I feel compelled to tell my story. I became suicidal at the age of 11yrs. I'm now 50 & just now figuring out why. For about a year now, my struggle with this has become lessened. I finally found both love and like for myself. I still have my dark days, but I've learned how to reach out to those who love & care for me. It's so freeing to not stay inside my head. Part of my healing has come from writing things down. It's like writing it down removes the pain from my soul. To anyone else going through this: YOU ARE WORTH CONTINUING TO LIVE! I LOVE YOU. YOU CAN MAKE IT! #VeteransBattleStillRages

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙💙

@cliffordbarnes1631

2 жыл бұрын

Alicia I am so proud of you! God Bless you!

@rowdy7480

2 жыл бұрын

@@cliffordbarnes1631 I appreciate you, Cliff!

@eleond7007

5 ай бұрын

Thank you for your message... I have been going through such a hard time, feeling unloved after losing my marriage and my mom in such a short time... I needed your message. Thank you. God bless you.

I now how the person that song's about felt,. I'm an attempt survivor. But God gave me a second chance. My cat is the reason I kept going. I needed to look after her.

@rowdy7480

2 жыл бұрын

❤❤ God is helping me through it right now. My last attempt was Christmas 2017. What has kept me alive is knowing that my brother would be the one to find me & I can't put him through that. Now I have a love of self & I understand, that for me, I just want the pain to stop. Stay blessed ❤

Don, thank you so much for opening up about your own mental health struggles, especially addressing the reality that mental health is truly an illness and people who are struggling need to seek professional help. You explained things beautifully. It's incredibly important to have people who have a public voice, like yourself, to speak about these things in an open and honest way. Honestly, thank you.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Not a problem Steph. Life's not easy but it certainly can get better

I love Rascal Flatts but I never heard this one. I have 5 of their CDs gotta buy more. I haven't lost anyone from mental health issues, it has to be sad 😢🙏 Prayers to anyone going through this. I'm just a little bitty thing but I have big shoulder's to cry on. I will listen if you need me🥰♥️

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙

I have two friends who lost that battle within the same year. I too struggled many times, but witnessing the pain of friends/family was my savior. God, I pray so hard for others because it's a dark dark place to be to even think that way.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙. I understand entirely

I thought you might be in KZread jail because of yesterday? I’ve been in that dark place before it’s not easy but don’t ever be afraid to say I need help. Beautiful song great message Don it will always be hard to loss someone to this. Your a good man Don god bless you !

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

I received a warning

As someone who has lived with bipolar disorder for 20 years, this song is so special. I've worked in mental health for 25 years, and I believe that my understanding of mental health has allowed me to help other people.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Vicki. I know for certain it would. You will have a natural empathy because of your own experiences

God bless you. I can tell the song really tugged at your heart strings. Despite the difficulty thank you from shining a light on this. This issue is not being addressed enough. Especially the negative effects from the CoVid quarantine that have led to an alarming rise in suicide... Suicide is the 2nd epidemic in many countries. Depression is a multigenerational problem in my family. While I can't speak for my loved ones, I can speak for myself. I've suffered with severe depression since childhood. My first 'serious' attempt at suicide was just before I was seven yrs old. A pattern that I kept repeating for decades. I'm 55 and still battle those suicidal thoughts. As you mentioned trauma (PTSD, and Complex PTSD) play a big part in my mental health. While I'm not a veteran myself many in my immediate family were/are. My grandfather was drafted into the army during WWII. He did not see action. He was selected to work on the Manhattan Project. He was at the Trinity site when the first atomic bomb was tested before Hiroshima and Nagasaki where bombed. My grandfather was a spiritual man. As a Native American though he knew the positive effect these weapons would have in saving American lives

The fact that you choose to open up about your own struggles means you helped someone else, which makes you a great human being. Virtual hug to you. Mental health is a topic that we all must involve ourselves in, whether it effects us directly or through the people we love that struggle.

Love Rascal Flatts. Saw them in concert once. They're songs are amazing. Their subject matter is always relatable. My heart goes out to those in emotional pain. I've been there, but God brought me out of it. God bless you Don because you care so much for others. You are truly genuine and a caring man. No one is ever alone.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙

@cindyhart3351

2 жыл бұрын

I love Rascal Flatts too! Great song is God Bless the Broken Road!

