The meademusing’s Podcast

On Halloween night in 1985, Susan Williams (Snow) experienced a life-changing event when her father, LAPD Detective Thomas C. Williams, was tragically ambushed and killed. Her moving account of her family's loss and their path to healing from trauma provides hope and practical advice for those impacted by violence and loss. 

Susan recounts her story authentically and openly, discussing her journey through the trauma of losing her father to murder at the age of 17, her struggle with PTSD, and her courage in speaking her truth. Her message of healing and resilience brings hope to those coping with trauma and grief.

Susan shared how she regained control of her life, managed PTSD effectively, and learned to embrace vulnerability with courage through her experience of loss, without falling into victimhood, and to practice love with forgiveness.

Susan's story will resonate with anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one, demonstrating that healing is a process that takes time.

Furthermore, Susan detailed how her unwavering commitment to excellence facilitated her healing over time. Her message and personal narrative of love and hope are both strong and powerful.

#Childhood Trauma

#Emotional Intelligence

#Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD

#Trauma Recovery

#True Crime

#Grief

#Law Enforcement

#Mental Health Awareness

#Lest wee forget

November is Military awareness and Veterans appreciation month

My guest on this episode is Jason Pike, an Army Veteran who overcame incredible odds to serve in the military. Diagnosed with a learning disability at the age of seven and suffering from osteomyelitis, a bone infection that left him unable to walk at nine, Jason faced significant challenges. His health issues caused him to fail first grade and prevented him from attending college at that time. With limited options, he turned to the military, joining the National Guard and eventually transitioning to active duty in the Army.

During his 31 years in the U.S. Army, Jason became a decorated combat veteran with multiple deployments, including nine years overseas in five countries. He shared how his military experiences continue to impact his mental health and offered insights into how he copes with post-traumatic stress, a common struggle for many veterans.

Jason Pike has also become a national best-selling author, sharing his journey through three powerful books:

• Soldier Against All Odds: A memoir that offers readers a glimpse into the adventures, challenges, and costs of service.
• Out of the Uniform, Back into Civilian Life: No-Nonsense Veterans Benefits Guide
• Leading Through the Crossfire: A Veteran's Blueprint for Navigating Toxic Work Environments

#November

#Veterans

#Remembrance

#Army

#Resilient Survivor

#Newsly

Podmatch

Available data from the US Census Bureau statistical as reported in the 2021 National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) shows Deaths from suicide for people In Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation industry (males = 47.9; females = 15.0 this figure is approximately 33% higher than it was 2 decades ago.

My guest on this episode Richard Seeram is a young Black Music Artist , when he first launched in the music industry , being told he couldn't succeed , he had no guidance on how to , no help , no support system found himself inundated with destructive criticisms , He was overwhelmed In despair , having constant battles with his self worth because he equated his self-worth and purpose in life to a successful career . He had lots of struggles with addiction , anxiety , Depression , feeling worthless , being suicidal due to the criticisms and negative opinions from other people .

However , through introspection and and a lot of intervention, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery he turned these challenges around , finding an emotional outlet in his unique rap music where he is able to talk about all the negative thoughts he experienced , sending the same message he wished someone had gifted him when he was in despair and suicidal conveying a message of hope to himself and other people who may find themselves in similar situations we talked about the importance of having a mental health support system for Musicians , as well as artists and creatives he re has rewritten his own story , reclaimed the narrative of his life.

we also talked about the use of AI in music , and how it can impact the future of music writing 

Born weighing only 1 pound and 4 ounces, Danielle was given a mere zero to five percent chance of survival. Despite facing numerous negative prognosis, including the potential for brain damage, she defied the odds and is alive today without any health complications.

Danielle Vassell is a motivational speaker, author, and film producer. In May 2020, she released her debut short film, "Defying The ODDS: Women of Impact," which delves into the personal journeys of five young women of colour who overcame significant challenges in their fields. The film was aired on Sky 193 Vox Africa, reaching a global audience of 130 million viewers, and on Sky 170 Together TV, reaching an additional 26 million viewers in the UK.

Danielle's journey has been a roller coaster, from being a reserved, quiet student who was bullied in school to becoming a school council member appointed by her tutor, giving her the responsibility of being the voice for other students in high school. In college, she was the business representative for her entire business course, which led to her nomination by her tutor to visit 10 Downing Street in England.

