The Power of Shared Experience

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April 13, 2021

The Power of Shared Experience

Published on
April 13, 2021

We received this feedback after a listener explored Podcast Episode 12 of From Darkness to Life. After obtaining his consent, we wanted to share it. His feedback illustrates the power of shared experience. By these brave gentleman sharing their experience, it opened the door for someone else to share their own story.

Thank you for giving hope to the next person...

"Just finished listening to your last podcast Coping with Suicide and it really hit home for me. Being best friends with Nolan and Intek almost my whole life it was amazing to hear them open up about their journey and how they were able to cope with the loss of a loved one. Being so close with both of them, it was crazy to me how much I didn't know what they were going through. I was able to feel more connection through their stories than I thought I would. We all go through a big journey when we lose a loved one. Everyone copes with it a little bit differently.

When Mase passed away it took me a few days before it actually affected me.. I was living in Columbia, Missouri with my teammates that I only met around 6 months ago. I will never forget the initial call that I got from Rattai. It gives me chills and major emotions every time I talk about it or even tying this message. He was in Kentucky at the time and we talked a lot, mostly about baseball as we were both playing college ball at the time. But I was playing fortnite with roommates when he called me around 10:30. I answered the call and I straight up could not figure out whether he was laughing or crying (this is the first time I've ever heard Rat cry). He didn't say a word for about a minute which was when I could obviously sense something was wrong. He finally got around to telling me that Mase had passed away. All I remember saying is "what?" "What do you mean". Like it was so shocking to me that I wouldn't accept what he was telling me. We talked on the phone for about 30 minutes after just wondering where to go next. It was the hardest phone call I've had in my life..

The next couple of days it still didn't seem real I guess? I think it was because I was away from my family of friends so it didn't seem like it changed that much. Me and Mase were very close but we didn't text or Snapchat back and forth everyday. We would check in on each other a couple times a month but we always hung out in our friend group all the time during the summer when I was back or on Christmas breaks. So it really didn't hit me that he was gone until I flew home for his funeral. Seeing the boys and our group was amazing but everyone knew a piece was missing. And this is when it hit the hardest and still hits the hardest to this day. Just knowing he should be here and he's not.

There's so many memories flowing through me right now and that is what was so great about listening to your podcast. Listening to my best friends talk about how they got through it just reminds me about how I got through it. Sure, it still hurts to this day and I don't think that there will be a day that goes by it won't. But being around my friends and being with each other 100% helped the most. The year after he passed Rattai actually came to my school to play with me and we lived together which helped us cope through the struggle as we had each other to lean on and push through. I'm so happy we were able to do that because having Rat with me may have changed a dangerous outcome if I went back to school alone again.

So I just want to thank you guys for what you're doing for not only this community of Medicine Hat but for whoever around the world that listens to you guys. The thing I love most in your podcasts is there's no judgement and everyone comes in open minded and ready to speak about things that others are scared to talk about. This creates a norm that is neglected by most of society at this time. So once again, thank you for all that you guys do and for all the lives you have changed and/or saved."

Austin Schibler

#ourcollectivejourney #ocj #mentalhealthmatters #addictionrecovery #heal #trauma #survivorsofsuicideloss #yxhunited #medicinehat #medicinehatsupports #livedexperience #reachout #youarenotalone

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