@reneehomen2226

2 жыл бұрын

@@cindyhart3351 my favorite it " My Wish" .. I gave it to my daughter when she graduated college.

@cindyhart3351

2 жыл бұрын

@@reneehomen2226 I really like it too! Brings tears to my eyes but good tears. Your a good mom to give this to your daughter. 💕

@reneehomen2226

2 жыл бұрын

@@cindyhart3351 awwwe thank you so much 💖

Another of their hard hitting but beautiful songs is Skin (Sarabeth) it was a hidden track on their album "Feels like Today". After the last listed song, after about 30 seconds of dead air this song started. The song has been used in many tribute videos so I will suggest you watch the official music video.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Steve

I lost my nephew in 2012, he was only 24, had two children and no one had any idea he was having any problems. Miss you and will love you forever BMS! 😢😞

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙

My stepfather had schizophrenia with paranoid tendency and my mother suffered from depression. My childhood was hell for several reasons. My stepfather gave his heart to Jesus when I was seventeen. He got much better. My mother around the same time gave her life to Jesus. She became such a wonderful example of the love of God. I pray for every person suffering from mental health issues. The brain can get sick like the rest of our bodies. It is no shame. Reach out to someone today. Don't walk alone.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much. I'm very happy they are in a better place now. It's not easy at all

What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts is another one that goes really deep. Cant watch this one. It hits too close💔💔❤

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Elizabeth

I was at that point at one time...Thank God for my family and friends, they pushed me into help and I thank them everyday in my heart for the last 32 years....

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

It's an awful place to be. Delighted you had the support you needed

What a meaningful song! Why is it that one sees life so hard that they think it might be more peaceful outside the realms of it here on earth. Thank you for reacting to this.

You’re a great friend of America. So glad I found you.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much

I lost my youngest sibling (brother, 15 years old) to this in the late 1970s. The whole family was thrown into despair and most, especially my mother, never fully recovered. No warning, no hint at the time. I have never stopped wondering why. If you are living with such thoughts please get help.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

So sorry to hear that. For a Mother that would be the single most devastating thing that could happen. 💙

That was a very hard one. I have had several friends and family lose this battle and another that miraculously made i.t but the worse is my daughter struggles daily with PTSD, anxiety and depression and we have been through some really hard times but many don’t understand the struggle because they haven’t dealt with i.t. I know that struggle first hand many times so I’m glad my daughter is still here and we got her to her Dr. immediately. I.T is a very real battle daily and affects the entire family but yes please get help because it is very hard loosing someone you love to this horrible disease.

Bravo...more people on both sides of that fence need to be educated. I am a vet and see 22 vets take their lives every day. People need to look outside themselves and see the ones who are hurting. Speak up before it is too late.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Stephen

I really appreciate that you warned people about this subject. It's very important for those of us with triggers. It took me a few days to get up the courage to watch it. Bless you for your words about this

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

No problem

OMGoodness what a beautiful song! I lost many people, not to their own hand, but it’s hard at each way. These many wars, drugs or just poor times is really doing a number on people! Thank you “the Don” for playing that!

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Winnie 💙

I just lost a cousin this year to suicide. I don't think he wanted to die. He wanted to not be in pain. Thank you for this reaction.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

I think many people don't actually want to die they just see it as the only way to escape the pain

That was a rough one you had me crying. Thanks for bringing awareness to this issue. So very important, I've been there myself.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure. Sorry it was a tough one

Having lost many friends (several to suicide), this song really hits you. It's a horrible, nagging feeling that never goes away. When you least expect it, the memory of those people come back & you replay every scenario. You learn to live with the "what did I miss?" or "could I have helped?". I would suggest Linkin Park's "One More Light". It's so sad, especially since Chester (the lead singer) committed suicide.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for sharing your story

"Letters from war" would fit in with the theme you usually do.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you

My dad committed suicide. It’s an awful thing. I actually could see signs and I begged him not to that to me. His dad, my grandpa, committed suicide too. I asked him to please not do the same to me but he did. It’s so hard to get over and move on and very hard to forgive. It took a long time. I hope he is at peace now.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙. God Bless You Amanda

Thank you, Don for sharing this wonderful message, and for sharing your personal experience. Mental health has always been a difficult issue to deal with, but as you say, there are more stressors in today's world than ever before. I had never heard this song before. But, I have struggled with depression for the past 30 years and sometimes it IS hard to just keep struggling. But, of all the things I have heard over the years, that phrase in the song "Why would you leave the stage in the middle of the song?" touched me more than anything else I have ever heard. It will be what I am ask myself next time the struggle gets really hard. Thank you.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Pamela. Just remember this. We are here too on this channel if you ever struggle again. Don't be afraid to say and I'm sure many people including myself would be more tban willing to listen

@pamelapasechnick6899

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheDonsChannel Thank you! Your channel has been a true blessing during this crazy time in our world and I am so glad to have found it.

