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Book: My Unexpected Journey

Name: Minds On Design Lab Inc.
Price range: $

My Unexpected Journey: Reflections After Losing My Son to Suicide, chronicles the eighteen months following the devastating loss of the author's own beloved son, Max.

A resource by Erin Blechman

My Unexpected Journey: Reflections After Losing My Son to Suicide, is a beautiful and heartfelt book by author, Erin Blechman. It is a raw and vulnerable glimpse into the author's grieving heart following the loss of her eldest son, Max, to suicide in 2020. The book chronicles the eighteen months following his death, and shares what the author has learned as she navigates life without her beloved son.

Key themes of the book:

Mental Illness: Understanding its impact on individuals and families.
Suicide Awareness: Breaking the silence and addressing the stigma.
Crisis of Faith: Questioning the senseless death of a child.
Grief and Loss: Navigating the emotional landscape after a devastating loss.
Healing and Hope: Finding resilience and growth in the aftermath of tragedy.

The book is written as a series of journal entries and includes beautiful illustrations and family photos. You will be inspired by the authenticity and beauty of this book.

Readers who have experienced their own loss will feel better understood and less alone in their grief journey. Parents who are coping with the loss of a child will relate to the author's story of losing her precious son and her healing journey.
Clinicians can use this book as a valuable resource to gain a deeper perspective on grief and learn practical principles to apply with clients.
Someone who is walking alongside a grieving friend will learn constructive tips on how to care well for the one who grieves.

My Unexpected Journey is a must read for anyone who has experienced a profound loss, lived with a loved one struggling with a mental illness, been impacted by suicide, or faced a crisis of faith over a tragedy. You will be deeply moved and encouraged by the author's journey of hope and healing.

My Inspiration

My son, Max, was the most interesting person I've ever known. He was intelligent - he spoke in sentences at 15 months of age, read his first Harry Potter Book between kindergarten and 1st grade. He was creative - he wrote poetry, short stories, song lyrics, and material for his stand-up comedy routines. He was an activist - he spoke against injustice, inequity, and unfairness. He also struggled with a mental illness that ultimately took his life. Max died by suicide in June 2020 and it's been the single most devastating experience of my life. I wasn't sure I could survive his death, or if I even wanted to, but it has put me on the path to become an author, a speaker, and a certified grief educator and to help other parents realize they can survive the death of their own beloved child. My purpose since losing my beloved Max is now to elevate the conversation around grief, mental illness, and suicide loss so we can increase awareness and compassion and reduce the stigma and secrecy.

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