Click here for affirmations and Sue's new blog BRIGHT HORIZONS
The brain has a mind of its own.
Susan Rose Blauner
SPEAKER | AUTHOR
National Mental Health Award Winner
Susan Blauner epitomizes triumph over adversity. She has faced and overcome severe life challenges to become a voice of hope and inspiration for people around the world.
In 1980, when Sue was 14, her mother died of ovarian cancer at the age of 55. This shattering loss, combined with untreated depression, a history of chronic bullying, and additional childhood trauma, created a distorted worldview that overshadowed her life and the choices she made. Suicidal thoughts began and intensified throughout high school and college. In1983, a freshman at Bridgewater State University, Sue spotted a "Counseling" sign high above the heads of students on their way to class. She entered the student counseling office, met her first therapist, and began decades of therapeutic treatment, which continues today. Without therapy, Sue knows she wouldn't be the person she is today.
Until her mid-twenties, Sue believed that some people were born to be happy, and some were born to be sad; she was one of the sad ones. Ironically, Sue's made her first suicide gesture after meeting Sylvia, the therapist who changed her life. Their collaboration lasted 13 years, from 1990 to 2003. She began writing How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me (HISA) during that time. With Sylvia, Sue "rebuilt" her psyche, often with great resistance. After stretches of great advancement she wound up in crisis again and again. This pattern included three overdoses, four psychiatric hospitalizations, several medication changes, and a tremendous amount of diligence and tenacity. In 1998 Sue made her last overdose, and though fragile, dove back into life with a fierce commitment to stay safe and alive.
With the help of anti-depressants, Twelve-Step practice, spirituality, and the support of family and friends, Sue developed coping skills that enabled her to take healthy risks and improve her life. Suicidal thoughts became less severe and stretches of progress lengthened. In 2002, William Morrow published HISA in hardcover (Quill Paperbacks 2003), and Sue began a public speaking career. She appeared on Good Morning America, American Family, and
in the documentary A Secret Best Not Kept. She and her publisher donated books to the Ground Zero Clean-Up Crew and she attended one of their support groups in New York City. She received The Survivor of the Year Award for Distinguished Creativity in Suicide Prevention from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Western Division.
In August 2008, four days before Sue planned to start graduate school to become a licensed social worker, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She endured a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, an oophorectomy (ovary removal), instant menopause, and attempts at hormone suppression, which resulted in suicidal ideation.
She decised to stop treatment in 2011 in favor of living happily for the rest of her life, however long that is. While in cancer treatment, Sue received an E-mail from an Iraq veteran, stating that How I Stayed Alive changed her life. Sue returned to public speaking and now, in addition to keynotes and workshops, she does staff trainings, institutes, safety consultations, and leadership forums at conferences, colleges, high schools, veteran hospitals, psychiatric facilities, Recovery Learning Communities, and public forums.
With cancer behind her, Sue enjoys the present and looks forward to the future, remaining faithful to the Buddhist slogan, "Give up all hope of fruition." She accepts the fact that suicidal thoughts may be with her for the rest of her life, but has faith that she will weather any challenge with finesse and dignity.
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