This is NOT the end of the story.

Every real story is a never ending story. -- Michael Ende

Trigger topic warning: This article addresses suicide and depression.

I have written about the importance of staying power, finding a pace that you can maintain through the chaos over time.

Sometimes, it can be a very long time. I experienced nearly two years of severe alienation from my daughters. It felt like decades. My father missed out on fifteen years with my half sisters.

When you are stripped of contact with your child and your role as a parent, the loss can become all-consuming. It may seem like there are no further options, no reason for hope. Several people have reached out to me recently about the overwhelming depression that sets in, the feeling that there is nothing left. Some alienated parents feel unable to continue and begin to contemplate suicide.

Ivy Blonwyn shares in her article Alienated Fathers: Don't you DARE give up!,

‘I had the plan, the place, the rope,’ my husband, Rhys, told me. ‘I was going to end it all. I’d been a loving father and a good provider. What I didn’t realize is that my ex never intended to stay with me nor let me be a father to my children.' 

Indeed, suicide is a real concern. On December 29, 2013, Chris Mackney ended his life with a shotgun, leaving a suicide note that attributed his demise to a six year custody battle that left him unemployed, homeless, and alienated from his children.  His story is featured in Bullied to Death:Chris Mackney's Kafakaesque Divorce by Michael Volpe.

You matter, and this -- no matter how dismal and agonizing it may be -- is NOT the end of the story.

You, independent of being a parent, have value to bring to this world. As much as I encourage you to continue to reach out to your child, you have a right to pursue personal goals and self-development. You have a right to boundaries and limits that allow you to be a whole, functioning person.

Your stability and growth doesn't just benefit you; it improves the potential of reconnecting with your child one day. Your child deserves the opportunity to connect with you again one day. Don't take that chance away from him or her by giving up.

Project Semicolon expands on the concept that your story isn't over yet, thus a semicolon tattoo representing the next step, instead of the finality of a period. For me, a necklace with my endurance motto Always & Forever, No Matter What helped me hang on through my moments of darkness. Find what resonates with you and helps you get through those low points to reach tomorrow.

Nothing is more important than self-care.

If you have considered suicide, I urge you to seek the help you need. Call your counselor. Call a trusted friend. Call  the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255