Unmasking the Pain: A Journey of Trauma and Healing with Barbara Hayward

In this powerful episode of Suicide Zen Forgiveness, host Elaine Lindsay welcomes Barbara Hayward, a medium clairvoyant and spiritual advisor, to share her deeply personal journey of trauma, loss, and healing. From enduring childhood molestation and a traumatic teen pregnancy involving forced adoption, to battling addiction and mental health issues, Barbara recounts how she navigated profound pain and emerged as a remarkable figure in spiritual coaching. Despite facing immense hardships, including severe psychiatric struggles and suicide attempts, Barbara has transformed her experiences into a source of empathy and compassion in her work. The conversation highlights the generational impact of trauma and the healing process, her rediscovery and reunion with her biological son after decades, and the enduring strength that comes from sharing one's story. This episode serves as an inspiring testament to resilience and the human spirit's capacity for forgiveness and connection.

00:00 Mission to End the Silence

00:50 Meet the Guest: Barbara Hayward

01:51 Barbara's Journey Begins

04:18 A Troubled Childhood

07:44 Teenage Struggles and Early Pregnancy

10:52 Facing Family and Societal Pressures

13:44 The Aftermath and Moving Forward

22:54 A Mother's Struggle and Words of Advice

23:34 The Breakdown of a Marriage

23:51 Turning to Alcohol and Meeting Dennis

24:07 Revealing the Truth to the Children

26:07 The Psychiatric Journey

27:32 A New Life in New Zealand

27:54 The Search for Brett Charles

33:47 Reconnecting with a Lost Son

36:20 The Impact of Forced Adoptions

37:50 Reflections and Closing Thoughts

43:59 Outro and Acknowledgements

At around the age of 30 years old, Barbara found herself a single mother with 2 young boys after her marriage had disintegrated. A marriage that right from the beginning was never destined to succeed.

Barbara’s early life was one of polar opposites. There was laughter, fun and a great love of school, years of enjoying been a Marching girl winning lots of medals. Sexual molestation at a very early age, rape at 12 and having a baby taken away from her at birth due to forced adoption at 16. This event broke Barbara from which she has never fully recovered.

Eventually marrying the father of her baby at 20 years old, they had 2 more sons. When her marriage failed when she as 30, she was left to raise 2 quite young sons on her own.

Around this time she met a lady Crystal, who was instrumental in helping Barbara enter a world that she did not even know existed,… The Spiritual world. After 8 years of training with Crystal, her Spiritual journey began. Barbara had by now met a man who was to be her life partner.

Barbara, Denis and her 2 sons found themselves living in New Zealand, far away from Melbourne, Australia.

Barbara’s Spiritual journey embraces her own radio program for 3 years as a clairvoyant, workshops, Seminars, Psychic Fairs, quest speaking at Churches and much, much more.

Barbara and Denis have moved between Australia and New Zealand many times until one day while celebrating her 60th birthday, she received news that her son who was taken was trying to locate her after 43 years

Barbara, now at 71 years old, has begun a new career. Having a very successful Facebook page as well as an up and coming YouTube channel. The Old Girls Spiritual Stuff.

FB facebook.com/theoldgirlsspiritualstuff

YT https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraHayward-1953

Healing Through Pain: Tony Lynch's Journey from Tragedy to Triumph

In this episode of Suicide Zen Forgiveness, host Elaine Lindsay chats with Tony Lynch, a men's grief coach, author, and podcaster. Tony shares his powerful life story of overcoming immense pain, including childhood trauma, gang involvement, incarceration, and heartbreaking family losses. Despite experiencing homelessness and planning his own suicide, Tony found his purpose in helping others through their grief and loss. They discuss the importance of empathy, the challenges men face in grieving openly, and the creation of Tony's nonprofit 'Memories of Us'. This episode is a testament to resilience, transformation, and the human spirit's capacity for healing.

00:00 Introduction and Mission Statement

01:17 Meet Tony Lynch: A Journey of Resilience

02:48 The Taboo of Grief in Society

05:08 Personal Stories of Loss and Empathy

13:44 Tony's Early Life and Struggles

16:54 Turning Points and Life Lessons

25:41 Confronting Loss and Grief

26:53 A Journey of Healing Begins

28:11 Finding Support and Realizations

29:07 Creating a Safe Space for Men

29:40 Building a Nonprofit Amid Challenges

31:39 Embracing Social Media and Podcasting

33:07 Personal Healing and Transformation

38:51 Reflecting on the Journey

44:35 Connecting with the Audience

47:19 Closing Remarks and Gratitude

I’m Tony Lynch, host of the Grief…Let’s Talk About It podcast and founder of Memories of Us Ltd., which is a global grief network that offers grief support for men.

