Ariel Knight is a mother, suicide-attempt survivor, and assistant manager and adoption coordinator at Mattersville’s wolf-dog sanctuary in Sedalia, Colorado.
In this deeply personal StoryTeller interview, Ariel recounts surviving a self-inflicted gunshot wound in April 2023 following struggles with childhood trauma, CPTSD, domestic violence, alcohol use, and suicidal thoughts. She speaks candidly about the attempt, the immediate regret she experienced, and the difficult process of finding the support and treatment that worked for her.
Now two years sober, Ariel has found purpose and healing through motherhood, therapy, spirituality, and her work with the rescued wolf dogs at Mattersville—an experience she describes as “pack healing.” By sharing her story, she hopes others will know that even when life feels unbearable, suicide is not the only choice. Help is available, healing is possible, and your life matters.
Content note: This interview contains detailed discussion of suicide, a self-inflicted gunshot wound, substance use, childhood trauma, and domestic violence. Please care for yourself while watching.
#StoryTeller #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealth #SurvivorStory #PTSD #Recovery #Mattersville #InTheirOwnWords
If you could have seen the devastation,
shattered hearts you’d leave behind,
would you still have left this world that day?
Would it have made you change your mind?
If you’d known we’d cry so violently
and struggle just to breathe,
would that have made a difference?
Would you still have chosen to leave?
You left without a warning;
you left without saying “goodbye.”
You left us with only questions.
The most important one is “why?”
Why did you believe
you had to face this world alone?
Why did you suffer silently?
We would have helped if we had known.
How long had you been hurting
before deciding you were done?
I’m glad your pain has ended,
but our pain has just begun.
So when you see us start to fall apart,
when our pain is too much to bear,
please take our hands and guide us;
remind us that you’re there.
Help us hold on to the part of you;
you left us with your song.
Keep playing it in heaven.
We’ll write the words and sing along.
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