Danielle's passion is to create platforms for individuals to share their personal stories, thereby inspiring many others.

Her film focused on the stories of women of color defying odds in various sectors of life and was featured on Apple TV in December. It climbed to number 7 on the Apple and iTunes Charts for short films released between 2016 and 2020. Danielle's inspiring story has been featured in various media outlets, including newspapers and magazine articles, and she has appeared on numerous radio stations and television networks, making a positive impact.

Lisa Sugarman is a three-time survivor of suicide loss, a mental health advocate, and a crisis counsellor with The Trevor Project. She is also an author and a nationally syndicated columnist.

We discussed her personal journey of discovering that her father, whom she believed had died from a heart attack when she was just ten years old, actually took his own life. She learned this truth 35 years later, which led her to grieve for him once again. Her cousin and a close family friend also died by suicide.

These tragedies drove Lisa to seek an understanding of the thought processes of individuals who decide to end their lives, leading to her involvement with The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Project provides support to the LGBTQ community's at-risk youth (ages 13-24) for any mental health issues.

We discussed the range of emotions—sadness, heartbreak, pain, agony—that accompany the loss of loved ones, how one questions themselves, asking why, and how signs that someone may be struggling and contemplating suicide can be spotted, as well as their impact on mental health.

We talked about how people might show signs of struggle, such as posting on social media. We also discussed specific ways to help someone contemplating suicide, like being a good listener and offering resources, including the emergency response number.

As a friend or colleague, you could make a third-party call to the emergency number on behalf of the person contemplating suicide.

You could also encourage them to call a therapist, which we shared.

We talked about stigmas surrounding mental health issues and different ways these could push people to being suicidal

Lisa discussed her self-care as someone who confronts trauma and the imminent risk of suicide. She explained how these can sometimes act as trauma triggers for her, as a person who has survived multiple suicide attempts. However, she has access to a robust support network that offers therapy and outlets to help her unwind and debrief after each call.

Additionally, Lisa is a storyteller for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an LGBTQ+ advocate, a survivor of suicide loss and grief, a support group facilitator with Samaritans, and a mental health advocate.

She writes the opinion column "We Are Who We Are" in Boston and is the author of books such as "How To Raise Perfectly... Imperfect Kids And Be Ok With It,"

"Untying Parent Anxiety," and "LIFE: It Is What It Is," which are all available where books are sold.

Lisa also contributes to Healthline Parenthood, GrownAndFlown, TODAY Parents,

Thrive Global, Little Things, and More Content Now.

Lisa resides and writes just north of Boston. For more information, visit her website at www.lisasugarman.com.

#Suicide

#Suicide Awareness

#Survivor of suicide

#Mental Health

#Mental Health Awareness

#Mental Illness

#Grief

#Healthcare Advocate

#LGBTQ

#it is OK not to be OK

The WHO's 2021 report "Suicide worldwide in 2019" states that suicide remains a leading cause of death globally, surpassing deaths from HIV, malaria, breast cancer, war, and homicide.

Kristof Morrow, a disabled U.S. veteran, suffered severe abuse from his parents, who struggled with addiction, leading to his prolonged battles with anxiety, depression, and OCD.

After the suicide of a close friend and colleague, he began drinking heavily. Kristof also has Tourette's syndrome, which causes him to punch hard surfaces, sometimes even himself, resulting in numerous chronic injuries and jeopardizing his right thumb's functionality. Consequently, he wears bandages and tapes on two fingers, along with a thumb brace.

His Tourette's makes him feel marginalized and causes discomfort to others. Cooking poses a challenge, and he depends on muscle memory for everyday tasks.

As an author and award-winning journalist, Kristof has sold over 1,500 copies of his books. He became an EMT at 23, a 911 dispatcher at 26, and secured a newspaper job through an audition. By 27, he had won awards from two Texas Press Associations for feature writing and photography. Despite these achievements, he manages his Tourette’s by frequently repeating the word "Shakespeare."

