getting help – Suicide Forum

What Does Energy Have To Do With How I’m Feeling?

Lynsey — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:00:59 +0000

Everything.

Everything is energy. It is the basis of life and the basis of our health and our well being.

The thoughts we think are energy and are in a constant state of flow, flowing outwards to others and received by others without the need to even speak them.

Our First Language Is Energy

Have you ever spoken with someone and the words they said didn’t match what you were perceiving in them? That’s the energy you were connecting with and receiving which is more accurate than any words one could ever speak.

Have you ever walked into a room of people and known something had just occurred which created a lot of tension? Like you could cut the air with a knife? That is another example of how we perceive energy first and foremost and words are secondary.

Much of what we think and feel are what we are actually perceiving in the heads of others because we are all connected. Our thoughts are recycled energy and can drift in and out of our space easily or we can contract and resist them which enables them to stick. It’s a bit like putting a up a wall which has velcro on and whatever comes your way, sticks.

Looking at Facebook is a way we can readily enter the headspace of huge numbers of other people. The people on our friends list and the kind of things they post can suggest a lot about what we are currently aligning with. Do you feel good reading other people’s posts? Or do you get worried, annoyed or frustrated?

In our fast paced world today we are literally bombarded with all kinds of energies that can affect us and our moods. It can scramble our energy field, overload us with thoughts, feelings and emotions and make us feel tired and depressed.

Your Body Has It’s Own Medicine Kit!

Bringing alignment to our energy systems such as our meridian pathways and chakras, can assist us in maintaining a stronger energetic field within and around us so that toxic energies have much less of an impact.

Acupuncture is an example of one form of energy medicine which activates the body’s own internal mechanisms to create balance in body, mind and spirit. Do you know that your body’s own natural opiates, known as endorphins, are 100 times more powerful than manufactured, synthetic morphine?

Endorphins are those feel-good chemicals which are released during times such as; having sex, exercising, eating chocolate or your favourite food and when you are laughing.

Do you remember a time when you were in love? When you felt high, light and like nothing or no-one could ruin your day? All those emotions were simply chemicals in your body which were turned on! It was easy to be happy because your body was releasing happy hormones all the time. Your outlook on life shifts and then your point of attraction shifts too.

One of the reasons acupuncture works so well is that it can stimulate the release of endorphins as well as bring balance and detoxify your primary organs such as your liver, gall bladder, kidneys, lungs and heart. These organs are where we store old emotions, thoughts and feelings and over time they become congested.

When these meridian points are stimulated there is a relief from the release of these energies, sometimes an emotional catharsis occurs which when you allow it to be released, enables you to feel so much lighter and perceive so much more space in your body and being. The energetic walls around you soften and dissolve. You feel more of who you really are.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine this has been known for centuries. In the western world we are still playing catch up in many ways and the energetic mind-body connection has yet to be fully acknowledged in mainstream medicine. This is changing however, as more and more people are seeking alternative methods to find relief from pain and suffering.

How Can Remote Healing Work?

There is no separation between us, even science now knows and tells us that everything is energy vibrating at different frequencies, therefore everything and everyone are connected and any energetic interaction can be facilitated at a distance. There are many forms of healing, including acupuncture and processes to change beliefs systems, which do not require a person to be in the same room for it to work. Energy healing is not bound by space or time. This can be ideal for people who do not wish to leave the comfort of their own home or live too far from a practitioner.

You are not your thoughts and feelings. Within everyone, is a well of stillness and peace, a space of no thought or emotion, just pure presence of You, your infinite self.

Energetic healing is a way to access that.

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About the author: Lynsey Anne Beswick has worked in the field of the healing arts and consciousness for 11 years.

Distraction Mechanisms in a Crisis

Butterfly — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 16:24:37 +0000

As I write this article, I would probably class myself as being in crisis. It’s a horrible place to be and it feels like no matter how hard I try, I cannot feel better. I have been told by the Crisis Team to distract as much as possible. This advice frustrates a lot of people because they cannot see how distraction is going to “cure” them of their suicidal/manic thoughts. It’s not designed to take all that pain away or make things better. Distraction serves as a short term solution to help you slow your thoughts down and focus on something else for a short while until meds can kick in that will help you feel better and until your crisis passes.

So what distraction mechanisms help me?

