We are living in trying times. Many people, including healthcare professionals, are living with increased distress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, fear of getting COVID-19—or passing it on to vulnerable loved ones. Add economic difficulties to the mix, and it’s the perfect firestorm for substance use and other psychiatric disorders to develop.
Addiction and depression go hand in hand. And stress-related psychiatric conditions such as mood and substance use disorders are associated with suicidal behavior.
Read MoreThe first Christmas after my son died by suicide, I was in so much pain that I didn’t have the wherewithal to even put up a tree—let alone decorate the house. If it weren’t for my oldest son cutting down a straggly pine from our property, and setting it up, there wouldn’t have been a tree that year.
Read MoreTypically, the focus of my blog is about overcoming food addiction in order to live free of preventable diseases. But today is Mother’s Day, which triggered a tsunami of emotions that I had to uncover in order to live in continual freedom from the addiction. Maybe there is someone reading this who will benefit from it. If you don’t like reading about mental illness or suicide loss, you won’t hurt my feelings if you skip it!
Read MoreMy 21-year-old son died by suicide several years ago. The following post was written primarily for those who want to support a family through suicide loss but don't know what to do or say. (This information may also be applied to any sudden, tragic death.)
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