My journey started on Halloween of 2015 when my son overdosed due to some miscalculations by his pharmacist when she mixed his medication wrong. What should’ve been a normal Saturday turned out to be a nightmare.

small #personaltraining #buisinessowner recently started a #nonprofit...

#MEMORIES OF US we offer resources and support to #men who have lost loved ones we support each other as we navigate the world of #grief and the many stages...

#MEMORIES OF US have partnered with other great #nonprofitorganizatons that specialize in #mens/womensmentalhealth/#veteranspeersupport/ #recovery as well as #supportgroups for those that have been affected by #suicide

Website: Memories2.org Instagram: Memories4.us Linkedin: Tony lynch Facebook: Memories of us…grief support for men Youtube: Memories of us podcast Other: Memoriesofuspodcast.transistor.fm Which is our podcast where you can hear stories of men that have gone through their own trauma and found their strength

In this episode of Suicide Zen Forgiveness, host Elaine welcomes David Woods Bartley, who shares his powerful and emotional story of surviving a suicide attempt and his journey towards mental wellness. David discusses his battle with depression, the profound impact of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and the importance of human connection in suicide prevention. He also reflects on the influence of supportive relationships and the significance of openly sharing struggles to encourage empathy and hope.

0:00 David-W-Bartley Audio

01:17 Welcome and Introduction

02:53 David's Struggle with Depression

04:54 The Turning Point: Forest Hill Bridge

08:23 The Power of Connection

10:24 Journey to Mental Wellness

16:20 Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Experience

19:11 Reflecting on Trauma and Healing

29:59 Reflecting on Family and Relationships

31:31 Military Family and Personal Heroes

33:29 The Impact of ECT on Memory

36:19 Insights on Mental Health and Neuroplasticity

39:25 Sharing Personal Stories and Writing a Book

43:28 Customer Service Philosophy and Personal Anecdotes

45:53 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude

Bio

My name is David Woods Bartley. I am both a suicide attempt and childhood rape survivor turned two-time TED Talker and international mental health trainer.

David Woods Bartley has seen his fair share of successes and setbacks, from directing a nationally recognized nonprofit to battling the long-term effects of childhood sexual trauma and a life-threatening mental illness. The latter, a brutal knock-down, drag-out fight with clinical depression, led David to a suicide attempt.

Thanks to the support of many people and being shown the necessity of putting one’s self-care on a pedestal, David continues the essential yet challenging journey from the isolation of mental “hellness” to the inclusive space of mental wellness.

His life having been saved, David is committed to moving the conversation about suicide, male sexual trauma, and mental illness from the dark shadows where they now live to the forefront of public concern. In doing so, his mission is to shine a bright light on the crisis we now face and open doors to the possibility of mental health for everyone, everywhere.

Currently, David is a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the International Association for Youth Mental Health, the National Storytelling Network’s Healing Story Alliance, and Active Minds. In addition, David holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid for Adults and Youth, SafeTALK (Suicide Awareness for Everyone), and the suicide prevention technique known as QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer).

In addition to giving two TED talks and being named a 2021 Mental Health Champion by the prestigious Steinberg Institute, David has presented more than 600 times to audiences across the United States, Canada, Central America, and India, giving in-person and virtual presentations on the subjects of suicide, male sexual trauma, mental health, organizational culture, and servant leadership.

David has been invited to present to organizations such as the United States Army, the United States Coast Guard, the Food and Drug Administration, OSH India, Sutter Health, AbleTo, the California Highway Patrol, the Indiana Organization for Nursing Leadership, the University of Connecticut, Boston College, the California Northstate School of Medicine, and a wide range of elementary, middle and high schools, community organizations, and diverse faith denominations

2-TimeTEDx Speaker | International Mental Health Presenter | SME on Suicide

2021 Steinberg Institute Mental Health Champion

Links and Socials

www.davidwoodsbartley.com

X: david@davidwoodsbartley.com FACEBOOK: @davidwoodsbartley