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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS


Who was she?

Why did she die?

What can we learn from her?

   

Who was she?

 

A friend described her as “the girl with a 1000 watt smile”.

 

Hannah was a talented musician, prolific writer and creator of hundreds of colourful cards and thank you notes.  A straight A student, who was athletic, played football, swam like a champion, and was always keen to play a game – be it cards, basketball,  monopoly or table tennis.

 

A beautiful person both inside and out. Who loved and was loved by everyone she met.

 

Her sudden passing has shocked and perplexed many people but we know for sure she that has been carried from this life into the next by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Her life was short but jam packed to the max with many acts of kindness, love and humour.  She will be missed greatly by all who knew her, but her life, her acute sense of joy, fun and love, will live on as a shining example for others to marvel at and follow.

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Why did she die?

 

Nobody knows for sure, but what we do know is that, despite all appearances, she was suffering the effects of clinical depression.

 

For some reason her brain was not producing or properly distributing the chemicals required for clear and rational thinking. Her thinking and perception became distorted – small issues became enormous issues -  and in a moment of weakness, overwhelmed with grief and despair ,and unable to draw down on all of the positive reinforcements that she had so carefully constructed for herself, she could see no escape, and she took her own life.

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It is clear from what she wrote in her diary that she was aware of the illness (she called it her ‘weakness’) but that she was afraid to talk about it, not even with her parents (lest she burden them) or closest friends.   

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 What can we learn from her?

 

Hannah wanted  us to talk about depression. She wrote –

 

“Depression like abuse, needs to be talked about more, weaknesses also need to be talked about more. I should share my weaknesses with people if they want me to, and not hold back. Hand shaking, depression and vision problems are probably things others would love to hear about”

 

“Depression will continue to make me a more compassionate, joyful, loving, AMAZING person. I will be able to talk to depressed people because I will know how they feel. I will be able to cry with others. They can share with me and I will nod and be able to say ‘I know how you feel’ because I have felt the way they feel”

                                                   

“Fear of embarrassment and pride are both keeping me from the medication and counsellors. However I could be a great help to others if I tried out these things and reported things that worked and things that don’t work to the public. Everyone would know I have a depression weakness but I would be helping myself and others”

 

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If you would like to ask or add a question

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For more information on "helping myself and others"

go to DEPRESSION HELP or LINKS

© 2008 Mark Modra