CONTACT:
Irene Kendig
571/271-7989
irene AT conversationswithjerry.com
October 20, 2010
Award-winning author and self-acceptance coach Irene Kendig
expresses concern and offers relief for grieving survivors of gay
teens who committed suicide after being bullied.
Reston, Va. – Award-winning author and self-acceptance coach Irene
Kendig is concerned that the wave of media attention surrounding
the recent rash of teen suicides due to bullying may be washing
over and disguising something equally important: the impact of the
suicide on surviving loved ones.
“The grieving process is challenging enough without adding
unnecessary suffering in the form of regret, remorse and guilt,”
says Kendig. “This often occurs when loved ones falsely believe
they could have or should have been able to prevent the suicide—a
common reaction, especially for parents, who are hard-wired to
protect their children. These feelings", says the author, “can lead
to intense, prolonged and unnecessary suffering for people during a
time when what they most need is to be gentle and compassionate
with themselves.”
Wednesday, Oct. 20 was Spirit Day, a nationally designated
observance during which people wore purple clothing to honor and
commemorate the number of gay teens who recently committed suicide
in the United States. “This was a positive collective grief
response," the author says.
Kendig believes that our society’s discomfort with the subject of
dying can keep survivors from processing their feelings in a
healthy manner. “Suicide itself is such a cultural taboo that it
puts even more pressure on those left behind to remain silent about
the rollercoaster of emotions they may be experiencing,” explains
Kendig. “Adding to that is the often accompanying religious
judgment and condemnation of those who’ve committed suicide, which
can add even more unnecessary suffering to those who are
grieving.”
In Conversations With Jerry and Other People I Thought Were
Dead, the author—with the help of a gifted medium—speaks with
seven loved ones who’ve died. Of special note are the dialogues
with Bill—a friend of Kendig's—who committed suicide in his
thirties. “These dialogues not only help us understand why someone
would choose this option, they also allow us to see the event from
a spiritual perspective, which can help us process the experience
with loving compassion,” says the author.
“Kendig strikes gold while digging for answers about life from
those who have lived, died, and are now ‘living on’,” writes
Claudia Pemberton, who reviewed the book for US Review of Books.
“Some of the revelations are startling, some are simple, some are
complex, some are transforming, and some are comforting, while
others are controversial and difficult to fathom. Almost every page
of this book has profound insights.”
The 352-page book retails for $19.95 USD and is available at the
publisher’s website, gratefulpress.com, on Amazon.com and through
booksellers.
--
Irene Kendig, M.A., earned her Bachelors degree cum laude in
Psychology from UCLA, and her Masters in Spiritual Psychology from
The University of Santa Monica. She is a certified Alchemical
Hypnotherapist and a certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistics
Programming (NLP). She blogs at IreneKendig.com.
USA Book News Best Book Award:
Winner, Death & Dying
Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award:
Highest Scoring Book
by a Debut Author
Independent Publisher Award:
Silver Medal Winner (IPPY),
Death & Dying
National Indie Excellence Award
Finalist, Death & Dying
International Book Awards:
Winner, Death & Dying
Global eBook Awards:
Winner, Death & Dying
National Indie Excellence Award
Finalist, New Age Non-Fiction
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