What do you think?
Rate this book
Secrets: A Story of Addiction, Grief & Healing
When a child dies, no matter what the age or the cause, grief can be paralyzing, overwhelming for the parent. However, with an overdose death, the stigma attached to addiction often induces emotions that a grieving parent should not have to experience. Guilt, remorse, self-recrimination, and shame. Currently, our society generally induces a measure of shame, stigmatizing those struggling with addiction, having a rippling effect upon families.
Slowly however, I came to realize it is possible to survive heartrending loss such as this. During this process I did what writers do. I threw myself into writing. I began journaling in an effort to process and better understand the why's and how's, and to somehow find a way to stop agonizing over the what if's.
Over the next several months, a story unfolded as I blended Sarah's words with my own using her journals which she had tucked away, unaware at the time this was the beginning of my journey toward a measure of healing. I was determined to be completely transparent in sharing our story. Secrets: A Story of Addiction, Grief &
Healing was completed less than a year after Sarah's death. It was written in the midst of deep grief.
Writing this story has reaffirmed several things for me. Life is a gift; something to be cherished because it is fragile and can end in a heartbeat. Life is about making memories, cherishing loved ones, maintaining friendships. I want to build bridges rather than walls, to open doors rather than close them. Allowing myself to feel, process and move through the grief has invoked the beginning of healing. Recalling Sarah’s words, I am reminded of how intelligent she was. “Drugs are like false promises; vacations from reality. Unhealthy, self-defeating behavior. Encouraged to destroy the impoverished so they can keep all their wealth and wield the power that accompanies it.”
Intelligence has nothing to do with addiction. I understand that now. I also realize I am not alone, and it is okay to reach out and say, “I need you; I need help.” Let’s work toward allowing everyone that opportunity, including those struggling with substance use disorder, ending the stigma.
Some feel that ignorance is bliss. No! How can one protect themselves or others from potential harm if they are ignorant and unknowledgeable? How can one react appropriately if they do understand or recognize the signs? I was blissfully unaware during all those years of Sarah’s struggles until it was too late. Sarah’s death opened my eyes to the existence of a world circling mine, sometimes touching, but I somehow remained clueless, unknowing. No longer.
Forced to recognize its existence, to make a difference I needed to educate myself. Knowledge is power. Knowledge, when used well, save lives. It is my hope that by sharing our experience, Sarah's death will not be an ending, but a beginning; an impetus to invoke change. Hence, I have released my story with the hope that by relinquishing our secrets, others can begin their own journey of healing, forgiving, loving. It is terribly important to express our love toward those we care about. Love is the greatest gift of all. It defines our humanity.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” I Corinthians 12:7-9
After reading, please take a few moments to review my book on whatever platform you used to access it. Reviews are extremely important for independent authors like me as well as potential readers. Your thoughts are important in many ways. They allow for growth, improvement and encouragement for authors and they encourage others who are searching for literature offering content important to them.
Visit my website at:
https://mainelywriting.com
May you walk in light and peace.
Ann Bennett Cookson
Slowly however, I came to realize it is possible to survive heartrending loss such as this. During this process I did what writers do. I threw myself into writing. I began journaling in an effort to process and better understand the why's and how's, and to somehow find a way to stop agonizing over the what if's.
Over the next several months, a story unfolded as I blended Sarah's words with my own using her journals which she had tucked away, unaware at the time this was the beginning of my journey toward a measure of healing. I was determined to be completely transparent in sharing our story. Secrets: A Story of Addiction, Grief &
Healing was completed less than a year after Sarah's death. It was written in the midst of deep grief.
Writing this story has reaffirmed several things for me. Life is a gift; something to be cherished because it is fragile and can end in a heartbeat. Life is about making memories, cherishing loved ones, maintaining friendships. I want to build bridges rather than walls, to open doors rather than close them. Allowing myself to feel, process and move through the grief has invoked the beginning of healing. Recalling Sarah’s words, I am reminded of how intelligent she was. “Drugs are like false promises; vacations from reality. Unhealthy, self-defeating behavior. Encouraged to destroy the impoverished so they can keep all their wealth and wield the power that accompanies it.”
Intelligence has nothing to do with addiction. I understand that now. I also realize I am not alone, and it is okay to reach out and say, “I need you; I need help.” Let’s work toward allowing everyone that opportunity, including those struggling with substance use disorder, ending the stigma.
Some feel that ignorance is bliss. No! How can one protect themselves or others from potential harm if they are ignorant and unknowledgeable? How can one react appropriately if they do understand or recognize the signs? I was blissfully unaware during all those years of Sarah’s struggles until it was too late. Sarah’s death opened my eyes to the existence of a world circling mine, sometimes touching, but I somehow remained clueless, unknowing. No longer.
Forced to recognize its existence, to make a difference I needed to educate myself. Knowledge is power. Knowledge, when used well, save lives. It is my hope that by sharing our experience, Sarah's death will not be an ending, but a beginning; an impetus to invoke change. Hence, I have released my story with the hope that by relinquishing our secrets, others can begin their own journey of healing, forgiving, loving. It is terribly important to express our love toward those we care about. Love is the greatest gift of all. It defines our humanity.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” I Corinthians 12:7-9
After reading, please take a few moments to review my book on whatever platform you used to access it. Reviews are extremely important for independent authors like me as well as potential readers. Your thoughts are important in many ways. They allow for growth, improvement and encouragement for authors and they encourage others who are searching for literature offering content important to them.
Visit my website at:
https://mainelywriting.com
May you walk in light and peace.
Ann Bennett Cookson
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2018
4 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
Read
October 14, 2018Great book, wonderfully told, heartwarming and a great benefit to others experiencing or having guestions about addiction and the family
Displaying 1 of 1 review