| Julia Askins- Survivor and Optimist |  |
| This is my Mema- my grandmother, best friend and victim of suicide. | |
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Why listen to me?Growing up I struggled with depression and yes, at times, suicidal thoughts. Through a great support system, however, I overcame those issues and now I know there is never anything worth taking your life over- you can't take back suicide. My boyfriend of two years suffered heavily from depression and I dealt with having to call for help for him on many occasions. He appreciates now that I always took his suicide threats seriously. Also, August 5, 2008 my Mema commited suicide. She fought long and hard against mental illness for most of her life and in the end I believe she didn't take her own life, rather she was a victim of her illness. She taught me so much about life and living and so I want to pass on her lessons -and hope- so that hopefully someone else doesn't have to fight a losing battle. With all of my experience I want to pass on coping techniques for those who lost a loved one- I know how hard it is to cope with someone's suicide because my Mema was the world to me, the only one who really knew me, and I remember having no idea how I'd go on without her. I went on though because I knew she'd want me to and I hope this site can help someone as well. |