Talk openly.
Ok, I admit it. I am old and I read the obituaries.
Remember when you were young and you tried to read the obituaries like your parents and grandparents, but it was such a mixture of boring and horrifying ( mostly boring) that you gave up the attempt?
Somewhere along life's path, way down the path, obituaries become interesting.
They are not particularly horrifying except when the deceased is exactly your age.
"Another person my age died!"
The following obituary touched me deeply.
I loved the openess, the understanding and the sharing of important information.
Conor was like so many many many of us who face anxiety disorders and other mental health illnesses in loved ones or even in ourselves.
Mental illnesses that are often mild and easily treated,
yet often untreated,
or treated inappropriately by self
or even treated inappropriately by physicians.
Mental illnesses that are often mild and easily treated,
yet often untreated,
or treated inappropriately by self
or even treated inappropriately by physicians.
It is a huge dilemma in our nation and in our world, and I thank Conor's family for the grace in the following obituary.
Riverwatch
Conor _____ (1993-2016)
Boulder, Colorado
Our beautiful son Conor recently died.
It appears he overdosed while self-medicating for anxiety.
Conor was kind, intelligent, sweet, complicated, curious, private, and opinionated. He was the most interesting person we have ever known.
He loved art, music, bicycles, photography, chemistry, animals, movies, books, bouldering, discussing ideas, family, friends, and CU Boulder.
Conor loved life and had big plans for his future. Those plans were cut short by a tragic mistake.
We love our son more than anything. We are very proud of Conor. He made the world a better place. We miss him so much. The pain from his loss is indescribable.
We think Conor would want to say: 1) thanks to all who were part of my life; 2) be kind to people and animals; 3) open your mind to new ideas; 4) be an organ donor; 5) support equal rights for all people; and 6) talk openly about mental-health issues.
We have not decided on a memorial service; it is just too much right now.
Boulder, Colorado
Our beautiful son Conor recently died.
It appears he overdosed while self-medicating for anxiety.
Conor was kind, intelligent, sweet, complicated, curious, private, and opinionated. He was the most interesting person we have ever known.
He loved art, music, bicycles, photography, chemistry, animals, movies, books, bouldering, discussing ideas, family, friends, and CU Boulder.
Conor loved life and had big plans for his future. Those plans were cut short by a tragic mistake.
We love our son more than anything. We are very proud of Conor. He made the world a better place. We miss him so much. The pain from his loss is indescribable.
We think Conor would want to say: 1) thanks to all who were part of my life; 2) be kind to people and animals; 3) open your mind to new ideas; 4) be an organ donor; 5) support equal rights for all people; and 6) talk openly about mental-health issues.
We have not decided on a memorial service; it is just too much right now.
