Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son Through His Mental Illness and Addiction

by Debbie Gail Zane

Overview

Debbie Gail Zanes's life changed forever when she received a telephone call informing her that her twenty-six-year-old son, Alex, had been found dead. Just nine years before, he had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and begun using drugs. Throughout his battle with mental illness and addiction, she discovered how to find peace in her life and love him and herself during the many challenges.

In Finding Peace and Purpose amidst the Tears, she shares the many difficulties she experienced with her son's mental illness and addiction, as well as how she supported him, fought for him, and loved him through his journey. Zane tells how, at times, her life felt consumed by his hospital visits, treatment center stays, drug use, and battles about his treatment. Despite the challenges, they maintained a loving relationship and she connected with her own love, compassion, and understanding and found a path to peace.

Zane chronicles her story of love and loss to help parents on a similar journey feel they're not alone, offering hope for peace and healing. It helps others understand how to navigate their challenges with love and compassion and how to continue loving their child and themselves through it all, providing inspiration to go on after tragic loss.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798765239179
Publisher:	Balboa Press
Publication date:	05/02/2023
Pages:	188
Sales rank:	1,061,094
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.43(d)

About the Author

Debbie always knew she wanted to contribute to other people's lives in a meaningful way. Little did she know that tragedy could hold a gift that would reveal her highest purpose. After losing her beloved son to mental illness and addiction, Debbie transformed her life by turning her pain into her purpose of helping other parents of teens and adults struggling with mental illness and/or addiction. Through finding her calling, she was able to find healing for herself.

Debbie's story of love and loss includes raising three children as a single mom, her oldest son being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol, and losing him when he was twenty-six. She has been through challenges with her oldest son's mental illness and addiction, and she supported him, fought for him, and loved him through his journey. She is grateful that she had a close relationship with her son, and every day she cherishes her memories with him.

Throughout her journey, she sought to turn her pain into serving others. This motivated her to receive training as a life and relationship coach to help others. She received certification as an advanced relationship coach from the Center for Strategic Intervention, a certificate as a practitioner of excellence for completion of Strategic Intervention Boot Camp Training through the Center for Strategic Intervention, certification as a practitioner of excellence in Sapphire Level Boot Camp Strategies with the Coaching Institute, and a certification as an Activation Method group coach. Strategic Intervention was founded by Cloe Madanes, Mark and Magali Peysha, and Anthony Robbins. She is passionate about using what she learned in her training and her own life experience to help parents of teen/adult children with mental illness and addiction reclaim peace and a loving relationship.

Another way Debbie supported others was through service in the Alanon community. She has chaired meetings, sponsored members in the program, been a group representative, and volunteered at Alanon events.

Debbie holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law and an LLM from the American University Washington College of Law. She has worked as an estates and trusts attorney and is working as a trust officer administering trusts and estates, including special needs trusts.

Debbie lives in Virginia. She loves spending time with her twenty-four-year-old daughter and twenty-six-year-old son, taking walks, reading, writing, meditation, learning, and living a healthy lifestyle.

Editorial Reviews

Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears by Debbie Gail Zane does not offer any miracle solutions, easy fixes, or so much as a hint of much-sought-after resolution in the wake of unspeakable tragedy; rather, it provides the kind of unwavering honesty and courage that, against all odds, comforts and heals. Whether you are experiencing the pain of loss or trying to understand the pain of loved ones facing the journey, this book will surely prove to be a tremendous help and invaluable resource that you will return to time and time again for comfort and guidance.”
• Rich Follett for Readers’ Favorite

“Debbie Gail Zane has written a beautiful tribute to her son that will resonate with caregivers in similar situations. Whether readers are trying to help their suffering children or grieving over their treasured ones, her book will serve as a warm reminder that they are not alone. It’s difficult to watch once happy children and teens suffer from the effects of a mental illness or addiction, and Zane speaks about the grief of losing the hopes and dreams that they may have held for them. The author relives her pain and uncertainty but communicates hope and understanding to anyone in a similar situation. Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears is a great choice for anyone trying to help someone battle a mental health issue or who has lost a child to addiction.”
• Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers’ Favorite

“Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears by Debbie Gail Zane is heartbreaking and inspiring. I respect Debbie for her courage in sharing this story so soon after her child passed away to support other parents who are going through a similar situation. The nine years covered in this book are filled with heartache, hardship, persistence, and grief. After reading Debbie's experience, anyone who questions the seriousness of mental illness or doesn't think that it is a medical disease will change their opinion. I recommend this moving story to any parent who has lost a child or is battling with their child because of a mental illness or addiction.”
• Alma Boucher for Readers’ Favorite

From the Publisher