28. Rebuilding Beautiful: Bringing Suicide Out Into the Daylight with Kayla Stoecklein

Kayla Stoecklein had it all – then, it was gone in an instant. She joins The Big Silence today to share her tragic experience with suicide and how she’s rededicated her life to exploring grief and understanding the signs that might lead a person to take their own life.

Her husband Andrew, processing the recent passing of his father and facing enormous pressure at their ministry to fill his shoes, began experiencing severe panic attacks in 2017. Kayla shares each step they took along the way – medication, counseling, rest, time away from work – before he committed suicide the following year.

Through renewed hope and a deeper understanding of herself and the world around her, she explains how surprising it was, even amid his struggles, to wake up one day and be alone with her three young sons. Now, she’s rebuilding her beautiful life – and has released a book with the same title. Her perspective is inspiring and empowering, even, and especially, considering the heartbreaking circumstances which have led her to this moment.

If you are experiencing suicidal ideation or need someone to talk to, text “HERO” to 741-741 to reach The Big Silence Crisis Line. You are not alone in your suffering; please reach out to kickstart the positive momentum that could change your life forever.

Resources:

• Read: Rebuilding Beautiful by Kayla Stoecklein
• Find Community: Never Alone Widows
• Get Help: Text “HERO” to 741-741 to reach The Big Silence Crisis Line
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

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