Author and editor Vonnie Woodrick is the founder of i understand, an organization created in 2014 to provide solace and a platform to share stories for people struggling with mental health, addictions, and suicidal ideation, as well as those who support them.
In 2003, Woodrick’s husband died by suicide after years of living with depression. Her world upended, Woodrick tried to make sense of her new reality even as she had to deal with her children’s overwhelming grief over the death of their father.
Through time, Woodrick learned the power of sharing her story, not only as a place to come to terms with her losses, but as a space to allow others to bring their sorrows. In her introduction, Woodrick writes, “Everyone has a story, and everyone has someone who needs to hear it. The path may seem long and hard, but pain doesn’t last forever. There is a light at the end of the tunnel that allows us to heal and grow.”
Woodrick has organized the personal narratives of contributors into four sections: stories of hope, stories of love, stories of support, and stories of healing. She writes, “The purpose of the stories written in this book is to encourage readers to share their own journeys and to understand the power of unleashing their stories. When we begin to live out and share our truth, we start to free ourselves from the pain the past may hold on us.”
Many of the personal testimonies featured in this collection are very painful to read as each reflects a facet of the vast scope of human suffering. Some of the writers point to their hope in God to see them through the storm; others don’t. Readers who find themselves in a highly vulnerable position in regard to their mental health and struggle with addiction might find it helpful to read the stories in the company of a trusted friend or family member.
(Eerdmans)
About the Author
Sonya VanderVeen Feddema is a freelance writer and a member of Covenant CRC in St. Catharines, Ontario.