Publications – Spirited Blessings

I Want to Live: Turning a Corner with Suicidal Ideation and Depression

This mental health recovery story focuses on Tina’s journey through a fixation on death, depression and suicidal ideation. Tina’s thoughts and actions felt out of control, guide by anxiety. Suicidal ideation was a constant in her life, how Tina sought help and learned that are her core, she wanted to live. Through therapy and a close encounter with death, Tina discovered her will to live. Read more about Tina’s journey!

OC87 Recovery Diaries

Parenting Lessons You Need to Learn from My Child Sexual Abuse Experience

Girl holding teddy bear up to they sky at sunset

There is something I want to share with you. Actually, I don’t want to share it with you, but rather it is a cautionary tale of sorts that I hope might save a whole lot of trauma for a new generations of boys and girls. If I can help even one child with my story...

Her View From Home

To My Son’s Other Mother

You carried him for nine months and I’m sure you did your best to take care of him during that time. Others saw all the things you didn’t do and judged you for it. There will be no judgement from me. I know in my heart that you did your best from the moment you...

Her View From Home

To My Husband: I See You

To my Loving Husband, I think that sometimes you feel taken advantage of, pushed aside and maybe even forgotten. I know that life gets very hectic and I often get wrapped up in our boys or some project I have on the go. But please know that I see you and I appreciate you. When...

Her View From Home

Post-Adoption Depression Is A Very Real Thing

We worked long and hard to become parents. Years of infertility filled with tests, needles, examinations, surgeries and the loss of dignity. We moved on to adoption and were again met with questions and the need to prove ourselves. But finally the day came and we welcomed a wonderful 3-year-old boy to our family. We were so proud and excited...

Her View From Home

My Suicide Note: This Is Teenage Depression

Tuesday December 11th, 1990 Right now I am sitting in front of my locker and no one knows what I have done. I’m scared. Scared that everyone will hate me and no one will understand what I’ve just done. Scared to live though. I really am. I honestly can’t see a future. I want someone...

Her View From Home

There Will Be No Pregnancy For Me

The other day I sat with several co-workers enjoying a luncheon on the last day before Christmas holiday. At first we spoke of school and good teachers (and bad ones) and a variety of mothering topics. Then things turned to breast feeding. At first I was ok with it – it’s nothing I haven’t heard...

Her View From Home

10 Simple Ways We Can Start Helping Those Who Feel Suicidal

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The past few days have been a struggle . . . first Kate Spade and now Anthony Bourdain . They both fell into despair so deep they saw no way out . . . and they completed suicide. The struggle for me is such a deeply personal one and their actions bring back my past actions...

The Mighty

The Words My Depression Tells Me

Failure Loser Incapable Unwanted Unworthy Words my mental illness plants in my brain. They sneak in under the cover of dark, rearing their ugly heads when I least expect it. Defences down, I am bowled over by the intensity and severity of the words. I do my best to fight. I do positive self talk...

The Mighty

5 Changes My Depression Prompted Me to Make This Christmas

I’m not really feeling Christmas this year. Usually by mid-November we have most of our Christmas shopping completed and at the beginning of December I have all our decorations up including the tree. This year I admitted to my husband that my depression has really taken hold and I am struggling to get through the...

The Mighty

When the Veterinarian Asked About My Son's Diagnosis

“What’s your son’s diagnosis?” the veterinarian asked me in a rare moment that my son had stopped talking and instead was focused on his Guinea Pig. Normally such a question would make me get my back up. I mean, who asks such a question? But there was something about this man, in his white coat...

The Mighty

When Depression Makes You a Liar

I have a confession to make. I’m a liar. I lie again and again, day after day. I lie to friends and family, and even to virtual strangers. I don’t mean to – it just comes out. “I’m fine...”

The Mighty

A Christmas Gift for My Mother on the Spectrum

It was almost Christmas Eve and the presents were all wrapped and under the tree. But I found myself at a loss as to what to get for you. A new purse, a book, a gift card – perhaps. Or what about this...

The Mighty

5 Things Not to Say to Someone Who's Suicidal — and What to Say Instead

All my life I’ve battled severe depression. On numerous occasions I’ve been suicidal. It’s a horrible thing for all involved. Here are some of the most unhelpful (and helpful!) things I’ve been told during these times...

The Mighty

To the Mom Who Wasn’t Sure If Her Son With Special Needs Should Attend Our Party

I know it took a lot of courage to call me and talk to me about your son. I’ll be honest, I’ve been wanting to call you or to catch you in the schoolyard. I’ve wanted to reach out to you since our boys were in kindergarten together...

The Mighty

Mapping out the future, with a little help from my friends

“I’ll never be good enough,” my son Corbin, 12,muttered, over and over again, as he tried to fit his five-foot frame into my lap. We were about to head out to drop him off at his treatment centre, when he simply fell apart...

BLOOM Blog

It's hard to tell when special-needs parents are 'drowning'

When my husband and I decided to pursue adoption, we never expected it to be easy. However, there was no way to know how very hard it would be, until we’d experienced it ourselves...

BLOOM Blog