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Category: Guest Stories

Guest posts on addiction, suicide, mental illness

Thoughts on Chris Cornell’s Suicide

by Alyssa Ward, Phd,  LCP

I’ve been thinking about Chris Cornell’s suicide a lot. I had a conversation with one of my best friends about this yesterday and I felt the urge to share. Let me say first, I don’t know if Cornell was depressed–we don’t know what was going on or all the drivers, but my friend was asking why people want to die.

Several thoughts

As I tell the teenagers suffering with depression every week–depression is a trickster. Depression is a narcissist. When depression takes residence it’s like the person is inhabited by someone who is not their … Read more...

Neico Hayden’s amazing story of surviving a suicide attempt #Neicostrong

From Anne Moss: If someone tells you something about suicide, please take it seriously. Do not keep it “secret.” This is not to shed blame. We all overlook signs of suicide. What I’m asking you to do is to pay attention and be there. Make the call and warn a mom, a friend, a relative. 

I met Neico  Hayden (pronounced NEEKO) at the James River Out of the Darkness walk in May 2017. I saw him and his family in the parking lot and walked over to them. I had no idea he was a recent suicide survivor until his mother … Read more...

Suffering from suicidal thoughts since age 12

Note from Anne Moss: I am continuing in a series of posts from my most engaged readers. Like many who suffer, a strong faith can help.  As an advocate, I would be remiss if I didn’t add that a good support system, whether that includes faith, friendship, family, therapy, or even medication, can also work well. It depends on the individual. This one from Michael, who has lived experience.  

by Michael Widuch

I suffered suicidal thoughts first when I was 12 years old in the school year of 2003-2004 due to an unstable special needs school environment and unhealthy family setting. … Read more...

Joshua Giannini leaves video suicide letters of love

By Diane Fielder McCormick

Trigger warning: Strong Emotional Content.  

joshua

Note from Anne Moss: I sent an email to my most engaged readers and asked if they wanted to share their stories. Diane responded right away and has shared with all of us the final videos from her son. They are a gift. And they are heartbreaking.  But they are also something else. It shows that even in the darkest hour, your loved one loved you.

Suicide, addiction, and depression have a very close relationship. More than 90% of people who fall victim to suicide suffer from depression, have or substance … Read more...

Jule’s review on S-Town Podcast

Note from Anne Moss: Jule is a 16-year-old from Germany who contacted me a while back to post this #griefheart for her friend Christian who died by suicide. This is her third contribution to this site. 

By Jule

(Major spoilers for the S-Town podcast ahead)

I read the “13 Reasons Why” book in 2011 and so naturally I watched the 13RW show right after it came out, ignoring all the trigger warnings concerning people who have been suicidal and having a trauma connected to suicide (because I have both).

Luckily for me, it worked fine and did not trigger … Read more...

Allie’s Opinion on ’13 Reasons Why’ #13RW

Allie

by Allie

From Anne Moss: Allie is a senior in high school from Chapel Hill, NC who has struggled with managing mental illness and suicidal thoughts. Here’s what she said about the show, ’13 Reasons Why’ on Netflix. She and her mother have given permission for it to be posted here. 

“At first I liked the show, I read the book a few times in middle school and I liked it then–when I was first really starting to struggle with mental illness.

As I began watching the show this week [April 9, 2017] I found myself starting to feel a lot darker … Read more...

I’m running out of time, the feeling of despair is unbearable

cry for help

By Luis

This from a 21 year old feeling the despair of suicidal thoughts. He gave permission for me to post it here. He commented on my You Tube page and I saw it. The emotional pain of these thoughts that attack someone’s brain is so naked and so painful. Your worst day times 100. Fortunately, this young man survived by sticking it out and talking. He told me Charles’ Video saved his life. 

When I was just 15 years old I was attacked and stabbed in the head and neck area twice by a random man (I was walking … Read more...

