Poorna Bell, who experienced a traumatic experience with her husband's heroin addiction, shares her journey of coping with her partner's mental health struggles and the toll it took on her emotionally. She also discusses the personal journey of grief after losing a loved one to suicide, emphasizing the healing power of writing and the importance of empathy and understanding in supporting those struggling with mental health issues. Additionally, the podcast explores the challenges of asking for help and the need to destigmatize seeking assistance.
Understanding and supporting those dealing with mental health issues is crucial, highlighting the challenges of living with addiction and depression.
Breaking the stigma surrounding grief and suicide through open conversations is essential for healing and finding meaning in life after loss.
Creating a safe space for expressing emotions and seeking support from others, including friends, professionals, and helpline services, can be transformative in overcoming struggles and finding resilience.
Deep dives
The Journey of Grief and Coping with Loss
In this podcast episode, journalist and writer Paul Lebel opens up about his experience with depression and the loss of his husband to suicide. He shares the challenges of living with someone struggling with addiction and chronic depression, highlighting the importance of understanding and supporting those dealing with mental health issues. Paul emphasizes the need for open conversations about grief and the impact of suicide, breaking the stigma surrounding these topics. He also discusses the significance of self-care, writing, and travel as essential tools for healing and finding meaning in life after loss.
Navigating the Unknown and Learning to Trust Life
Paul reflects on the uncertainties that come with grief and how to navigate them. She emphasizes the importance of trusting the unknown and accepting that life after loss may not go as planned. Paul encourages self-reflection, writing down aspirations, and taking small steps towards rebuilding one's life. She shares her personal mantra of resilience and the power of realizing that even after experiencing the worst, one can still rebuild and find new meaning in life.
The Strength of Vulnerability and Opening Up
The episode discusses the strength found in vulnerability and the power of opening up about struggles and emotions. Paul encourages seeking help and talking to others, be it friends, professionals, or anonymous helpline services. She emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space for expressing one's emotions and the value of receiving support and understanding from others. Paul's own experience reveals the transformative effect of connecting with supportive communities and embracing a mindset of compassion and empathy.
Travel as a Catalyst for Healing and Personal Growth
Paul discusses the healing power of travel and its role in her personal journey of self-discovery. She shares how immersing herself in diverse cultures and different ways of life broadened her perspective and brought new insights. Paul highlights the importance of taking time for oneself and exploring beyond one's comfort zone. Through travel, she found inspiration, learned from others, and discovered new possibilities for personal growth and finding meaning in life after loss.
Grief as a Process and Honoring the Journey
This episode delves into the process of grief and the significance of honoring one's personal journey. Paul emphasizes that grief is not linear and involves a range of emotions, from sadness and anger to confusion and intense vulnerability. She shares the importance of allowing oneself to grieve and not rushing through the healing process. By acknowledging and accepting the range of emotions, individuals can move towards building a new life while still cherishing the memories of those they have lost.
When Poorna discovered her husband's heroin addiction, she described it as an earthquake. What followed next was unimaginable and now, several years' later, she tells Fearne about her experiences and how she has come to terms with them.
Trigger warning: contains references to suicide.
If you're in the UK and in need of someone to talk to someone, call The Samaritans on 116 123.