Searching for Solace

$16.95

Ilana Greenstein

Searching for Solace: Dealing With My Father’s Suicide is a journal chronicling the year following the death of Ilana’s father. It deals with her emotional reactions to events happening in her life, and her assessment and understanding of those feelings. Through writing about her thoughts and emotions, she was able to heal from this experience and gain a greater understanding of herself.

This remarkable book is far more than a journal. It is a book that can help any adolescent or young adult find a way through his or her own personal tragedy.

Ilana Greenstein recounts her struggle to reconcile this loss, and then goes farther. Through her journal writings, she helps readers sharpen their understandings of their own losses and with a host of thought-provoking questions helps them move to the greater clarity that leads to healing and the same kind of reconciliation Ilana has experienced.

This is a must for any young person who is dealing with such
a loss.

About the Author

Ilana Greenstein is currently a senior in high school. She lives in Newton, Massachusetts with her mother, Elaine. Her hobbies include writing, reading, child care, and baking. This book is her first publication. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to email Ilana at searchingforsolace2012@gmail.com.

The Beginning – An Introduction

Have you ever heard the saying, “Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition”? Although it may be extremely hard to believe this statement at times, it’s always true in the long run. Almost two years ago, my dad committed suicide and I felt like my life was crashing down before me. I was 15 years old, a sophomore in high school, and things like that don’t just happen. But it did. Even though everything seemed to fall apart, I was able to piece my life back together and heal with the help of my friends, family, and writing. Writing is my escape- it’s the way I deal with all the pressures around me. In this book, I’ve shared my journal that I kept in the year following my dad’s death in hopes that you will be able to use it as a starting point for your own healing process. I’ve included prompts throughout the book relating to issues I had to face so that you can give your own input and apply the situations to your life.

You may find that writing isn’t the most effective way for you to deal with whatever loss you’re facing, and that’s okay. Maybe painting is your escape, or singing, or running, or anything else that allows you to feel completely safe and free. The healing process is not a smooth progression; there will always be ups and downs, and that’s perfectly normal. But there will also always be something that can help you pull through. Every person has his or her own escape, and through reading my journal and working through the prompts, I hope you can begin to find yours.

Primary Subject Area – Self Understanding