The best way to end the stigma for a topic is to begin a discussion about it. No one likes to bring up mental health, which can prevent some from seeking the help they need. Suicide is a taboo subject that can be embarrassing to speak about, but it is an important talk to have. No one should feel alone.

The subject of personal mental health issues is often met with a few words of sympathy and a polite subject change. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness in a year and there was a rise in the suicide rate in the UK with 10.8 to 10.9 per 100,000 population, but when was the last time you had a coworker inform you that they were taking a sick day for mental health? Try to report a mental health issue and you’re told a remedy of “work through it” or “not moping” are the best cure. Imagine being told to “work through” a broken arm or to not “mope” about having the flu.

The power of one individual can make a change, whether big or small. I chose to publish My New Normal: Surviving Suicide Loss for this very reason, and to bring awareness about the “invisible illness” that so many people hide. My book has enabled me to comfortably speak to others and reach out to groups who are also advocates of change. More importantly, I hope it motivates those who suffer to seek the help they need without shame and inform the public that the problem is bigger than we know.

Thank you,

Anna Cambria

I am extremely thankful to Women You Should Know for featuring me in an article! It is a great step in my goal of spreading awareness for survivors of suicide loss. No one should feel alone in their struggle while learning to live with their new normal.

http://womenyoushouldknow.net/finding-normal-fathers-suicide/

I am very excited to announce that both ebook and paperback are now available for purchase on Amazon! If you buy the paperback copy first, you will be able to get the Kindle copy for a bargain price of $2.99. You do not have to have a Kindle device to read it; the Kindle app is available to download for free. 

I would greatly appreciate positive reviews, so once I begin promoting it outside of friends and family, it will be 5 stars! Be sure to let me know if you buy a copy and want it signed 😉 

Some of you may find yourself in this story with an anonymous name…. It is a way to thank many of those who have played a major role in the past year.

Printcopy: https://www.amazon.com/My-New-Normal-Surviving-Suicide/dp/0999530003/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1512021886&sr=8-1

Kindle/ebook: https://www.amazon.com/My-New-Normal-Surviving-Suicide-ebook/dp/B0784RB8Y7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1512021886&sr=8-1

By the end of the day, my book will be submitted to Amazon for review. Once they review it (usually within 24 hours), they will send me a proof copy. If all goes well, and the proof looks exactly as I want it to, I will “OK” it and upload it for sale!

Thank you all for your patience. Taking the extra time to create this labor of love was worth it.

Much love,

Anna Cambria

Thank you for your patience with me! I’ve been asked by many when the book will be finished and available. I’ve gone through 2 revisions and am getting close to finishing my 3rd. After that, I’m sending it off to my final editor. A delayed book is eventually better for it, a rushed one suffers forever.

I’ve been very fortunate to have amazing family and friends who have helped edit. I’m looking forward to publishing it!

My book has now surpassed 59,000 words! It’s currently going through the first round of editing. I’ve been working on it every day, and I want to make sure I put out a great quality book instead of rushing to publish it. After much thought, I decided that self-publishing will be my best option.

This week marks the one-year anniversary of my dad’s death. The book chronicles the year through my eyes, from the day of his first attempt to the anniversary of his death. The reader will get a first hand account of the events, the struggles, and the emotions one goes through after a suicide attempt and/or loss. Many of those on the outside only see the tip of the iceberg.

Thank you all for being so supportive of me during this process! I hope to use my story to help others who may be going through similar circumstances. Putting my thoughts and feelings into this book has certainly helped with my healing process.

The book’s cover image is a painting by Dad. He painted this before I was born and it has been hanging up in our garage ever since we moved into our house. I walk by it everyday, but now it has more meaning to me. In it, I see Dad as if he’s a young boy again, looking at Earth from heaven. I know he’s watching over his family.

This painting is a piece of Dad that I still have with me; it represents him so well. He always looked at the beauty of the world, and was inspired by it. His creative side is exemplified in his artwork and designs.

My goal is to publish My New Normal: Surviving Suicide Loss in 2017. Keep updated with the progress through social media and blog posts on my website!