Content Warnings / Notes For Don't Overthink This
This is a list of content warnings & content notes for Don't Overthink This (includes mild spoilers):
Addiction, drug abuse, withdrawals, all shown on-page with emotional detail
Depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and panic disorder (Main Character)
Death of a parent in the past (due to suicide)
Explicit and graphic sexual content
Cursing and vulgar language
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Please read the following note from the Author, Kelly Piazza, for more information.
Dear Reader:
The book you hold in your hand is a story that has been living in my heart for a long time. It has lived in the back of my mind, scribbled into pages of notebooks, typed out in drafts, and lost on long-forgotten hard drives. It wasn’t until a draft that vaguely resembles the book you are now holding came together that this story finally found its footing. In every version of this story that has existed, one thing has always been true:
This is a love story.
These pages are full of all of the beautiful moments that come with falling in love; moments that I couldn’t help but smile at as I wrote them. I love love stories. There was a version of this story that was lighter, fluffier, and full of only good feelings. But something about that didn’t sit quite right with me as another thing has always been true of this story:
This is a story about addiction.
A story about addiction that only highlights light, fluffy, good feelings isn’t a story about addiction at all because addiction is devastating. Addiction can destroy families, friendships, relationships, and lives. In no way did I want to sugar-coat that reality when writing this story. I built this love story around the damage that addiction can cause, the levels it can sink to, and the impossible struggle to overcome it.
But the truth is, not every story of addiction comes with a happy ending. While I did not shy away from telling some truths about addiction, I know that for some, the devastation it causes goes so much deeper than the rose-colored version of detox and sobriety that are depicted in this story. To those of you who have been affected by addiction or the opioid epidemic, I hope that I have done you justice on the pages to follow. I hope that I have honored your experiences.
In order to tell a full story about addiction, this story features some beautiful moments of love and redemption right along side the struggle and darkness. Addiction isn’t a supporting role in this story. Our protagonist, Matty, struggles with addiction. Along with it comes depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and thoughts and descriptions of suicide, as well as the loss of a loved one, on-page drug and alcohol use, and the spiraling mind of an addict. Never are any of these potentially triggering elements intended to simply shock, but are rather used to give a realistic representation of addiction and mental illness.
If any of this subject matter is triggering to you, please read with caution. Take care of yourself first and foremost. The following resources are available to anyone who might need them:
Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org; or text HOME to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Samaritans Helpline (call or text): 1-877-870-4673
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1-877-726-4727
Find substance abuse or non-emergency mental health help near you: https://www.findtreatment.gov
All of my love and support to each and every one of you.
Thank you for being here,
Kelly Piazza