He achieved viral fame on TikTok for his unique approach to a woman he was attracted to, and he has discussed the advantages and disadvantages of being a successful TikToker.

hashtag

#KristofMorrow

hashtag

#SuicideAwareness

hashtag

#DisabilityTikTok

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#Tourettes

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#ADHD

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#Author

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#Literature

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#Storyteller

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#Podmatch

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#Podcasts

Caring for a child with special needs can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with unique challenges that can lead to significant stress for parents. 

A UNICEF report published in 2021, suggests that 240 million children worldwide live with disabilities, and that figure is increasing by the day .

Russ Solomon is a music therapist and a parent to a neurodiverse son with anger issues, sensory issues, and ADHD. He is also a wellness mentor who helps parents of children with special needs, to eliminate stress, deepen their connection with their kids in a peaceful way, create harmony at home, and ignite their children’s potential.

His motivation to help parents stems from his own experiences growing up with relatives who had cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and developmental delays. He witnessed his relatives struggling to cope with their family members, which inspired him to support other parents in similar situations.

We discussed the triggers that cause parents to struggle and feel overwhelmed, particularly when they believe they must sacrifice their careers to care for their neurotypical children.

Russ says parents need to become knowledgeable about their children’s condition to reduce anxiety. Additionally, he suggests that parents simplify and delegate daily routines, using adaptive technologies to assist in daily care and empower their neurotypical children. He emphasizes that parents should prioritize their own health and well-being by getting enough sleep, eating well, and finding time for activities they enjoy. He believes that having a positive mindset, focusing on the positives, and celebrating small victories can make a big difference in managing stress. He also advises seeking professional help when feeling overwhelmed and advocates for finding therapists and counsellors who can offer strategies to cope with stress and improve mental health, as well as accepting help from friends and family to lighten their care responsibilities.

Russ is available for consultation at http://intuneparents.com/

Caring for a child with special needs can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with unique challenges that can lead to significant stress for parents.

A UNICEF report published in 2021, suggests that 240 million children worldwide live with disabilities, and that figure is increasing by the day .

Russ Solomon is a music therapist and a parent to a neurodiverse son with anger issues, sensory issues, and ADHD. He is also a wellness mentor who helps parents of children with special needs, to eliminate stress, deepen their connection with their kids in a peaceful way, create harmony at home, and ignite their children’s potential.

His motivation to help parents stems from his own experiences growing up with relatives who had cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and developmental delays. He witnessed his relatives struggling to cope with their family members, which inspired him to support other parents in similar situations.

We discussed the triggers that cause parents to struggle and feel overwhelmed, particularly when they believe they must sacrifice their careers to care for their neurotypical children.

Russ says parents need to become knowledgeable about their children’s condition to reduce anxiety. Additionally, he suggests that parents simplify and delegate daily routines, using adaptive technologies to assist in daily care and empower their neurotypical children. He emphasizes that parents should prioritize their own health and well-being by getting enough sleep, eating well, and finding time for activities they enjoy. He believes that having a positive mindset, focusing on the positives, and celebrating small victories can make a big difference in managing stress. He also advises seeking professional help when feeling overwhelmed and advocates for finding therapists and counsellors who can offer strategies to cope with stress and improve mental health, as well as accepting help from friends and family to lighten their care responsibilities.

Russ is available for consultation at http://intuneparents.com/

My guest Christopher Wyatt discusses his experience as an autistic parent with two adopted neurotypical daughters, both diagnosed with ADHD, autism, sensory processing disorders, and learning disabilities. 

Chris speaks about the daily challenges he faces and shares his journey as a parent, researcher, educator, and advocate for neurodiversity. 

He examines how typical classroom teaching strategies can negatively impact autistic individuals. 

Chris encourages autistics to express their needs in educational and professional environments, allowing teachers and employers to provide the necessary accommodations. 

He provides valuable insights into the educational rights of neuro-diverse children in K-12 education and beyond

In this episode, my guest Rebecca Prejean, a mother of an autistic child, talks about her experiences as well as how Autism affects her son .

He is seven years old and, like anyone, has his good and bad days.

Rebecca explains how she manages these days and the resources that support her consistently.

She also discusses the triggers of her son's anxiety.

We delve into her decision to start a business and how her son's condition affects her professional life.

Rebecca talks about her business which provides strategies for creating inclusive and accessible learning environments, along with tips on harnessing neuro diversity for business success.