I lost my brother and hunting buddy

[bwidrick]

So sorry for your loss. Praying for you & your family. Thanks for speaking out to others in your time of loss & pain.

 

[COJoe]

I am very sorry for your loss of your brother. Brothers are near and dear to us and to have hunted with him must have been such a joy for you. As a LE chaplain with our PD, I am sadddened with you as it's so hard hearing these stories but way too common. Our city just lost a high ranking fire chief to suicide a couple weeks ago. To those who have LE in their family, be present with them when you know and can sense their struggle. I am thankful our department is taking it seriously and providing mental health care and physical care through O2X. Praying for you my friend.

 

[Dave_S]

My condolences. Not LE but a veteran. I've lost too many brothers this way. It's impossible to try to make sense of. Don't be afraid to talk to someone.

 

[insanelupus]

My deepest condolences to you, your family, and his department. May the Lord comfort you all in your grief and walk with you through this tremendously difficult loss. My prayers are with you all.

 

[CodeMonkey]

I am deeply sorry for your loss and will be praying for you and your family.

This is something that hits close to home as someone who struggles with PTSD and is recovering from substance abuse.

-Pete aka. Codemonkey
1589 days sober

Not everyday is a good day, but there is some good in every day.

 

[Gadjet]

I lost my brother in 2018 to suicide. We were basically joined at the hip. The two of us were very tight. He was my hunting partner among many other things in life. I can relate how hard it is for you right now. Healing from something so horrific takes time. That first hunting season without your brother is tough, but I used my time in the woods to pray and talk to both God and my brother. Sorry you’re going through such a tough loss.

 

[Reburn]

Sorry for your loss.
My brothers are my hunting partners as well. I couldnt imagine the pain.
Prayers are with you.

 

[ianpadron]

Man that's awful, sorry for your loss.

Fellas, normalize asking your buddies how they're doing, and letting them know how you're doing regularly, on more than just a surface level. This stuff happens way too often these days.

 

[Agent Michael Scarn]

So sorry for your loss. I lost a high school friend to the same thing earlier this year.

 

[dusky]

I can't imagine losing my brother. And his poor wife and kids... I lost my father at an early age. So sad for you and the family.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor who works primarily with men who are new to therapy, I want to retirate your point that there are people out there who care, who can help, and that therapy is nothing to fear. I hear that from my clients a lot, which they said was surprising to them.
Suicide can seem like the most unselfish and "right" thing to do to those in the thick of it. It's an illusion that can be hard to see through so I agree - we need to get inside with our people. Even then, the choice is theirs. I had a friend kill himself even though he was surrounded by support. Can only do what we can. Living with guilt bc we wish we'd done more serves no good except to push us to be real with everyone, always.
I wish you well, however that may look for you.

 

[Milestone522]

I'm sorry about your brother. It is a punch in the gut to hear about a fellow officer, a firefighter, or a combat veteran taking their own life. Unfortunately it happens too often.

For other officers on this forum that know someone that needs help, or need help themselves, there is a resource.

www.Copline.org

I don't work for them, but a fellow retired officer friend of mine does. Copline has veteran retired cops on call 24/7 across the nation, who volunteer to talk with any officer, anytime. It's free, confidential, and they have counseling resources for work stress, marriage, finance, alcohol, etc.

There is no limit on Calls or assistance. If you just want to talk to someone who has been there and survived the job, they are waiting to help.

 

[highcj5]

Sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

 

[Duckhunterbrad]

So sorry to hear of your loss. Praying for you and your family.

 

[hoyt-guy]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[mikkel318]

Thank you everyone for the support and messages. It's truly helped.

Please enjoy the hunts with your loved ones this fall and make sure to take the time to really check in with them and see how you can help.

 

[highcountrymuley]

So sorry for your loss. Condolences and prayers to your family. I know you will keep him with you out in the field.

 

[TopherDave]

I lost my brother to suicide this week. He was my hunting buddy and someone I talked to all of the time. He struggled with alcoholism and was a police officer. He leaves behind a wife and 3 kids.

This forum has helped me meet some great people and I feel part of the community. As our family heals, this is one way we feel we can help. There has been so much good advice on this forum I have taken to heart. Whether it's parenting, marriage, or friendship it's been helpful.

He was with me on so many hunts and that has given me so many great memories. He was the most enthusiastic hunter. I wish I had him back for one more.

I am not writing this to ask anyone for anything. I hope it helps someone decide to get help. My pain is something I am having trouble describing.

Please, if any of you are hurting, please ask for help.

My deepest condolences!! Reading your first paragraph made me burst out into tears. It hits at some old, deep wounds that I carry. I had a really good friend commit suicide when we were 13 (37 now). I blamed myself deeply for that for many many years. That emotional wound will fester and flare up from time to time, like a sliver that you never get out.

Alcoholism runs in my family. My dad is one. His dad was one. It’s left me with a very very weird relationship with alcohol.

By creating this post, you sir, are already leaps and bounds ahead of myself in dealing with this pain, hurt, sadness. YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT! To anyone and anything. Random people on the internet, a therapist, journaling has helped me too. The therapist took me a long time to find a good one, he likes to talk about “men’s issues.”

Thanks for sharing. Great reminder to the rest of us out there, if you’re struggling, talk to someone!

Don’t be afraid to PM if you want to unload more. I’ll listen.

 

[tall]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, and other similar losses. Standing with you all in support and solidarity.