Who Will Save Me From Myself?

Depression with suicidal ideation is like finding yourself swimming way out in the ocean, struggling to stay afloat while everything is working against you. The waves are huge, the tides are shifting, the temperature is near freezing, the current is pulling you farther away from land, there are predators lurking below. You look up, to see a gigantic ship sailing by, but you're too weak to wave. There are people up there leaning over the railing. They're looking down. They see you They know you're in trouble and you breathe a sigh of relief, you fully expect somebody to come to the rescue, but nobody does. They toss out a life preserver instead. You're swallowing water. You're going under Gasping for air, you desperately reach out for the life preserver, but it's so far away You see it floating nearby, but it's just out of reach. You're exhausted. You're drowning You can't take anymore. You can't hold on any longer You finally give up and begin to sink into the watery depths. Just as the seaweed encloses itself around your body and there's no more oxygen in your lungs it dawns on you that nobody can jump in because they run the risk of drowning too. In one last show of strength you block out the pain and the exhaustion, and you lunge back toward the surface You put one arm in front of the other and you keep swimming toward that life preserver. Once you finally reach it, you cling to it and hold on for dear life. Cheering, the people on board pull you to the side of the ship. You look up at that great expanse of iron and steel and you realize that you still have to climb that formidable ladder. But you're there You're safe You can do it You finally know that you can get through this horrible illness and that it has to be you that climbs up the ladder. All proceeds will be given to Tammy's family or donated to their favorite charity. Note: This 2nd Edition contains the same material as the 1st Edition. The cover was changed to meet specific guidelines for promotional purposes.