I have been dealing with ptsd since childhood and depression for over 10 years. It is SOOO hard some days. I feel defeated and alone most days. BUT I have promised myself I would never do that to my kids. That is what keeps me going no matter how bad it gets.

This song is so beautiful and powerful , my family has experienced it’s fair share of deaths by suicide, the first one was my aunt , my grandma had died of breast cancer and then a year later on the anniversary my aunt shot herself in the head , I had another aunt , she over doses herself and was found facedown on her living room floor , then my uncle took his life in the desert , but the hardest was my cousin , he was a year younger then me , my aunt called me when she found him and I had to walk her thru cpr ( I could hear people on the phone with 911 )( I lived in another state during this so in her panic she called me ) I heard him gasp and such , for years I battled with the feelings of “how did I not see the signs” , “why didn’t they reach out “ , “ how did we not see it coming” but I’ve learned the hard way that when someone is set of self-destruct there really is nothing you say or do that can change there minds no matter how hard you try . They hid there pain so well behind beautiful smiles and laughter , I’m so sorry to those who have also lost loved ones to suicide , it’s a pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone , I wish those who struggle know how much they truely are loved , every day and every person is a gift , no one is promised a tomorrow ❤️

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

I'm so sorry for all of the tragic losses to your family. It is a terrible illness for peoole. It can in many circumstances seem like the only way out. I've had a friend who killed himself and several members of his family took their own lives before that. Can it be hereditary the mental health issues?

This hits hard brother, thank you for bringing attention to a subject that, at least in the U.S. isn’t talked about much. My best friend and my wife both disabled veterans, took their lives a few years of each other, the is no end to the guilt and the daily going over the days leading up to those days trying to figure out what I miss and how I missed it. I guess a true heart felt message to anyone thinking their family would be better off without them is that you depression is lying to you, your family will be broken and forever lost without you, you are loved more then you can see right now but trust me, trust me when I say you matter, hell I don’t even know and you living matters to me. Make it through today and tomorrow let’s work and making it through. You matter.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

I am truly sorry for your loss Tom. Heartbreaking. I appreciate you sharing with us. Thank you also for your comments on it and how it makes you feel

My cousins song... RIP Cory. See you when we get there. ❤️

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙

Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I am major depression disorder/ptsd survivor. The words of the song in the first verse....mental pain is so unrelenting. Unrelenting, unremitting, unexplainable and so isolating. There is no pill to fix the wound and stop the pain and death seems so inevitable as the only solution to the internal pain and unresolvable conflicts. God intervened in my life in my twenties and I have spent my life since telling other mental health sufferers that He knows, as known one else can, the depths of your pain and paralyzing fear you will never live free of it. I am 68 now. I would not have made it without Him. Medicine did not help. Counseling told me what I already knew and couldn't fix. God told me He loved and forgave me my imperfections and inability to be perfect. It started a chain reaction in me that is on going, as I still battle some areas, but life has meaning now. Fear doesn't haunt my steps. Peace is available despite my failures to be peaceful. Thank you, Don, for giving people like me a home and family to love, laugh, and be hopeful with. You ARE part of my very international family and important to my positive outlook on humanity. Never doubt that your Channel is important or that you aren't making a difference. Some days your voice and your family brighten very dark places. God bless you and prosper you in His will, purpose, and plan for your life. (I am William's wife, Judith. He lets me use his profile because I feel safer. Just wanted you to know. #No more talkin'! Let's go!)

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Judith for sharing your story. You explain exactly what I have been fighting fir years now too. It does get easier over time. I so happy to hear you are able to live a normal life now. I know there may be hurdles along the way but now you know how to spot the signs quicker and deal with them before it consumes. Thank you very much for your kind words and support

Powerful song mental health is something that’s not talked about but there’s many people that feel there’s no hope and take their lives

Thanks for the reaction! I know it's not an easy listen, but I appreciate the acknowledgement from you and all the comments stressing the importance of the message. I promise - the next request will be much more fun!

