Bonding with others who’ve lost is therapy

So recently my friend, Jill Cichowicz, whose twin brother died from Substance Use Disorder, arranged a meeting with me and Omar Abubaker, DMD, PhD who lost his son to addiction as well. We talked about pushing forward our agenda on substance abuse education and how, we, as people who have lost someone precious to this drug epidemic can make a difference and educate people on this disease–starting with presenting it as a disease.

Dr. Abubaker is a seasoned speaker. As head of the VCU Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, he speaks to a lot of students and presents at a lot of dental conferences all over the country. Jill raises money, a lot of money, for the cause in her brother Scott’s name.

We talked and listened to each other. And we all got teary at one point. One cries and it’s like dominoes and the rest of us fall.

By the time we left, I felt so good. We all did. It was like a therapy session. The value of being with others who have suffered the same hurt cannot be underestimated and it’s why I push support groups.

Remembering Scott Neal Zebrowski