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The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
This podcast focuses on surviving life after a suicide loss, an experience that can be devastating and leave you feeling lost as you try to pick up the pieces of your shattered heart. The host, Melissa Bottorff-Arey, lost her 21-year-old son, Alex, to suicide on August 7, 2016, and brings (& often shares) her insights from her personal journey.
In each episode, Melissa engages in honest and challenging conversations with other survivors of loss, healers, and mental health experts. She also produces shorter solo episodes where she reflects on her own thoughts and experiences thus far. The podcast covers a wide range of relevant topics and addresses difficult questions. Melissa explores all aspects of grief, including trauma, hope, healing, self-care, legacy, and stigma. She believes that we learn to live alongside our grief rather than get ing over it. Actual change comes through authentic, meaningful connections and mindful choices.
For supporters or educators, these conversations provide valuable insights and shine a light on suicide and grief genuinely and unapologetically. Listeners who are grieving a suicide loss can find comfort in the community and hope for a better tomorrow. Melissa aims to help others, like herself, transition from merely surviving to discovering a life filled with meaning and, potentially, even happiness amid the leftover pieces around you.
[Please NOTE: This podcast is for only relational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It candidly and openly discusses sensitive and sometimes activating topics. There will be no in-depth or graphic descriptions of the method, but merely the possible mention of suicide, murder, rape, and the like. Be guided and care for yourself accordingly. Also, Melissa is not a doctor or licensed therapist, and nothing on this podcast should be taken in place of, or as, medical/mental health advice or recommendations.]
The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
Erin Blechman's Unexpected Journey; Reflections After Losing My Son to Suicide
Today I share my conversation with fellow (suicide loss) bereaved mom, author & speaker Erin Blechman. We discuss her incredible son Max, life after suicide loss of a child and her book My Unexpected Journey: Reflections After Losing My Son to Suicide. Everyone will have a takeaway from this one.....& Erin & I share so many of the same realities...including that hope does come back AND that time alone does not ‘fix’ anything (it’s what we do with that time that matters)!
In her own words:
"The loss of my Max has been devastating," shares Erin, " and it put me on the path to become an author, speaker, and certified Grief Educator. My goal is to elevate the conversation...and to help other bereaved parents deal with the loss of their own beloved child...In my book, 'My Unexpected Journey: Reflections After Losing My Son to Suicide', I chronicle the eighteen months following the devastating loss of my beloved son, Max to suicide after his long battle with mental illness. I offer grief support to bereaved parents through online groups and community talks that seek to build greater understanding of mental illness, suicide, loss and grief. I live part-time in both Pennsylvania and Florida with her husband, Bill and Max’s dog, Emmylou".
Today, Erin & I discuss:
- Her unexpected turn into complicated grief & her journey in the 4 years since
- Who was Max? Does she signs?... and some favorite memories
- When she first felt the 'nudge' to help others - her path to becoming a grief advocate, educator & resource to others like herself.
- The vantage point that the book was written from & her intentions & hopes for the book.
- Grief Illiteracy - why is it so profound AND how do we change it?
- Where does she go now from here...?
GET HER BOOK HERE -- "My Unexpected Journey: Reflections After Losing My Son to Suicide"
Follow Erin on:
Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
and on her WEBSITE
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.
For a way to leave a Legacy for your child - GO HERE
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts, reach out: CALL 988 OR, TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 i