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Richard. It's a topic close to my heart.

Mental problems still carry a stigma. We've been taught to just move ahead and handle everything on our own. That is nonsense. We see a dentist with a toothache but turn inward with depression, why is a sore tooth worth more than a life?

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

It is a very sad reality

Literally growing up in a military community I've seen my fair share, and there is sometimes nothing you can do, can't help someone who refuses help, so you do what you can and hope it gets better, but it usually doesn't.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙

Please react to “One Voice” by Home Free featuring Billy Gilman. Great song with a message.

Just buried a friend a couple months back. One baby another on the way and he just couldn't deal with civy life. One phone call could have saved his life. Help is always only a phone call away.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Truly heartbreaking. Sorry to hear that. 💙

I’ve been on the other side as well. Very painful. 😞🥲 #VeteransBattleStillRages

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙

💛💔 #VeteransBattleStillRages

Listen to: “The Trail Of Tears” as Told by Johnny Cash.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you

Rascal Flatts is amazing !

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

👍🏻

Thank you Don, thank you.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

No problem.

You should check out their song Backwards!!! It’s a funny song!

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Cool. Thank you

#nomoretalkingletsgo. Love everything you do.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙

Thank you...

My sister committed suicide by firearm in 2012. She was only 28 years old. She used a 45 so she meant business. 😢 She had 3 young daughters and a loving husband. It’s been the hands down hardest thing to get through. I’ve lost many in Kynlee family…my husband was a police officer and he was shot and killed on duty, my mom died from cancer, dad from sepsis, countless aunts and uncles to heart attacks, car accidents and disease….my sisters death though…it was unbearable. It’s the guilt…it took me a long time to say it’s not my fault, I loved her, she knew it, it was her decision. Accepting that didn’t make the pain go away, but it gave me the grace I needed to deal with it. I love you Brandy Nicole. Rip. ❤❤

Please realize that there are people who will miss you. People who will, not only grieve for you, but will spend the rest of their lives wondering....what could I have done or said? It is so hard to keep on keeping on. I know. I know. Please!!! Keep on....for those who will die inside if you do what seems like the only way to stop the pain. It won't. Not for so many others. We, as a society, have lost our connections to one another. But....trust me...parents, siblings, cousins, other relatives, friends, neighbors...people you don't even realize are aware of you...they CARE ABOUT YOU!!!! They LOVE YOU!!! hang in there, or reach out. Even to a stranger....who knows....but they may be able, willing, needing to help you, in your dark times. I know.

The song means so much to me because my brother committed suicide and all I could do is ask why and it truly broke my heart

Beautiful reaction. PLEASE listen to David Phelps.

Hi there! New Irish-American subscriber here; patreon soon. I know you like songs with heart and a story, so here is my humble request: Dierks Bentley is the artist and the song is Prodical Son's Prayer. It's another soldier song I think you'll like. I would love to see what you think!

I've been there with my own demons and have had someone pull me out more than once. I have also been the one to take the gun out of my best friends hand and sit with him at 0200 while he cried like a new born. No one can face darkness like that alone, so please call someone.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

I can totally relate. It's what I describe as being at war with your own mind. The hardest battle I ever fought but one that I have been winning over time with the support of family and professional help

@dennisbabb3493

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheDonsChannel your mind is the one battle that you can not win on your own. That is certain.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

@@dennisbabb3493 very true

One of my nephews had 2 depressive illnesses, colour blindness and add. Medicine he was prescribed at age 11 made him suicidal. The first psych he went to, told his mum, he's too depressed, I can't help him in this state. The government psych in Brisbane screamed at them to get out of his office, after his mum begged for help, since a private one had said, try to get him committed for at least 6 months, or he won't survive. He said on the way out, see mum, even the professionals don't want me alive. So he got serious about taking himself out and succeeded, traumatising a gun club trainer in the process.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

That is absolutely heartbreaking. I'm sorry for your loss

@kathleenmayhorne3183

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheDonsChannel the worst thing is after all that incompetence at the last office, there was no inquiry into how this was allowed to happen.

