Mariah Sheridan Runions: When Loving Someone Isn’t Enough to Save Them

Growing up surrounded by mental illness taught Mariah Sheridan Runions how to survive, adapt and take care of other people. It took much longer to learn that loving someone does not make you responsible for saving them — and that choosing yourself is not something you need to feel guilty for.

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About This Episode

Mariah Sheridan Runions grew up with mental illness, addiction and instability as part of her normal. As a teenager, she found herself trying to keep someone she loved alive through severe depression and suicidal behavior.

Eventually, Mariah realized she had to leave for university and save herself. Within months, her former boyfriend died by suicide — leaving her with years of grief, anger and guilt over the belief that choosing herself had somehow contributed to his death.

In this deeply personal conversation, Mariah and Kelly talk about the weight of trying to save someone else, survivor guilt, facing suicidal thoughts of her own decades later, raising three daughters with open conversations about mental health, and why self-love has become something Mariah believes we must practice through action.

What You’ll Learn

• How growing up around mental illness and addiction shaped Mariah’s view of what was “normal.”
• Why she became a caretaker in relationships at a very young age.
• What it was like believing she was responsible for keeping someone else alive.
• How guilt followed her after losing her former boyfriend to suicide.
• What she now understands about love, responsibility and choosing yourself.
• Why talking openly about uncomfortable experiences can help people feel less alone.
• What happened when suicidal thoughts returned during her divorce decades later.
• How Mariah talks with her daughters about anxiety, depression and caring for themselves.
• Why she teaches self-love as an action rather than simply a feeling.
• What journaling, self-compassion and letting go of control have taught her about healing.

Guest Spotlight: Mariah Sheridan Runions

Mariah Sheridan Runions is a writer, Realtor, leader and mom to three girls. She is constantly working to expand and evolve, leading by example and hoping to share inspiration with the people she connects with.

Mariah is also writing a memoir drawn in part from journals she has kept throughout her life. The book is currently in development.

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Resources

Explore free mental health, suicide prevention, conversation and support resources through the Glow For Hope Resource Hub.

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If this conversation helped you understand something differently, made you feel less alone, or brought someone to mind who needs to hear it, please share this episode with them.

Every listen, share and conversation helps Glow For Hope continue our mission to spark conversation, create community and ignite hope around mental health and suicide prevention.