Living the dream heart – #griefheart number 155

My friend Shirley sent me this heart. Living the Dream Foundation an organization started in Culpepper, VA. The foundation and this #griefheart is in memory of Ben Long who suffered from depression and addiction and died by suicide like my son, Charles.

The Foundation works to increase community awareness and education about substance abuse, depression and suicide; provide information on available resources for those in need of services; and raise funds to support local prevention programs.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this … Read more... “Living the dream heart – #griefheart number 155”

Facebook LIVE: Could suicide happen in your family?

How to talk to someone who is contemplating suicide:

1 Ask if you can talk to them in private

2. Ask open-ended questions:

  • You have not seemed like yourself lately?
  • Anything bothering you?
  • How are you doing?
  • Is everything OK?

3. Listen to their story

4. Have you thought about hurting yourself or ending your life?

5. Encourage them to seek mental health services/treatment

6. Remind them it takes courage to do this but it’s the smart thing to do

One other note. If they have lethal means, a gun or other weapon, this is a situation where the most … Read more... “Facebook LIVE: Could suicide happen in your family?”

Puzzled heart – #griefheart number 154

My heart is often puzzled. Why did this happen? Why didn’t I know? Why wouldn’t he admit to suffering from depression?

I can only speculate and his lyrics have helped me figure it out as much as I will ever know. It’s just really hard to put the pieces of your life back together again. To figure out your direction and purpose. To be able to pull yourself up from the depths of despair and live again.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog … Read more... “Puzzled heart – #griefheart number 154”

Who’d have thought my child’s worst enemy was in his own head?

charles-headphonesI protected my child from cars in the street. I worried when he got sick and ran a high fever. I feared he’d die in a car accident, get childhood cancer or be abducted.

I worried about a drug overdose, a drowning or even a shooting.

It never occurred to me that my child’s worst enemy was in his own head. That his brain would betray him like it did. Tell him he was worthless and convince him he’d be better off dead.

I just couldn’t imagine it, fathom it or wrap my head around it. Until I had to.… Read more... “Who’d have thought my child’s worst enemy was in his own head?”

Logan’s heart – #griefheart number 153

logan-neale

This heart is in special remembrance of Logan Neale, a 19-year-old from Midlothian, Virginia who died in a truck crash. Logan was an avid runner who discovered that athletics could help him cope with his anxiety and depression. Logan also struggled with an eating disorder and suicidal ideation.

Like many with depression, Logan was empathetic about others suffering from mental illness and he believed in breaking the stigma that kept people from seeking the care and support they needed.  Like Charles, Logan attended Wasatch Academy in Utah. His mother retrieved this heart from the tree where he died.

The 2016 … Read more... “Logan’s heart – #griefheart number 153”

Oyster heart – #griefheart number 152

This oyster heart reminds me of all the family beach trips we took over the years at the Outer Banks. The last trip we took, Charles was suffering a depressive episode and it was hard to get him out of the basement room. He always denied suffering from depression which makes you truly feel helpless and even question if it’s your imagination. I would gently nudge him about coming outside and he’d come out and skim board for a bit and then go back in the basement.

When we went shell hunting, Charles would pick up any shell. He wasn’t … Read more... “Oyster heart – #griefheart number 152”

Next Facebook LIVE: Could suicide happen in your family? What are the signs?

shirley-ramsey-amrogers

Join me, Anne Moss Rogers with guest Shirley Ramsey, Virginia Chapter President of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, as she tells her story about how she got involved in suicide prevention. Who is at risk? What do you do if you suspect a family member is contemplating suicide? What do people say who are thinking about suicide?

Sunday, September 23, 2016
6:30-7pm on my Facebook page

A recording will be posted on the site after the event in case you can’t attend. Send your questions if you have any!

Facebook Invite

Click going or interested to get updates. This … Read more... “Next Facebook LIVE: Could suicide happen in your family? What are the signs?”

What things in your home have abuse potential?

blog_cough_medicine

So many things that you have in your house have abuse potential.

If you live with pre-teens, teens, a drug abuser or an addict, it’s best to know what items in your home have abuse potential. These are just a few that we had experience with.

Kids will “skim” medicines. That means they’ll take one or two pills out of your prescriptions so you don’t notice. Or they will claim their own stimulant medicine “ran out” when in fact they sold it. Many kids taking stimulants don’t seem to be interested in abusing that one in particular. I know Charles did not because … Read more... “What things in your home have abuse potential?”

Waterspot heart – #griefheart number 151

This heart will disappear in the hot sun. The love for my son who died by suicide will never disappear.

Thanks to Bethany for seeing this and snapping a picture before it vanished.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by #griefheart category.

Get updates to this project by subscribing

Don’t talk me out of my tears

… Read more... “Waterspot heart – #griefheart number 151”

Beaded heart – #griefheart number 150

These are the beads from the Out of the Darkness walk. Each color strand represents a particular loss. I was part of the bead ceremony which is an opportunity to honor our loved one and our loss. Here’s what the strands represent.

White – Lost a Child
Red – Lost a Spouse or Partner
Gold – Lost a Parent
Orange – Lost a Sibling
Purple – Lost a Relative or Friend
Silver – Lost First Responder / Military
Green – Struggled Personally
Blue – Support the Cause
Teal – Friends and Family of Someone Who Struggles

I really enjoyed my … Read more... “Beaded heart – #griefheart number 150”