Teen Suicide Is An Alarming Crisis That Affects Us All Says Laura Prince, Author Of Sibling Loss, A Sister's Journey From Despair To Celebration

Laura Prince's new book detailing the death of her brother has been called "insightful", "powerful" "vivid" "absorbing" and "spellbinding".

[Wilmington, NC, March 17, 2020] A recent article on the Physician's Weekly website revealed some appalling facts regarding teen suicide. The article referenced a quote in the New York Times in 2018 in which psychiatrist Richard Friedman wrote that an epidemic in anxiety or depression among youth "is simply a myth."

Jean Twenge, PhD, the author of the article wrote: "But a new analysis my colleagues and I conducted of a large representative screening survey—published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology—reinforces what I and others have been saying: The epidemic is all too real. In fact, the increase in mental health issues among teens and young adults is nothing short of staggering. . . . Depression surged 69% among 16- to 17-year-olds. Serious psychological distress, which includes feelings of anxiety and hopelessness, jumped 71% among 18- to 25-year-olds from 2008 to 2017. Twice as many 22- to 23-year-olds attempted suicide in 2017 compared with cohorts in 2008, and 55% more had suicidal thoughts."

Further on in the article she said, " . . .the suicide rate among 18- to 19-year-olds climbed 56% from 2008 to 2017."

Suffice it to say that our young people need help now. But this goes beyond just young people, as the tragedy of teen suicide affects not only immediate family members, but everyone in the orbit of relationships surrounding the family. We sometimes tend to ignore the devastating effect suicide has on siblings, aunts and uncles, grandparents, close friends, teachers and on the community as a whole.

Montreal resident Laura Prince, author of 'Sibling Loss, A Sister's Journey From Despair To Celebration', offers some important words of wisdom that can help anyone affected by teen suicide take the first steps toward healing.

"There is no recipe, and no-one knows--nor will ever know--how you feel, and how you have lived your personal tragedy,” Prince stated. “It's a matter of finding your way through support groups, therapy and friendships. Writing is a major help, and listening to others' stories is also very healing. Whatever helps you feel compassion for all of us and gratitude for discovering a peaceful place again will help you chart your particular journey to healing.”

“Time has illustrated to me that the death of my brother was the catalyst to my devastating despair; however, the lack of support was the tragedy. A person left with no avenue of help, especially a child, is emotionally doomed in most ways. Getting help was what got me over Mathew."

Readers and reviewers alike have praised Sibling Loss. One called it "The best story illustrating the long term consequences of unresolved childhood grief that I have seen." Another said, "Sibling Loss: A Sister's Journey from Despair to Celebration is an excellent read and one I would recommend to everyone."

Allan Schnarr, of the Center for Grief Recovery in Chicago said, "Sibling Loss is not a book you read at a dispassionate distance. It is not for you if you choose to avoid facing your losses, not unless you become willing to turn around and face yourself. The reading is a deeply personal encounter with Laura, as she lays bare the unspeakable tragedy of the death of her beloved brother. As you encounter Laura, the mirror she offers will draw you in to the journey inside your own broken heart . . .There is so much to learn here about longing for love, losing love, and searching for it unwaveringly. This is the thread weaving Laura’s narrative. It is at the archetypal core of each journey through life, love lost and found.

"Laura makes it clear that fully grieving the loss of love brings one to a new home, a renewed discovery of love, a love strong enough and wise enough to walk through each new loss with durable, irrepressible grace. Thank you Laura”

Laura’s story, 'Sibling Loss, A Sister's Journey from Despair to Celebration', is a book that would be appropriate for anyone who has ever lost, or will ever lose a sibling. That would be nearly all of us.

Laura Prince is available for media interviews and can be reached by email at laura.prince.book@gmail.com or by using the information below. The book is available at Amazon. More information is available at Prince's website at http://www.siblinglossbook.blogspot.com.

About Laura Prince:

Laura Prince is both an author and the creator and manager of a symphony orchestra. Sibling Loss, A Sister's Journey from Despair to Celebration is her first book. She resides in Canada.

Contact:

Laura Prince
http://www.siblinglossbook.blogspot.com
laura.prince.book@gmail.com

http://s.bl-1.com/h/cNKmMGLq?url=http://www.freepublicitygroup.com/news/release-laura-prince-author-book-sibling-loss-teen-suicide-mar1220/

A death in the family-montreal author Laura Prince offers words of wisdom ffor Canadians affected by Iranian aircraft tragedy-bit.ly/2GkNRRJ

A death in the family-montreal author Laura Prince offers words of wisdom ffor Canadians affected by Iranian aircraft tragedy-bit.ly/2GkNRRJ

The Mourner’s Bill of Rights

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The Mourner’s Bill of Rights

The Mourner’s Bill of Rights by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.

