As I suffered through the mental illness and addiction of my child, I curled up in a ball and folded up inside myself. Back then there was little support even when I reached out for it and wanted to talk.
But things changed.
I found a support group who was willing to be there for me but when things really got bad, I pulled inside myself again instead of relying on the network of love available to me.
When my son relapsed, so did I.
I don’t want to make that mistake again. Because I won’t get a badge of honor for going solo in grief. I suspect that’s the reason I am now emotionally naked in public. You guys and my daily posting schedule keeps me accountable.
I am an emotionally naked TEDx 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 substance use disorder 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, training and workshop topics include suicide prevention, addiction, mental illness, 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.
Professional Speaker Website. Trained in ASIST and trainer for the evidence-based 4-hour training for everyone called safeTALK.
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4 thoughts on “Don’t suffer on an island”
Wise words, Anne Moss. It’s so hard for me to reach out, but I’m better off when I do.
Wise words, Anne Moss. It’s so hard for me to reach out, but I’m better off when I do.
It is for me, too. Writing this blog forces me to do that and it does help so much.
And helps so many others too…
It’s so many things I never expected. That is the good part. And I had no idea there would be a good part.