Dealing with grief is especially difficult for those mourning a homicide. In addition to the shock, denial, anger and depression that can occur with any loss, the emotions experienced by the surviving are compounded by the knowledge that the victim's life was intentionally taken. The bereaved may mentally replay the incidents of the crime in a search for understanding, and they may continue to do so for months or years without ever finding satisfactory answers. Especially in the case of unsolved murders, the nature of their unanswerable questions may haunt them indefinitely. The survivors of homicide victims often lose their sense of control over their lives and may experience crippling degrees of fear and vulnerability. Because the world no longer seems a safe place, they may feel afraid that harm will come to another member of their family or to themselves. In an attempt to regain control, some survivors may experience a startling desire to lash out at others. While the survivor may feel unnerved by the intensity of their rage, and may fear that they are no longer in control of their actions or sanity, their impulses are a normal response that usually decreases over time. The frustration of an unsatisfactory legal system can also add to the survivor's grief. Efforts by law enforcement to gain information, evidence and testimony may feel intrusive and unsympathetic, while media coverage of the situation may leave the family feeling stigmatized and confused. If a suspect is apprehended, the seemingly endless process of going to trial may seem unnecessarily complicated and frustrating. In the event that the murder goes unsolved or the apprehended suspect is not convicted, the family may feel angry that justice will not be met. Coping with a homicide begins with acknowledging that it is one of the most difficult types of grief. The survivor must realize that it will take time to heal, and that certain days will be harder than others, especially with regard to holidays and other special events. These occassions may feel like regressing, but are a normal part of the healing process. Talking with trusted individuals and resisting the urge for isolation can help restore a survivor's faith in humanity. Above all, it is important to understand that while life will never be the same, a new sense of self and of the world can, and given time will, arise. For more information, please visit: http://www.pomc.org/problems.cfm http://www.grieflink.asn.au/homicide.html