• Just so you know:

I miss Whitney Houston, so I took a while to process what happened to her. I don't think we can truly understand what she was telling us through her interviews and her music. She had the greatest gifts, the greatest opportunities, and the greatest love. I like remembering all of her talents and gifts, but after losing so much, how could she not be depressed at some point in time? Losing her greatest love, her celebrity, and finally her voice--what would you do in a similar situation? How would you feel? She needed loved ones around 24/7. I don't know whether that was available. I can only hope that it was.

• After all is said and done:

Knowing the symptoms of PTSD and depression so that we can practice early intervention is extremely important. All over Manhattan, there are signs posted. They say, "If you see something, say something."  But how often do we do that with loved ones who seem to be spinning out of control? Do we just shrug and say, "Oh, well," or do we truly try to understand and offer our support?
     So many celebrities and fans are disturbed by the media blitz regarding the life and death of Whitney Houston. Yet, while she was struggling with overcoming her personal demons, we stood on the sidelines watching her demise. Why is it, we only miss our water when the well runs dry? Research and personal experience have taught me that the brain gravitates toward negativity--first and foremost. So what does this mean? To me, it means we notice problems first because our brains are programmed to do so. But in order to help others survive, we must recognize signs of PTSD and depression, and we must not be afraid to intervene and offer help.
     Negative thinking is natural, but incessant negativity and sadness that lasts two weeks or longer is a signal that something has gone wrong. It's up to each person to be mindful of negative thoughts so that they don't overtake us or our loved ones.   Negative thoughts need attention. They need to be recognized as an invisible assailant and as a hazard to our emotional well-being or to the emotional well-being of someone we love.

• There is hope:

Negative thoughts can overtake us only if we choose to entertain them. They must be confronted and exchanged for positive thoughts that make sense. Our brain wants us to feel happy and safe, and it is capable of changing its structure in order to help us cope and overcome negativity. It's not easy, but it's do-able. It's up to each individual to find willpower enough to change negative thinking into positive. It's a matter of choice. When a negative thought arises, it is important to confront it, question its validity, and change it--every time. It's nice to know that our brain changes to accommodate our fears and fantasies. If we confront our fears and create positive fantasies, our brains will obey.