This is my mental health story

coldplay albumJule is 15 years old and from Germany. She submitted this #griefheart and I asked her if she wanted to do a post about herself.  So many who suffer from depression and other mental illnesses find relief in music. I know for Charles it was also a lifeline. I think this shows an incredible sense of hope, self awareness and maturity. 

Like many others, it started with school bullying

I have always been rather worrisome, nervous and thoughtful, but I was ten years old when things started to get bad.

I was in sixth grade and one of the best … Read more...

Dear Charles from Julie

I know you will never receive this but I hope you see this from heaven. Your loss has impacted me tremendously.

I’m sitting here crying because I once too, actually numerous times, thought about and tried to take my life. But I never thoroughly thought of all of the aftermath, or the pain it would have brought upon everyone who loves you.

I remember when we were just in middle school. You were one of my best friends including Jacob, Sam, Lexi, Vania, and Samantha.

We went to the movies and I remember you stood up for us when another … Read more...

The Emotional ICU known as grief

From Anne Moss. Logan suffered from anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and an eating disorder and died in a truck crash.

By Tamara Rollinson

Grief hits you on many levels. Loss of a job. Loss of a marriage. Death of your parents, friends and loved ones. Death is final. No turning back.

Done. Forever in this life time.

There is absolutely no comparison to the death of your child. The death of a spouse, sibling or parent, while earth shattering and sad, does not come close.

As much as I loved my Mom, her death pales in comparison to my son … Read more...

The invisible kid

Picture courtesy of Jessica-Art
Picture courtesy of Jessica-Art

From Anne Moss: This is from a young man who attempted suicide in February 2016.

It so happened my article in the Richmond Times Dispatch ran during that time and his mom read it and reached out to me. Fast forward 9 months and that suicide attempt survivor asked if he could post this on my blog.

As human beings we want to be loved and accepted. It’s a human emotion at the core of our very being. And when that doesn’t happen, despair sets in. As many as 30% of kids who attend a school, go weeks without another human being … Read more...

Evil E.D. held my son hostage

by Tamara Harvey Braswell

The Woodlake Turkey Trot was in honor of Logan Neal. November 19, 2016, 9:00am-11:30am.

It’s name is Evil ED. ED stands for Eating Disorder.

I declared war on Evil ED shortly before my son Logan turned 16. The disease crept up on him subtly and gradually until it had a death hold on his brain.

Evil ED does not discriminate. It’s an equal opportunity life destroyer. The common myth is only young females have eating disorders. Not true.

Evil ED’s victims are girls, women, boys and men. They are all races. They are high school … Read more...

The roadblocks we faced trying to save our son from suicide

John Terrell's self portrait
John Terrell’s self portrait

By Buddy Terrell

My son, John Terrell, began having bipolar episodes at the end of his freshman year at VCU in 2005. The journey has been both frustrating and tedious.

We kept hoping that the next doctor or counselor would help our son. Most likely, we think John also suffered Borderline Personality Disorder which prevented him from being honest with professionals due to feelings of embarrassment.

Eventually this led to his loosing employment and health insurance. At this point, the bipolar disorder was rapidly cycling and choices were limited at the Chesterfield County Mental Health Department. The personnel there did everything they could do … Read more...

A story of hope: I never thought I would be alive to see graduation

by Carly Stansfield

Carly Stansfield 18 years old
Carly Stansfield 18 years old

If I had to describe myself in one word, it would be fighter. Throughout my whole journey I have had to fight day in and day out to find happiness. I have had to fight for the one thing I have always wanted the most, full recovery.

For those who don’t know me, here is my story

I’ve always had insecurities and struggles–the biggest was separation anxiety from my mom.

In elementary school, I remember running to my mom who worked at the school, and clinging to her as my teacher pulled me off. I know now … Read more...

De-stigmatizing anti depressants- Facebook LIVE

In case you missed it. Here are all the FB live videos. See it on Facebook with all the comments here.

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Comments from the event

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