My name is Lori.  I’m a woman.  I have vowed to support several friends in their participation in Movember.  However, I will not be growing facial hair.  Thank you for understanding.

What I WILL do is share information and knowledge and encouragement about Mental Health Resources.  <– click here for a list of local resources.

 

Today’s topic brings us to a somber, and all too real phone call …   this morning I received a call from a girlfriend, about another friend’s cry for help.  He is currently in the hospital, recuperating from making himself very ill …  and getting stronger before he can be moved to the psych ward for a 5150 hold.

I hung up from the phone call, broken-hearted.  For him.  For his family.  For his daughter.  For the daughter’s mother.  For the whole family unit…

There are so many people directly affected by his decision… and I feel selfish to be hurt by this news.  And I cannot imagine what those closer to him are feeling about his actions… sadness, anger, disbelief, confusion, concern, shame…

His heart must have been broken immensely…  broken enough to walk down this path of destruction.  Sadly his journey takes other people with him.

His young daughter must have so many questions.  It will take her a long time to be able to even comprehend and ask the questions that she doesn’t yet even understand.  And right now she is most likely feeling emotions that she doesn’t even recognize… all because of his decision.  And for her to wade through these emotions at this young age… just heart-breaking.

 

An open note to those considering suicide:

“While you may feel there is nothing good to live for, while you may be too afraid to tackle today’s challenges, while you may feel no one loves you, while you may be ashamed of your past, while you may feel your pain is too deep to handle, while you think no one will miss you… please know, there is another day for you.

“And then, after that, there’s another day for you… and people who want to help… people who have been where you are, people who will show you the way, people who will encourage you to make healthy decisions for yourself, people who will guide you towards mental health … you are not alone, your pain isn’t too much, the shame isn’t too big, you are loved.

“There is a plan for your life.  And suicide doesn’t fit into it.  You are wanted.”

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].  Romans 12:2 (Amplified Bible)