154: I Tried to Numb My Pain with Prescription Drugs & Alcohol When My Child Died (with Stacie Snider and Courtney Stovall)

Those of us who have lost a child have been through a trauma. We are dealing with traumatic grief. Many parents also have PTSD. How do we get through the suffocating darkness and things like night terrors? Some go to their physician who will write them prescriptions for anxiety or to help them sleep. It is very easy to get hooked on these prescriptions, needing higher and higher doses to work. Quite often, alcohol gets added to the mix of trying to numb the pain. Today’s episode is talking to two moms who are very open and vulnerable about their experience with prescription drugs and alcoholism after the death of their sons. There is no judgment in this; only care, compassion and extending hope for a way out, from those who have been there. Stacie Snider is a mom of three and GiGi of four. She has been an accountant in the healthcare field for many years. Stacie and her husband just purchased their forever home in Texas on 13 acres and raise goats, chickens, geese, donkeys and have four dogs. “Our lives never slow down but we wouldn’t change it for the world.” Stacie has been on this journey of child loss for six years and is also the administrator for the public GPS Hope Facebook page.   Courtney Stovall lives in Greer, South Carolina and is a mother to seven children, one fur baby and a Gigi to one. Before losing her son, she was an executive assistant. Courtney did not go back to work for almost four years and now works for her mother-in-law.  She and her husband have two “surprise babies” still living at home who are five and six, both red headed and keep them very busy.  As a pareavor who is four years into this journey, Courtney enjoys keeping in touch with other pareavors, helping them through the struggles she has walked through.  (Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)   Links Mentioned in this episode: Sponsor an episode in honor of your child. Email Stacie:[email protected] Email Courtney: [email protected]  Info page on Pearls of Hope.  (Unfortunately, we can only ship to the USA.) Go directly to the Pearls of Hope online store Be sure to use the promo code BECCA40 when placing your order.  Watch the pearl opening on the public GPS Hope Facebook page Wednesday, April 13 @ 8:00PM Eastern time. (Ask to join our private GPS Hope Facebook page here.)   Birthdays: Malish (Caspian) Aurova was born on April 11 and is forever 9 weeks. Megan Small was born on April 11 and is forever 21. Michael Rhodes was born on April 11 and is forever 18. Carter Braun was born on April 13 and is forever 15. Rachel Pilcher was born on April 13 and is forever 41. Rebecca Diehl Howard was born on April 13 and is forever 29. Brandon Matos was born on April 14 and is forever 23.   Fill out the short form to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners. The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.   Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE! www.gpshope.org   Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? Contact us at [email protected]. Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose. It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.