<p>At just 20 years old, Lou Hibbert’s world changed forever. Her dad Barry, a man who had gone from growing up in a council estate to becoming the CEO of a major company, took his own life.</p><br><p>In this powerful conversation, Lou opens up about losing a parent to suicide, navigating bereavement, and how therapy and counselling helped her rebuild self-worth, self-love, and self-compassion.</p><br><p>This Movember, as we focus on men’s mental health and suicide prevention, Lou’s story is a reminder that behind every strong man, there can be silent struggles - and behind every loss, someone learning how to live again.</p><br><p>This week’s episode is sponsored by Damien Long Personal Training based in Glanmire, Cork. Damien helps people get stronger, fitter, and happier with a fun, balanced approach to training. He also featured on podcast earlier this year, sharing his own journey of grief, healing, and mental health awareness after the loss of his daughter Shauna. You can check him out @damienlongpersonaltraining. </p><p><br></p><h3>Timestamps</h3><p>00:00:00 — Introduction and how Lou and Brenda first met</p><p>00:01:30 — Growing up in Cookham Dean and school experiences</p><p>00:03:35 — Lou’s dad’s childhood, trauma and drive for success</p><p>00:06:26 — The first business collapse and early signs of strain</p><p>00:09:19 — 2022: escalating stress and emotional decline</p><p>00:12:33 — Subtle changes at home and early warning signs</p><p>00:16:01 — The day Lou was called out of work</p><p>00:17:58 — The moment she learned her dad had died</p><p>00:21:02 — Understanding “the surge” before suicide</p><p>00:38:15 — Starting therapy and confronting anger</p><p>00:46:21 — Life before and after grief: “living two lives”</p><p>00:49:24 — Hope, healing and Lou’s final reflections</p><p><br></p><h3><strong>Connect With Me:</strong></h3><p>Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda <a href="https://open.acast.com/networks/682771b4ee813e8be23a0f01/shows/6828954450cf1b42f4640d61/episodes/instagram.com/brendasbits" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@brendasbits</a></p><p>Contact: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a></p><br><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
