Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

When the Silence is Deafening

When the Silence is Deafening When silence becomes deafening, emotions can shift from moment to moment. Some days, it feels like they change by the minute. Lately, the silence has been so loud that I can’t hear myself think. It’s like when my aunt can’t smell anything because the noise around her is too overwhelming—strange,… Continue reading When the Silence is Deafening

Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

In the Still of the Night The Monster Comes to Play

The Monster in the Silence I love the time of day when I can go upstairs and just be. For the day, I am done. I am done with work, cooking, cleaning, putting out fires, phone calls, texts, and all the other things that demand my attention. My stuff, a bottle of water, and my… Continue reading In the Still of the Night The Monster Comes to Play

Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

The Ghost from Juneteenth Past

The Ghost from Juneteenth Past Trigger warning If you or someone you know has struggled with suicidal ideations or attempts, please refrain from reading this content. Seek help! "Today, “988” is the three-digit, nationwide phone number to connect directly to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. By calling or texting 988, you’ll connect with mental… Continue reading The Ghost from Juneteenth Past

Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

LA Came in Like a Tornado

LA Came in Like a Tornado Ten years ago, I met a brassy blond girl at a ballpark. She had a crass mouth and a nasty smoking habit. She was loud and obnoxious. A person people moved away from when they saw her. She did not dress the part, talk the part, and certainly did… Continue reading LA Came in Like a Tornado

Grief, Guest Stories

Open Letter to A Brother Who Left This World Too Soon

A note from Brandi:This guest post is shared with permission and reflects the personal experience and perspective of the writer. It discusses grief, sibling loss, cancer, regret, and faith. It is offered for awareness, encouragement, and education. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or a substitute for professional care. Open Letter to A Brother Who… Continue reading Open Letter to A Brother Who Left This World Too Soon

Grief, Grief and Loss, Guest Stories

The Real Truth About Death and Grief

A note from Brandi:This guest post is shared with permission and reflects the personal experience and perspective of the writer. It discusses grief, sibling loss, guilt, faith, and healing after the death of a loved one. It is offered for awareness, encouragement, and education. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or a substitute for professional… Continue reading The Real Truth About Death and Grief

Grief, Grief and Loss, Guest Stories

The Things You Need to Know About Nana

A note from Brandi:This guest post is shared with permission and reflects the personal experience and perspective of the writer. It discusses grief, grandmother loss, missing a loved one, regret, gratitude, and healing after loss. It is offered for awareness, encouragement, and education. It is not therapy, clinical advice, or a substitute for professional care.… Continue reading The Things You Need to Know About Nana

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

I Should Have Known

  I Should Have Known I should have known something wasn’t right When you told me you loved me for the first time And I didn’t say it back   I should have known something was up. When I couldn’t stand the fact that you wrote me love letters Or when you posted love stuff… Continue reading I Should Have Known

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Depression is Gray and Black

Depression is Gray and Black     Depression  Is a dark and twisty place It's when your inner thoughts are gray and black There is no light  There is no white  Just gray or black The gray is sad but bearable thoughts This is where you look back at what's wrong  grieving the way you… Continue reading Depression is Gray and Black

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

The Proposal

The Proposal   Now it is time to talk about The Proposal. After about two years, the man I was dating proposed to me at the park with no people around because I believed that proposals should be private. I had pushed so hard to be engaged because I wanted to be married, and I… Continue reading The Proposal

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

How It Began

This is Something That is Considerably Difficult for Me to Write This is How It Began. I still have not been able to let it go after all these years. I feel like now is the time to write. From my perspective, this is what my experiences were like when I was dating someone. I… Continue reading How It Began

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Misery Loves Company

Misery Loves Company Misery loves company they say But is it the misery the person wants to share Or are they looking to someone for help? But instead, bring them down too Is the misery more infectious than the need for help? Or does the person just not want it enough Personally, I think I… Continue reading Misery Loves Company

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Hurt People Hurt People

Hurt People Hurt People A phrase my mom has always said is Hurt People Hurt People. That is an accurate phrase. I always thought that I was your favorite person. You would make time to come down and see me. You brought me books and movies. We would go to the movies and have the… Continue reading Hurt People Hurt People

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Happy Without You

The Pain of Losing a Friendship This young lady shares her feelings about losing a special friendship in Happy Without You. Friendships come and go like the ebbs and flows of the ocean. That is what I tell so many people because it puts in perspective that the things of this Earth are not forever.… Continue reading Happy Without You

Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

You are not Hidden

  You are not Hidden That phrase. You are not Hidden. It stirs in my soul. There are days when I feel like He doesn't see me. He doesn't care that He doesn't hear my prayers. I am sure other people think that, but I listened to this song. He does hear me. When I… Continue reading You are not Hidden

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Postpartum Depression and Suicide

  Postpartum Depression and Suicide Postpartum Depression and Suicide are real things. The girls' first 14 months of life were traumatizing for me as their mom. They had several health issues such as Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Small For Gestational Age, Failure To Thrive, and many other things. On the day of my 30th birthday, things… Continue reading Postpartum Depression and Suicide

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Where to Start

Where to Start Where to Start? I guess I will tell the story of my darkest time yet most significant recovery. I should start at the beginning. My husband and I struggled with infertility for years. After testing, we were told that seeing a fertility specialist was our only option for having our children. We… Continue reading Where to Start

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

I Will Never Be the Same

  Continued Story My sweet friend is continuing to write her story.  She is showing so much of herself each time she writes.  In I Will Never Be the Same, she talks about disclosing to a family member.  This family member did the unthinkable.  They chose the abuser over the young girl. I Don’t Know… Continue reading I Will Never Be the Same

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Choices that I Made

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7  The Lord chose me and His choices are for me to live! Life-Changing Events Being a young parent is hard. Tremendously hard. It changes you when you have complicated pregnancies and one delivery that almost loses your child. The lack of… Continue reading Choices that I Made

Guest Stories, Mental Health and Healing, Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Struggling with Depression and Anxiety at a Young Age

Struggling with Depression and Anxiety at a Young Age I have struggled with Depression and Anxiety a Young Age since I was young. My parents divorced when I was two and a half years old. Then both parents remarried. My mom had two other daughters with my stepfather. He was mentally and physically abusive to… Continue reading Struggling with Depression and Anxiety at a Young Age