In this deeply moving episode of Trust Me Mom, Ekaterina Konovalova sits down with author and mental health advocate Liza Long, whose viral essay “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother” ignited a national conversation about children’s mental health. Liza later wrote a book, "the Price of Silence: A Mom's Perspective on Mental Illness" that is a valuable resource for parents and caregivers of children with mental illness. Liza opens up about the painful, complicated journey of raising a child with severe mental illness — from crisis, misdiagnosis, and violent outbursts to finding the right treatment, rebuilding hope, and eventually watching her son, who eventually transitioned to become a daughter, thrive.Together, they explore what most parents of neurodivergent or mentally ill children face in silence:🔹 the emotional toll on families and marriages🔹 the overwhelming burden of navigating the mental health system🔹 stigma, survival mode, and mom-guilt🔹 misdiagnosis, medication challenges, and safety planning🔹 the importance of community, support systems, and self-care🔹 rebuilding a life after crisisLiza also shares rare insight into her daughter’s transition, her ongoing advocacy work, and the message of hope she wants every struggling parent to hear: “Hang in there — it gets better.”00:54 — Welcome & Introduction01:55 — Meet Liza Long02:02 — “The Essay That Broke the Internet”02:17 — Newtown Tragedy & A Mother’s Breaking Point03:57 — Going Viral & Choosing Advocacy06:18 — The Hard Realities of Misdiagnosis & Cost07:15 — The Hidden Burden on Parents08:26 — When Parenting Feels Impossible09:34 — Impact on Families & Marriages11:51 — Raising Difficult vs. Easy Kids14:08 — “It’s Not Your Fault, Mom”15:51 — How Liza Survived the Darkest Years17:23 — The Diagnosis That Changed Everything19:59 — When Violence Isn’t a Choice21:01 — Safety Planning & Law Enforcement22:04 — How Long the Violent Phase Lasted22:49 — Stabilization & Transformation23:52 — Navigating Gender Identity25:47 — Religion, Community & Support27:24 — What Liza Would Tell Her Younger Self28:48 — Life After Crisis29:59 — One Hour That Saved Her Life31:32 — Final Message for Parents#MentalHealthAwareness #ChildMentalHealth #ParentingStruggles #TrustMeMom #LizaLong #BipolarDisorder #NeurodivergentKids #MentalHealthAdvocate #MomLife #ParentingSupport #YouAreNotAlone #YouthMentalHealth #TraumaInformed #SpecialNeedsParenting #MentalIllnessInTeens