Though you should reach out to others as you do the work of mourning, you should not feel obligated to accept the unhelpful responses you may receive from some people. You are the one who is grieving, and as such, you have certain “rights” no one should try to take away from you. The following list is intended both to empower you to heal and to decide how others can and cannot help. This is not to discourage you from reaching out to others for help, but rather to assist you in distinguishing useful responses from hurtful ones.

1. You have the right to experience your own unique grief. No one else will grieve in exactly the same way you do. So, when you turn to others for help, don’t allow them to tell what you should or should not be feeling.

2. You have the right to talk about your grief. Talking about your grief will help you heal. Seek out others who will allow you to talk as much as you want, as often as you want, about your grief. If at times you don’t feel like talking, you also have the right to be silent.

3. You have the right to feel a multitude of emotions. Confusion, disorientation, fear, guilt and relief are just a few of the emotions you might feel as part of your grief journey. Others may try to tell you that feeling angry, for example, is wrong. Don’t take these judgmental responses to heart. Instead, find listeners who will accept your feelings without condition.

4. You have the right to be tolerant of your physical and emotional limits. Your feelings of loss and sadness will probably leave you feeling fatigued. Respect what your body and mind are telling you. Get daily rest. Eat balanced meals. And don’t allow others to push you into doing things you don’t feel ready to do.

5. You have the right to experience “grief bursts.” Sometimes, out of nowhere, a powerful surge of grief may overcome you. This can be frightening, but is normal and natural. Find someone who understands and will let you talk it out.

6. You have the right to make use of ritual. The funeral ritual does more than acknowledge the death of someone loved. It helps provide you with the support of caring people. More importantly, the funeral is a way for you to mourn. If others tell you the funeral or other healing rituals such as these are silly or unnecessary, don’t listen.

7. You have the right to embrace your spirituality. If faith is a part of your life, express it in ways that seem appropriate to you. Allow yourself to be around people who understand and support your religious beliefs. If you feel angry at God, find someone to talk with who won’t be critical of your feelings of hurt and abandonment.

8. You have the right to search for meaning. You may find yourself asking “Why did he or she die? Why this way? Why now?” Some of your questions may have answers, but some may not. And watch out for the clichéd responses some people may give you. Comments like “It was God’s will” or “Think of what you have to be thankful for” are not helpful and you do not have to accept them.

9. You have the right to treasure your memories. Memories are one of the best legacies that exist after the death of someone loved. You will always remember. Instead of ignoring your memories, find others with whom you can share them.

10. You have the right to move toward your grief and heal.Reconciling your grief will not happen quickly. Remember, grief is a process, not an event. Be patient and tolerant with yourself and avoid people who are impatient and intolerant with you. Neither you nor those around you must forget that the death of someone loved changes your life forever.

A Death in the Family: Sibling Loss, a sisters journey; NEWS PIECE

A Death In The Family: Sibling Loss, A Sister's Journey From Despair To Celebration, Offers Hope To Readers Dealing With The Loss Of A Sibling

Laura Prince's new book detailing the death of her brother has been called "insightful", "powerful" "vivid" "absorbing" and spellbinding.

[Wilmington, NC, January 13 2020] A death in the family is devastating. The loss of a child even more so. Not surprisingly, when a child is lost, we naturally want to console the parents of that child. What we often fail to notice is the effect the death of a child has on the other children in the family. The surviving children must deal with issues that are unique, potentially life-shattering and long lasting. Fear, anxiety, guilt and a host of other challenges can overwhelm young people who are unlikely to be prepared to face such a crippling event.

Laura Prince's new book, 'Sibling Loss, A Sister's Journey from Despair To Celebration', is a first-person account of the crushing effect the death of her brother, had on her life. Prince shares her decades-long process of healing that is, as she claims, a lifelong struggle. Nevertheless it is a book that offers hope. Prince openly and candidly examines the pitfalls and surprising triumphs of grieving. She offers readers a window into her world and allows us to share in her sadness, and in the eventual celebration of her brother as she slowly works her way into a place of quiet joy and gratitude.

“I’ve learned that without a huge and continued effort to heal from life’s upheavals, many crises can never produce healing. Recovering from enormous trauma, as in the sudden accidental death of my brother Mathew, became a kind of life ‘endeavor’ of mine.

"I’ve been blessed with the ability to write, and therefore could share my story with you, so that you, the reader, can be inspired to overcome your grief as well. Writing ‘Sibling Loss’ has been a huge part of my spiritual journey to finally be able to celebrate Mathew’s short but beautiful life.”

Readers and reviewers alike have praised Sibling Loss. One called it "The best story illustrating the long term consequences of unresolved childhood grief that I have seen." Another said, "Sibling Loss: A Sister's Journey from Despair to Celebration is an excellent read and one I would recommend to everyone."

