Ten years after losing her 24-year-old son Richard to suicide, Ann Marie Farino wants other suicide loss survivors to know something she once believed was impossible: grief and joy can exist together.

When the meals stopped arriving, friends returned to their routines, and the world moved forward, Ann Marie was left asking a question familiar to many grieving families:

"How do I live now?"

In this deeply moving conversation, she shares the small, intentional steps that helped her rebuild a life she never expected to enjoy again—from working with a grief therapist and joining a suicide loss support group to setting tiny daily goals, finding purpose through service, and eventually giving herself permission to laugh without guilt.

Ann Marie's story isn't about leaving grief behind. It's about learning to carry it differently.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

•  Why grief and joy can exist in the same heart 
•  The importance of specialized support after suicide loss 
•  How small daily routines helped restore a sense of stability 
•  Why grief groups can reduce isolation and shame 
•  Finding purpose through helping others 
•  Letting go of guilt when moments of happiness return 
•  The healing power of friendship and community 
•  Looking for "molecules of joy" even in life's darkest seasons 

Whether you've lost a child, partner, sibling, parent, or close friend to suicide, Ann Marie offers something many survivors long to hear:

Healing doesn't mean forgetting.

It means discovering that love, grief, purpose, and even joy can coexist.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Suicide loss survivor healing
• Grief after suicide
• Losing a child to suicide
• Grief therapy
• Suicide loss support groups
• Finding purpose after loss
• Guilt after grief
• Post-traumatic growth
• Friendship during grief
• Hope after devastating loss

Timestamps:

00:01:13 Introducing Ann Marie's journey after losing her son

00:02:22 Why grief and joy can exist together

00:03:12 The importance of doing the work of grief

00:03:39 Finding support through therapy and community

00:04:55 Creating a daily grief schedule one small step at a time

00:05:35 The value of suicide loss support groups

00:06:28 Training for an AFSP overnight walk in her son's memory

00:07:35 Returning to work with the support of a close friend

00:09:25 Finding purpose by giving grief resources to others

00:11:02 Why this story focuses on living after suicide loss

00:11:53 The unstoppable power of love

00:12:32 Looking for "molecules of joy"

00:13:13 Why support groups help people feel less alone

00:14:45 Dancing again without guilt

00:15:07 Rebuilding life through tiny, manageable steps

00:16:29 The healing value of walking and community

00:17:45 Resources for suicide loss survivors

Links and Mentioned Resources:

• Ann Marie Farino's website: https://annmariefarino.com/
• Link to purchase Ann Marie Farino's new book "Chronic Chaos: A Son's Addiction, a Mother's Love, and Her Quest to Find Joy"
• The Martha Hickman book titled "Healing After Loss" recommended by Ann Marie Farino

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