Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears , livre ebook

Balboa Press - Debbie Gail Zane

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83 pages

English

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This memoir shares one mother’s journey through her son’s mental illness, addiction, and death and how she found her own path to peace.

Debbie Gail Zanes’s life changed forever when she received a telephone call informing her that her twenty-six-year-old son, Alex, had been found dead. Just nine years before, he had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and begun using drugs. Throughout his battle with mental illness and addiction, she discovered how to find peace in her life and love him and herself during the many challenges.

In Finding Peace and Purpose amidst the Tears, she shares the many difficulties she experienced with her son’s mental illness and addiction, as well as how she supported him, fought for him, and loved him through his journey. Zane tells how, at times, her life felt consumed by his hospital visits, treatment center stays, drug use, and battles about his treatment. Despite the challenges, they maintained a loving relationship and she connected with her own love, compassion, and understanding and found a path to peace.

Zane chronicles her story of love and loss to help parents on a similar journey feel they’re not alone, offering hope for peace and healing. It helps others understand how to navigate their challenges with love and compassion and how to continue loving their child and themselves through it all, providing inspiration to go on after tragic loss.

Sujets

Santé et bien-être

Santé mentale & traumatisme

Sociologie, société et politique

Psychopathology

Psychology

Addiction

Informations

Publié par	Balboa Press
Date de parution	02 mai 2023
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9798765239261
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0200€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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Praise for Debbie Gail Zane and
Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the T ears
“Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears by Debbie Zane is a poignant and deeply moving account of a mother’s journey through the love and loss of her son, who battled mental illness and addiction. As someone who has experienced the loss of a loved one, I found this book to be both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Zane’s writing is raw, honest, and powerful. She doesn’t hold back as she shares the highs and lows of her son’s life, the impact of his illness on their family, and the devastating grief that followed his death. Through her words, readers will feel the pain and anguish that comes with losing a child, but also the resilience and strength that is possible when faced with such tragedy.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book is Zane’s ability to find purpose and meaning in the midst of her grief. She shares how she has used her son’s story to raise awareness about mental illness and addiction, and to help others who are struggling with similar challenges. Her message of hope and healing is a powerful reminder that, even in the darkest of times, there is still light to be found.
Overall, Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears is a beautifully written and deeply moving memoir that will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or struggles with mental illness or addiction. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for inspiration and hope in the face of tragedy.”
- Jeffery Olsen, Author of “KNO WING” & “WHERE ARE YOU?”

“Debbie is one of the most heart centered and compassionate people I know. Her journey of the heart is here to help her readers find the healing they deserve.”
- Magali Peysha, Founder Coaching Institute

“From the inception of this inspirational story, I have gotten to know Alex and been allowed to watch the loving relationship involving a mother and her son. Through her story, I feel that Alex was and forever will remain a light, not just in Debbie’s world but to anyone who ever had the pleasure of knowing him.
I believe that we never indeed lose our loved ones, even to death. Debbie’s unconditional love for Alex kept both of them strong, even in their weakest moments. I believe our loved ones never truly leave us, even after passing. They continue to contribute to our daily thoughts and the choices that we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories and hearts, just as this story will forever impact yours.”
- Dr. Victoria Cuore, Author of Who Kicked First,
Founder and CEO of A Contagious Smile
Finding Peace and Purpose amidst the Tears

MY JOURNEY OF THE LOVE AND LOSS OF MY SON THROUGH HIS MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTION

DEBBIE GAIL ZANE

Copyright © 2023 Debbie Gail Zane.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press
A Division of Hay House
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.balboapress.com
844-682-1282

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 979-8-7652-3917-9 (sc)
ISBN: 979-8-7652-3916-2 (hc)
ISBN: 979-8-7652-3926-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023902629

Balboa Press rev. date: 04/28/2023

To my beloved children, who showed me what it feels like to give and receive true unconditional love. Alex, David, and Steph I love you with all my heart.

