Publisher's Synopsis
The desire to create a guide to healthy healing comes from a place of love, and an overwhelming urge to offer support to those who need it most. It has now been seventeen years since I lost my dad to suicide, and for the last two and a half years, I have been on an incredible journey that has helped me to gain even more perspective into the devastating effects of depression and suicide, while also witnessing sincere love and support shared between those touched by it. My journey began with documenting my own loss and the steps I took to find balance and happiness. However, it became so much more as I continued to attend support groups in an effort to be certain that this guide to healthy healing includes common aspects of grief experienced by most, if not all, survivors of suicide. Taking on the task of collecting and effectively communicating the experiences, which I have been exposed to, has been a time consuming process . . . one I didn't want to rush. It was important to me that I share my healing process in a way that was both respectful and vulnerable with the hope of truly connecting with each reader. I tried to share personal information in each chapter in an effort to personalize the material with the hope that it would resonate on a deeper level. One chapter in particular was a struggle due to the fact that I was relying on my siblings to collaborate with me in order to demonstrate my message. Nearly three years after starting this book, I feel that it is important to share that my biggest delay in completing this guide was brought on by self-doubt. I questioned if I could really be of help to others. And to be completely honest, I was scared to put myself out there.