Writing

If I am in the early throws of a crisis, where my thoughts are racing but I have not hit an agitated state to the point of being useless then I find writing useful. I am writing this article now to channel all of my excess energy (I have Bipolar and currently in a mixed episode) but it has also helped me in the past to channel severe depressive and suicidal thoughts. Sometimes I write about how I am feeling. Other times I write about a topic completely unrelated to how I am feeling. I have written some amazing things whilst in crisis, and when I read them back I cannot believe that I have written them.

Reading

If you are able to concentrate for long enough then reading is a god distraction. It enables you to escape reality for a little while and can help slow the thoughts down for a while.

Drawing/colouring

Using art to distract your mind in a crisis is fast becoming a popular distraction technique. I cannot draw, but I do have a mindfulness colouring book and I also have a colouring app. It’s a technique that doesn’t require much thought and you can just focus on what you are doing, colouring within the lines, which colour you are going to pick next etc. I used to laugh when people suggested this to me because my initial reaction was that it was a bit childish, but since trying it, it is now one of my first “go to” distraction techniques.

Having a bath/Aromatherapy

This is usually one of the crisis team’s suggestions which really frustrates a lot of people. But it does serve a purpose. If you own lots of nice bubble baths and bath salts, the scents and smells tend to have calming effect, especially if you have things like lavender and chamomile scents. I also light candles too as I find the smells relaxing and quite often I stop to think “that smells nice” and reflect upon what I can smell for a short period, often without realising I am doing it.

Playing games

I am a little biased towards this one as I am a gamer, although I do struggle to play some games whilst I am agitated. But I find games like solitaire or bejewelled useful because they are only short games, but do require a degree of concentration. Sometimes I get frustrated and give up, but other times it’s enough to slow my mind down.

Cleaning

As much as I hate cleaning, it is a good distraction. I can do it at my own pace and it doesn’t require much thinking or skill. When I am cleaning I tend to focus on what I am doing, rather than my mind wandering off at a tangent.

Baking

There is something about baking that is extremely therapeutic. I’m not sure if it’s getting stuck in and dirty, whisking violently or following instructions, but after a baking session I am always a lot calmer. A very tasty way to end a crisis.

Watching TV/Movies

I would avoid anything triggering at all costs. But if there is a TV show you like to watch, or you have a favourite movie then I would recommend this. This is a great distraction technique as it requires very little effort. There is something comforting about watching your favourite movie whilst snuggled under a blanket in your pyjamas.

Going for a walk

If you feel up to it and safe enough, I find walking a good distraction. It helps to clear your mind and also gets you out of the house and active. Because you are moving about, you release endorphins which are the “feel good” hormone. You can also focus on what is happening around you, whether it’s just noticing the buildings, the hustle and bustle of your town or admiring the view.

Exercise

Exercise releases endorphins which is the “feel good” hormone. It can also help you relieve some of that pent up rage and emotion.

Mindfulness

This is great way to bring you back into the present rather than being consumed by your thoughts. There are many exercises to try such as deep breathing, body scanning, guided imagery and focusing on objects.

Pets

If you have pets then a great way to distract yourself is give them some fuss and love. Pets love attention and they also have a way of sensing when you are not feeling well. It’s very therapeutic.

Talking to People

One of the best techniques for distraction is talking to people – someone to chat to, to take your mind away from the distressing thoughts can be incredibly helpful. The SF chat room is open and free 24/7, 365 days a year. There is almost always someone there ready to chat with.

5 Ways to Cope with Impulse Control Disorder

Nexia — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 14:24:57 +0000

For those that are unaware, an ICD (or impulse control disorder) is a psychiatric disorder that doesn’t allow much, or any, control over an urge to do something that results in hurting themselves or others. As someone who suffers from this disorder I’ve decided to help others figure out what to do when they are going through an urge they feel they can’t control.

Before listing a few ways to cope, please understand that an ICD can come in many forms (not just hurting yourself or others in a physical way) such as Kleptomania, Pathological Gambling, Trichotillomania, Pyromania, Intermittent explosive disorder, Compulsive Skin Picking and even Compulsive Buying (explained in detail here).

Without further ado, here are five ways to help cope with your urges:

Tap Your Fingers Together

As simple as this is, simply pressing the pads of your fingers against your thumb one at a time can help with small urges (such as wanting to push something off of a shelf in a store or break something).

The ol’ Counting Method

This still works for small urges! Pick your favorite number and begin counting either out loud or to yourself- whichever you find more comfortable. This method helps when you are standing in a line and are tempted to do something you most likely shouldn’t do.