In memory of my oldest son Alex, who’s big loving heart touched us all. You were stronger than anyone I know. It is through you that I found purpose.

In this memoir, all names have been changed except for those of immediate family members and partners.
CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
PART 1 : ALEX AND I JOURNEY THROUGH HIS TEENAGE YEARS
Chapter 1 My Life Changed Forever
Chapter 2 A Serious Diagnosis
Chapter 3 Fighting for Alex’s Healing
Chapter 4 More Hospitalizations and Police Are the 911 Default
Chapter 5 Drugs and Rehab
Chapter 6 Moving Alex to an Oxford House
Chapter 7 Finding My Path to Peace
PART 2 : HOLDING MY BREATH: MY SON BECOMES A YOUNG ADULT
Chapter 8 I Almost Lost Him Several Times
Chapter 9 Hey, Mom, It’s Alex
Chapter 10 Many Baptisms, Many Religions
Chapter 11 Life Becomes Harder for Alex
Chapter 12 Hope for Sobriety
Chapter 13 Childhood Memories Come Flooding Back
PART 3 : LOSS AND HEALING: ALEX’S GIFT TO ME
Chapter 14 I Am Always Reminded of His Kindness and Love
Chapter 15 My Healing Journey

Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
PREFACE
Life does not always give us what we are expecting and can bring many challenges that make us question our ability to handle the pain. When my oldest son, Alex, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at age seventeen after being hospitalized for nearly a month and then became addicted to drugs and alcohol, I wasn’t prepared for how to deal with what I would be up against over the next nine years and the fear and anxiety I would experience. At times, my life felt consumed by his hospital visits, treatment center stays, drug use, and battles over seeing a therapist and psychiatrist and taking his medications. I faced terrifying realities when I almost lost him several times in his late teens and early twenties. After he passed away at the age of twenty-six, I felt pain like I had never experienced before, and I had no idea how I would find a way to go on. In that moment, my life had forever changed.
Through the darkness, it was so hard to see the light. While holding Alex in my heart, once I was able to turn to prayer, faith, and the angels for healing, I was guided to listen to a book-writing workshop and sign up for the Hay House Writer’s Community. Everything then became clear. I felt called to write this book to share my story with the hope that it would help other parents who have a child with mental illness or addiction or who have lost a child.
All my memories and the words, thoughts, and ideas to share them in this memoir flowed to me during the many sleepless nights after Alex passed away. I received everything I needed to write this book, and Alex has been right here with me on this journey to bring my story to life.
In this book, I share the many difficulties I went through with my son’s mental illness and addiction, as well as how I supported him, fought for him, and loved him through his journey. Despite the challenges, we maintained a loving relationship. I connected with my own love, compassion, and understanding and found my path to peace.
The journey can be lonely and difficult, leaving parents craving connection with others who have been there too.
Through sharing my story of the love and loss of my son through his mental illness and addiction and how I turned my pain into my purpose, I hope to help parents on a similar journey feel they are not alone, give them hope for peace and healing, and provide the inspiration to go on.
My desire is to make a difference in this world. So many families are affected by mental illness and addiction.
My heart goes out to these families, and I truly hope that reading this book will touch your heart and inspire you to find peace, hope, and purpose in your life.
INTRODUCTION
My life changed forever when I received a telephone call informing me that my twenty-six-year-old son, Alex, had been found dead. Just nine years before that, he had been diagnosed with mental illness and begun using drugs. Over the years of loving him though his battle with mental illness and addiction, I discovered how to find peace in my life and love him and myself through the many challenges. After losing him suddenly, I knew my life would never be the same. The pain felt unbearable, and I wondered how I would find a way to go on.
My journey raising Alex as a single mom was not easy. He was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at age seventeen after being hospitalized for nearly a month, and then he became addicted to drugs and alcohol in an attempt to self-medicate his serious chronic symptoms. In this book, I share the many difficulties I went through with his mental illness and addiction, and how I supported him, fought for him, and loved him through his journey. I connected with my own love, compassion, and understand