As much as we try to live a life surrounded by positivity,  there is no way to completely avoid the experience of pain. Nor should  we — sadness is as much a part of life as happiness. Extreme loss can  often feel random, almost cruel, but that's when we must do our best to  find purpose through our own tragedy.

After the tragic loss of her son, Andrea Sonnenberg became cocooned within her pain for years, until a meal with a friend  inspired her to become an advocate for mental health and to work on  improving the system that is failing so many.

Subscribe to "The Stories We Tell" on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.