About

Suicide hotline: 1-800-273-8255

I lost my dad to suicide when I was 22-years-old. I don’t know what was harder: the day of his first attempt or the day of his death. There were no indications that anything was even slightly wrong with him. He was an amazing person who turned into someone he was not.

On the day of Dad’s first attempt, in the summer of 2016, so many emotions took over me; anger, however, was the most prominent. Mom and I learned that not only did Dad try to take his life, but that he kept us in the dark about the massive debt we were in and the problems with his business. I knew I’d never be able to go back to the normal life I previously had; it was only a matter of time before he tried again.

I wrote My New Normal: Surviving Suicide Loss with the intent to share my story as well as offer comfort to those who have also experienced this tragic loss. When searching online, there didn’t seem to be a lot of focus on young adults who had lost a parent to suicide. I wanted to change that. I learned that the best way to heal after a suicide loss is to know that you’re not alone and to learn how others are able to move forward.

I titled the book “My New Normal” because it has been my favorite saying. After Dad’s tragic death, I had to adjust to a new way of life. I will never be able to go back to the “normal” life I once had, so I had to find my new normal. “Surviving Suicide Loss” pertains to any of us who have survived losing a loved one to suicide. I’m a survivor and able to live my life well. This experience has made me a stronger person, and I’m confident that I can overcome any obstacle life throws at me.