S4E10 It's Okay to Be Okay with Erin Blechman

In honor of suicide prevention month, Amanda brings you an incredibly courageous guest who lost her son to suicide in 2020. A woman who embodies an extraordinary amount of bravery, taking to stages nationwide with a mission to elevate the conversation around mental illness, grief and loss, and to break the stigma of death by suicide. Erin Blechman is an author, speaker, and Certified Grief Educator, with a striking ability to speak openly and honestly about her experience as a mother with a mentally ill child who ultimately took his own life.  In this unflinchingly candid conversation, the ladies discuss: 🔥The challenge of staying compassionate and understanding while watching someone you love struggle with mental illness 🔥The relief a parent may feel that their child is no longer suffering, and because they themselves are now unburdened by the pain, but feel shameful speaking that out loud 🔥It's okay to feel whatever you're feeling while coping with your child's mental illness as well as grief around their passing 🔥The importance of healing in community; sharing your pain and how you feel with people who "get it" helps to normalize it 🔥The mentality and struggles of a person who dies by suicide 🔥The common feeling of dying with our loved ones, and moving forward as a way to honor them 🔥The "both/and" concept 🔥Turning "What if's?" into "Even if's" About Erin  In addition to Erin's valiant mission to elevate the conversation about mental illness, suicide, loss, and grief, she also aims to increase education, awareness, and compassion for those who suffer as well as help people become comfortable talking about suicide openly in an attempt to end the stigma. She offers grief support to bereaved parents through online groups and community talks that seek to build greater understanding of mental illness, suicide, loss, and grief. Her book, My Unexpected Journey: Reflections After Losing My Son to Suicide, chronicles the eighteen months following the devastating loss of her beloved son, Max after his long battle with mental illness. Erin lives part-time in both Pennsylvania and Florida with her husband, Bill and Max's former dog, Emmylou. Their son, Sam, and his wife, Julia, reside in Pennsylvania. My Unexpected Journey is her first book. Get it here.  Follow Erin on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn and on her website.  *Email your thoughts about this show or if you have an idea for another show to [email protected]. *Please follow, share, and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review. Sol Rising is now also on YouTube. Check it out! Follow Sol Rising on Instagram Follow Amanda on Instagram Get Amanda's book, Trust Yourself to Be All In on Amazon or amandamckoyflanagan.com. Sign up for Amanda's monthly newsletter to receive your free guide, 5 Pillars for an Empowered Life After Loss on her website.