Author Archives: Precious Life Suicide Prevention

Survivors tell us what went through their minds in what they expected to be their final moments — and what it’s like to return to a life they tried to end. “I thought that my kids would be better off without me.” THE FIRST TIME Nancy Nettles tried to kill herself was on her 31st birthday.Continue reading “What is it like to survive a suicide attempt?”

When people get hurt in relationship and do not receive healing from the wounds, they have a logical and defensible tendency to become protective against more pain. A wound that does not receive attention remains sensitive; a person becomes wary of being relationally “cut” again. The younger one is when unattended hurt begins, the moreContinue reading “Hurt People Hurt People”

More than one-third of Americans are not getting enough sleep. That’s a lot of people walking around with well-known symptoms like “brain fog,” moodiness, and the general inability to think straight and remember information. It’s not an exaggeration to say our lack of sleep is becoming a public health crisis. Sleep deprivation is also a majorContinue reading “Understanding the Connection Between Sleep and Mental Health”

In each of our lifetimes, almost everyone will experience loss. It’s part of the human experience that’s inescapable for most. We don’t just experience grief following the death of a loved one. It can show up in other ways, such as losing a career, a ruined friendship, or even financial loss. The way we experienceContinue reading “Stuck in Grief After a Death”

You might arrive at the obvious solution first: You just need to get out more often and make more friends. True, these steps certainly help increase your chances for meaningful connections. But remember: Being alone doesn’t have to result in loneliness.  To address loneliness effectively, you’ll typically need to dig a little deeper to uncover theContinue reading “Coping With Loneliness”

My daughter is named after my mother. My dog’s name is Dog. I call my depression “My Black Hole.” I am not the only one who has given illness a name. Winston Churchill called his depression his “Black Dog.” I have a friend who calls her depression “The Cave.” Apparently it is common and actuallyContinue reading “What’s the Name of Your Depression?”

Intrusive thoughts are unexpected images or thoughts that seem to pop into your head. They’re often strange or distressing. But these thoughts happen to almost everyone from time to time. What are intrusive thoughts? Intrusive thoughts seem to come out of nowhere. These thoughts and images are unwanted and often unpleasant. The content can sometimesContinue reading “Intrusive Thoughts: Why We Have Them and How to Stop Them”

Moving from desperation and self-preservation to an emotionally healthier life. If you are one of the “walking wounded” out there suffering in a toxic relationship, you may feel it is emotionally empty and non-fulfilling. If you’re not sure, these signs may help you clarify your thoughts on whether you’re in such a relationship and howContinue reading “3 Empowering Words to Break Free From a Toxic Relationship”

Fellow Mama, I see you lying there in bed, trying to will yourself to get up. I know some part of you might wish you hadn’t woken up this morning – that you could fade away into nothingness because it seems a hell of a lot better than dealing with the demons you fight offContinue reading “To the Suicidal Mama Fighting to Stay Alive for Her Kids”