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

@@kathleenmayhorne3183 That's a disgrace

@kathleenmayhorne3183

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheDonsChannel exactly, the government seems to just want to ignore the plight of the mentally ill, and not be accountable. A lot of institutions were closed ages ago, many for good reason, but there were no replacement options, so the sufferers mosty end up living on the streets. The gov't seems to be deaf on the subject. I have a cousin whose eldest son was a "gun shearer," meaning he got the best daily tally in his shearing gang. One of the other guys was jealous, so after dinner in the pub they stayed in, he went back to his room, grabbed a knife, came back to the table and slit that young man's throat from behind, in front of everybody. Nothing could be done to save him. The murderer was found to be mentally deficient, locked up in a mental ward for a while, then released with nobody keeping track of him.

Don I'm sorry I'll see you on the next video have a lovely day

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

I understand. Thank you

Fire Away by Chris Stapleton is powerful and you should take a listen also Whiskey Lullaby by Brad Paisley

This sad almost would have been my song. I was so ready to end it. It was my mama.that called me right before I jumped. She doesn't know she saved my life.

Powerful Song indeed Thank you for sharing the Song and Your Story my Amazing Friend! I wish I could have helped my EX WIFE More but it wasn't meant to be in the Cards for us, she even almost Overdosed once because this girl who is now an Ex Girlfriend of my Friend was feeding her a Handful of Meds every hr or 2 because she had her Kids taken by CPS and was Jealous of my Ex Wife having a Husband and a kid so she tried to Kill her , my Wife was out of it when she came to and went in to eat dinner at this SO called Friends House took a couple of bites stood up (I remember that day like it was 5 minutes ago just as I do the rest of this story!) walked into the living room laid on the couch went back to sleep (I just thought she was really Tired) and did not know the whole story, well when she finally woke up a little more she said I do not feel right and think i need to go to the Hospital I said your car is missing I think what's Her name took it to work (forgot her name) she insisted we go so I heard the car pull up we got her in the Car (after I threatened to call Police cause she refused to take us) we got her to the Hospital she was still out of it and they (because that lady said it Labeled her Bi-Polar) and then Rushed her to a room where they Pumped her stomach and said if we had of waited 30 Min More she would have Been DEAD not long after that our Friend Dumped her and Helped us get out of that situation for good and Ex stayed in a Mental place for about a month before she came home and was supposedly doing better but because of that situation she ended up trying several times to end her life for what ever reason only her and GOD knows why! but October 1st 2004 she decided to go back home to her Dads in Colorado and try to re do her LIFE better I truly wish her well and still Love her always will (My heart Hurts for her) and hope she gets the HELP she needs that I could not give her (in her eyes) and also hope she is Happy and Blessed, I can remember like it was yesterday trying to Save her Life more than once and also rushing her to The Hospital (even if I did not have a Drivers License) :'( and also Earlier that Year my Dad's Roommate Cindy accidently Killed herself, me, my ex and our Friend Amanda went to a Bar and even though I had no Drivers License I ended up as usual their Designated Driver we left the Bar at around 2am and went back to my Dad's house were we lived upstairs and headed off to bed but before we did one of us asked if we should check in on Cindy see if she was feeling better and one of us said it's 2am she is probably asleep so we went on to bed Amanda woke us up to take her back to her Moms and we almost checked on her then (wish we had of ) but it was early and it was quiet so we let her sleep then we went to take her home then stopped at Walmart so we could get already made Hamburger Patties and stuff and was gonna go home to fix dinner for us (Me my Ex Wife and step Daughter and Cindy!) and while at home I put away the Food and Ex Wife was in the Shower that is when we got an Alert to a Tornado close by so I ran down to get Cindy and she was not moving or waking up so I had to call 911 to get Help and when they got there they informed us that she was GONE, I am not Faulting Cindy for being Addicted to PILLS but she was for what ever reason and that is between her and God all I know is we do Miss her but know she is in a Better Place and not Hurting! :'(

This song reminds me of my cousins ex husband we were all real close after about 2 years of their divorce he took his own life not because of the divorce but his family members said that he had been having some mental issues of being molested as a child I'll think about him all the time and I miss him

Wish by Rascal Flatts

#Stay #TWLOHA (To write love on her arms)

😭😭😭

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

💙

#vetransbattle still rages

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you

You need to watch the video of this song. This isn't the video.

I have high functioning Autism.

#veternsbattlestillrages

@TheDonsChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much