Allan Schnarr, of the Center for Grief Recovery in Chicago said, "Sibling Loss is not a book you read at a dispassionate distance. It is not for you if you choose to avoid facing your losses, not unless you become willing to turn around and face yourself. The reading is a deeply personal encounter with Laura, as she lays bare the unspeakable tragedy of the death of her beloved brother. As you encounter Laura, the mirror she offers will draw you in to the journey inside your own broken heart . . .There is so much to learn here about longing for love, losing love, and searching for it unwaveringly. This is the thread weaving Laura’s narrative. It is at the archetypal core of each journey through life, love lost and found.

"Laura makes it clear that fully grieving the loss of love brings one to a new home, a renewed discovery of love, a love strong enough and wise enough to walk through each new loss with durable, irrepressible grace. Thank you Laura”

Laura’s story, 'Sibling Loss, A Sister's Journey from Despair to Celebration', is a book that would be appropriate for anyone who has ever lost, or will ever lose a sibling. That would be nearly all of us.

Laura Prince is available for media interviews and can be reached by email at laura.prince.book@gmail.com or by using the information below. The book is available at Amazon. More information is available at Prince's website at http://www.siblinglossbook.blogspot.com.

About Laura Prince:

Laura Prince is both an author and the creator and manager of a symphony orchestra. Sibling Loss, A Sister's Journey from Despair to Celebration is her first book. She resides in Canada.

Contact:

Laura Prince
http://www.siblinglossbook.blogspot.com
laura.prince.book@gmail.com

A death in the family: my audio interview

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GDE8elOx8TI_ZCFlFr7uV45Y6EkuK85C

Sibling Loss; A Sister s Journey: A review by Allan Schnarr, Phd.

A death in the family:

So Much to Learn Here…… 

Allan Schnarr, Phd., Center for Grief Recovery-Chicago Illinois 

Sibling Loss;A sister s journey.....

Sibling Loss is not a book you read at a dispassionate distance. It is not for you if you choose to avoid facing your losses, not unless you become willing to turn around and face yourself. The reading is a deeply personal encounter with Laura, as she lays bare the unspeakable tragedy of the death of her beloved brother. As you encounter Laura, the mirror she offers will draw you in to the journey inside your own broken heart. The courage this journey requires is more than worth the investment.

For the first couple chapters, as she gives narrative detail to the family history of both her parents, the tragedy in her lineage is intellectually interesting. I found myself following the details with no emotional engagement. This continued as she moved the narrative through her early childhood with her three brothers. I was impressed with the intricate depth of detail that gave such insightful clarity to the family relational dynamics. I was not aware that I was guarding myself from getting emotionally involved – until the tragedy happened.

All my defenses fell, my heart broke open, tears flowed, as Laura described the sudden senseless loss of the one person most dear to her – and I have never lost a sib! I have, however, lost dependable love in childhood. As my own deep losses resonated with her, I noticed myself with a sense of awe at the clarity of her awareness in the midst of unbearable tragedy. I wanted to turn away from such a fierce confrontation with reality. I did not. I am a therapist used to choosing to stay with others in their pain, even when, especially when, it awakens mine.

I stayed with Laura, horrified and fascinated, in the grip of her relentless narrative. The gut wrenching loss wreaked havoc in each of the already struggling family relationships, stretching them taut, to the point of breaking. It is part of the wonder of Laura’s experience that these relationships never did break, at least not irreparably. Though everyone was shattered beyond their ability to cope, though fear and anger, and anguished abandonment overwhelmed each family member, some unshakeable bond lasted. There is so much to learn here about longing for love, losing love, and searching for it unwaveringly. This is the thread weaving Laura’s narrative. It is at the archetypal core of each journey through life, love lost and found.

Laura fights her way through recurrent relationships, with nothing working out, as long as her lost brother looms ever present. This leads to recurrent losses, of love seemingly found only to be lost again, of heartbreak – and of opportunity to grieve, and to learn. The fierce resilience at Laura’s core is a marvel to behold, and hopefully to remember or discover inside oneself. Her search for healing eventually took her to a retreat weekend with The Rothman Cole Center for Sibling Loss (which eventually became the Center for Grief Recovery where I now work). This experience became the turning point as she found the support she needed to work through her grief.

Laura’s story is a testament to the value of the journey of grief recovery. It is a searing path, cutting through deep dark passages. The road leads through increasing wisdom in accepting how inherently loss is at the heart of life. Laura makes it clear that fully grieving the loss of love brings one to a new home, a renewed discovery of love, a love strong enough and wise enough to walk through each new loss with durable, irrepressible grace. Thank you Laura.

I you ve eperienced a death in the family: this is the book you want to read to see the impact on all members and their evolution, especially if it's the death of a brother or sister in youth.


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