I Walked the Darkest Valleys to Freedom

By: David Harold Pedersen BS, MS, CCC-A.A.A.

Looking back decades later, David re-creates his emotions as a child who experienced many traumas during his childhood which gathered unbearable emotional pain by 60 years of age when he became suicidal; and his family had to commit him to a psych ward three different times. His early years are written through a child's eyes as he vividly describes traumas he experienced and learns how the adults in his life dealt with loss and death in their own lives. At 9 years of age his father died, at 14 years his four year old sister died, at 24 years his mother died by suicide, and he began to plan his own suicide.

David's book is both an inner monologue and a chronicle of his lifelong struggles with depression and anxiety after his emotions "spiraled out of control" and progressed into despair. During that time, he was gaining insight into healing the emotional responses to grief and loss that directed his path towards a sense of well-being and freedom. This work is appealing to readers who are interested in authentic accounts of overcoming despair, military separation, being at wit's end, and death in the family to progressing forward in his marriage, career success as a fellow in audiology, emotional healing, growth in faith, hope and freedom.

About the Author

David Harold Pedersen loves to fish and hunt; and is an avid woodcarver. He also enjoys shooting 1800s staged scenarios at the Cowboy Action Shooting Club. His musical talents are expressed through playing the guitar and singing in the church choir, quartets, solos, and the enormous pleasure of jamming with other musicians. At the suggestion of his therapist, David wrote down his feelings about life events as an opportunity to get in touch with his feelings. Then, she indicated that his own journaling notes might make for a good book that could comfort and encourage others. David was working hard in his career of audiology when he courageously walked through some very deep valleys which is heartening to others who continue to work while experiencing some of the same feelings. At a Pedersen family reunion six years ago his cousin Elaine offered to edit his book by passing it back and forth between Minnesota and Iowa.