes Tuesday to help me sort this?”

Take a Step (Becoming) — Send it cleanly
Keep it short, kind, and specific. End with one option for timing. If the answer is no or later, you still gained clarity (and energy).

Choose-your-energy menu:

  • Hollow (low): Hollow — Draft the ask in notes only. One sentence. Save.
  • Healing (medium): Healing — Send one ask to a safe person or service.
  • Becoming (higher): Becoming — Send two: one personal, one practical (e.g., admin/help).

Food for Thought Today:
Asking isn’t burdening; it’s distributing weight. Every clean request tells your nervous system you’re not alone—and teaches your circle how to show up the way you need.

Exhale. Keep what serves you; leave the rest. I’ll be here again tomorrow. 💜

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss ConversationsBy Melissa Bottorff-Arey

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

74 ratings


More shows like The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations

View all
Serial by Serial Productions & The New York Times

Serial

76,033 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,732 Listeners

Death, Sex & Money by Slate Podcasts

Death, Sex & Money

7,734 Listeners

Grief Out Loud by The Dougy Center

Grief Out Loud

313 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,724 Listeners

In The Dark by The New Yorker

In The Dark

28,450 Listeners

Thanks For Asking by Feelings & Co.

Thanks For Asking

13,265 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,734 Listeners

DEAD Talks by David Ferrugio

DEAD Talks

410 Listeners

Shades of the Afterlife by iHeartPodcasts

Shades of the Afterlife

378 Listeners

The Healing Narratives of Suicide Grief by Sue Egan

The Healing Narratives of Suicide Grief

3 Listeners

All There Is with Anderson Cooper by CNN Podcasts

All There Is with Anderson Cooper

10,399 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

20,182 Listeners

Handsome by Headgum

Handsome

13,285 Listeners