And yes I get this question a lot. And no, I can’t. I won’t.
I won’t sugar coat my story. I won’t lie for the sake of saving you tears. I won’t avoid the subject of my son and his suicide.
Most importantly, I won’t leave you without hope.
Many times when he struggled and we struggled, I felt my hope waver. We were desperately in debt and resources for help were slim. But I clung to hope with all my might–never letting that pilot light to go out.
While my son died by suicide, I still have hope. Hope for others. And the passion to push for change so that others don’t find themselves in this club.
Where did I find it? In myself. In my friends and family. In my higher power. In my #griefheart project.
Of all the things I can’t let die, it’s hope. There are not many things within my control. But holding onto hope is.
It’s within your power, too.
Published by
Anne Moss Rogers
I am an emotionally naked mental health speaker, and author of the Book, Diary of a Broken Mind and co-author with Kim O'Brien PhD, LICSW of Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk. I raised two boys, Richard and Charles, and lost my younger son, Charles to addiction and suicide on June 5, 2015. I help people foster a culture of connection to prevent suicide, reduce substance misuse and find life after loss. My motivational mental health keynotes, training and workshop topics include suicide prevention, addiction, mental illness, anxiety, coping strategies/resilience, and grief.
As talented and funny as Charles was, letting other people know they matter was his greatest gift. And now the legacy I try and carry forward in my son's memory.
Mental Health Speakers Website. Trained in ASIST and trainer for the evidence-based 4-hour training for everyone called safeTALK.
View all posts by Anne Moss Rogers
Thank you for the reassurance that I can still offer hope to everyone out there still struggling daily. Sometimes I wonder why anyone would want to hear from me, be comforted by me, be encouraged by me, when my son lost his battle with addiction. What can I offer? But- I can still offer hope to all that are still in this battle and I can fight by educating everyone that no one is safe from this battle.
Thank you so much for offering your comment. So good to hear from others in the club no one wants to be in. I feel the same way so often. Why does anyone want to tune in? Because we can see things from another angle. Thank you for keeping hope alive.