Category: Addiction/Substance Misuse

Inspiring comments on emotionally naked

Strong emotional content and suicide method referenced. If you are in crisis, text “help” to 741-741 or call 988

These are the comments that make me cry. Crying from joy. These are people who found this blog from Google searches. Unbelievable messages of hope that I wanted to share. There are now thousands of comments. So many good ones.

The name will take you right to the comment. The headline will take you to the post.

From Reece– So you are contemplating suicide

Tonight I was contemplating on ending my life. Feeling depressed, sad, defeated and just plain tired. … Read more...

Annual campaign in memory of Charles

This site is not about fundraising. But if you were going to give an annual gift to a mental health organization and you follow Beacon Tree, then this is the time to do it. Or you can share.

Newman’s Own Foundation will be matching dollar for dollar until January 3, 2018.

That means if you give $25, Beacon Tree gets $50. So where does the money go?

Family Grant/OnRamp Program

We help fund childhood evaluations not covered by insurance or medicaid. Some of these can be expensive and without the evaluations that offer a diagnosis, kids can’t get free state … Read more...

Thinking of parents who have children still using or incarcerated this holiday

It’s a different kind of grief.

Knowing that the child you love is behind bars or in them. Still struggling with that demon known as addiction. There is a lot of stress in families this time of year that they are not the ‘Norman Rockwell’ painting of togetherness.

I remember how we’d discuss this every year in Families Anonymous. If our child was still using and not in recovery, this time of year was especially hard. For parents of those incarcerated due to their addiction, it was hard. While it’s definitely hard if you’ve lost a child, I don’t have … Read more...

Dear people who are tired of me

You must be so bored with all my posts about suicide, addiction and mental illness. Why on earth would I continue to assault you with my tirade of posts, presentations and videos about these awful subjects? Why can’t I just get the hell over it? I mean all this shit is not going to bring back my precious son, right?

I lived this insipid system known as the mental health system. Endured criticism, lack of support and humiliation and shame from the people I expected and paid to help us.  I lost a child because of it.

Most of you … Read more...

My son died in a hell hole

I can only imagine where he was staying

Charles was found dead in an apartment on Monument Avenue.

The most coveted street in Richmond–a  gorgeous avenue lined with million dollar row houses and manicured little yards on cobblestone streets. There is an apartment building there where he died that is seedy and unkept. But from the outside? It looks normal, almost stately.

I’ve never been there. Will I ever go? I can’t say.

All I know is that it’s not far from the Golden Goat, the pawn shop where Charles sold his bike and computer, his last possessions. I still … Read more...

4 things to consider if your child is using drugs

 1. Get support

Don’t try to go this alone. Whether your child is addicted or not, if you suspect serious misuse, join a support group or find a therapist. Watching your child destroy him or herself and finding out you can’t wave a magic wand or pray your child’s way out of it can be agonizing and isolating.

These groups know where the resources are, the jobs when and if your child goes into recovery, so it’s not only for emotional support, it’s for practical support. Families Anonymous and Al-Anon have groups near you. Find one. Because there is no … Read more...

My ‘Eyes on Richmond’ Presentation Video

I did appreciate the opportunity to present on this topic, “Addiction and Mental Illness: Injustices to our youth” to share why Virginia ranks 46th for treating youth mental health.

That means 7 out of 10 most at risk for dropping out of school, struggling with relationships, ending up in prison, becoming addicted or dying by suicide, do not get the care they need.

I began with my story about my son Charles who died by suicide and talked about the injustices we faced as a middle class family and what I’ve seen are the gaps in a flawed system of … Read more...

When your parents don’t understand addiction

by Melissa 

Coffee cup of inspiration

I have a smart, beautiful daughter. She was a lovely little girl and a successful student throughout high school and college.

She is also a person in long term recovery from a substance abuse disorder. She has struggled with depression and anxiety for years. It has been hard for me to understand.

Because I love her, I keep trying. I fail, I get frustrated, but I keep trying.

Our road to recovery has been long, winding and at times filled with anger, denial, enabling, fear and frustration. Through all of our negative responses and … Read more...

What would happen if I killed myself?

We want to help and support you so you can save your own life

Thoughts of suicide are relentlessly slamming your brain and it feels as if it will never stop. But it will subside. Because all feelings are temporary and no crisis is permanent. I did not write this post to make you feel guilty. I wrote it so you understand what it’s like from a suicide loss survivor.

If you killed yourself

The world would not be a better place. Your family would be in agony. Hardly able to function. Friends and family would think they did something wrong and beat themselves up for the clues they missed.

Horror, anger, guilt, sadness, … Read more...

Program and rehabilitation gal  

by Sarah Scarbrough Ph.D

Sarah Scarbrough Phd, The REAL Program

As I sit back and think of my almost ten years working in this field of addiction, re-entry and the criminal justice sysrem,  I can’t but stop and think of how much I have learned, and therefore my ability to now contribute to the education of others. I ponder on how far we have come over the years with reform, social justice, alternatives to incarceration, re-entry, and programming.

At the same time, however, I sadly reflect on how much more we have to do.

A couple of months ago, I … Read more...

My purpose found me

I’d like to thank Brad Neff for his video skills. He’s been to a number of presentations and taken video and to have someone I can count on like Brad is priceless. Thank you Brad for putting this together.

AnneMoss.com from Brad Neff on Vimeo.

Dear cold, cruel world,
… Read more...

Is my story is too ugly?

Not too long ago someone said to me, “I would have you speak but we decided on a more uplifting story–someone in recovery.”

I think it’s great to feature someone else’s inspiring story of recovery. I applaud that and I enjoy those stories, too. But not at the expense of implying that my family’s story about Charles is too ugly to share. That it’s unworthy. I never leave an audience with no hope even though I lost the most precious thing in the world to me.

No one fights harder for change than those of us who’ve lost our child … Read more...

What is it like to suffer from addiction?

by Missy S.

From Anne Moss: Missy is a friend from way back. She had surgery and became unwittingly addicted to the pain medication prescribed. There were many years of shame and humiliation and I recall how terrible I felt for her–especially after Charles’ death. I knew her family was suffering and the added shame and gossip made it that much harder. While I didn’t suffer addiction, Charles did, and I felt that judgement by association. She is in recovery. Thanks to the love of her family, who never abandoned her. 

For so many years addiction and depression has been … Read more...

I need testimonials

keynote speaker mental health

I am going to apply at some speaker’s bureaus. Hopefully, next year I’ll get some paid speaking gigs so I can continue my advocacy work.  Because I can’t afford to retire yet and need to make a living.

For my applications, I need quotes from people who’ve seen me speak.

I really hate to ask this. But if you’ve seen me, I would love some feedback and quotes in your words. You can comment below or send a message. Thank you.

 
Speaker
… Read more...

Grief over loss of a child can tear a family apart

by Lloyd Braswell

Matthew Braswell

My story is long and has lots of painful components.

My daughter, Kaitlin was born with special needs that were never diagnosed and she lived only thriteen months. I thought her death would be my greatest pain. It was devastating, but my son’s death was even harder.

I am a pastor.  My family and I lived in Durham, NC where I served a church for twelve years before I was called to a church near Richmond, VA. At that time my oldest son, Matthew, was beginning his senior year in high school. Our son … Read more...