Play Music or Listen to Ambient Sounds

Again, something so simple to solve a problem can be a major benefit. Just as music can be used as motivation to get something done, it can be a great factor in stopping something bad from happening. Using music to take your mind off of something is not unknown, but in the moment, a lot of people are by themselves and in a crisis that can trigger an urge of self-harm. Music can calm you down as well as listening to the sound of rain or thunderstorms.

Play with Magnets

Magnets are usually used for refrigerator decorations, bumper stickers and even science. On the other hand, if you need a physical touch of something other than your own fingers to help you out of an urge, playing with magnets that can go anywhere with you is a huge plus. I play with Zen Magnets and use them to keep myself from touching things that I shouldn’t touch (such as the button on someone else’s shirt or someone else’s pens or pencils).

Submerge your Hands into Something Messy

The point of these coping tips are to keep your mind busy enough to get you out of a situation. A lot of times you need to physically do something with your hands to keep you from acting on an urge. This is where I would recommend getting your hands dirty with Oobleck, Kinetic Sand, mud (yes, dirt and water). Keeping your hands dirty [or at least busy] will take your mind off of whatever your urge is most of the time. It keeps your mind at ease and you can have a ton of fun!

There are a ton of ways to keep from acting on an intense or minor urge. As a bonus, another way to help you deal with an urge can be to let someone know you are having these urges. There are people out there who can help you; doctors, friends, family and on occasion- strangers nearby. Sometimes we need all the help we can get. If you or someone you know is going through what might be ICD or compulsive behaviors go to a doctor as this isn’t incurable and it could be a simple matter of just staying busy to help you or someone else through it.

Dying of Loneliness – Mental Health and Loneliness

Freya — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 22:52:26 +0000

Mother Theresa once said “The biggest disease today is not leprosy or cancer or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted, uncared for and deserted by everybody.” That loneliness is devastating is not new information; everyone who has felt alone understands how painful it can be. For the lucky many, loneliness is a fleeting feeling but for those who cannot find the escape hatch, loneliness can be a terrible, and fatal, trap.

Can Loneliness Really Kill You?

Research is reported to show that people who have no social supports and who feel alone have as greater increased risk of early death as alcoholic, while succeeding in making friends can be as good for our health as giving up smoking. Spending too much time alone, particularly if that time is not filled with rewarding distractions, often leads to fatalistic thinking and philosophizing that, in turn, lead to damaging thought patterns. In addition to this, a lack of accountability to people who care about you and your welfare can mean that self destructive urges that are usually curbed by fear of worrying or upsetting loved ones can get completely out of control.

According to a study by Brigham Young University, the subjective feeling of loneliness – that is to say feeling alone whether or not you are, in fact, alone – can increase the chance of death by 26%. It is not just being alone that is a significant risk to ongoing good health; just feeling uncared for, unheard and unsupported can be almost as dangerous as actually being isolated.

Sometimes you can feel alone no matter how many people there are with you.

Loneliness and Mental Health

Loneliness is a key theme on our forums – people who feel alone find it harder to combat suicidal urges and deal with mental illness. The mental health charity Mind report that being lonely can add to mental health issues such as depression, loneliness and anxiety. It also suggests that loneliness can contribute to rarer mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.

Loneliness can have a significant impact on our mental health – The University Herald reported that a study by the University of Chicago found loneliness to be linked to disrupted sleep, increases in the stress hormone cortisol and an overall perceived lowering in general well-being. That loneliness can contribute to poor mental health is well documented, but it is important not to ignore the other side of the coin: that poor mental health can be the cause of increased loneliness and isolation, both subjectively and actually.

One of the key symptoms of clinical depression is a feeling of loneliness and sadness. Often this feeling is not objectively true, but depression does not often care for the facts. On top of this already heightened sense of isolation, depression also has the effect of reducing our interest in socializing and participating in activities we once found enjoyable. By withdrawing from these activities, spending less time in social situations, people suffering from mental health conditions often isolate themselves.

As depression, anxiety and eventually suicidal thoughts and impulses take hold of our life, we find it harder to talk to people and engage in negative thought patterns such as:

My mental health is my problem; people shouldn’t have to deal with my ‘craziness’
People don’t like me anyway; I should stay on my own so I am not rejected.
I hurt everyone who cares about me; it is better for everyone if I am alone.
Even if I go out and socialize I won’t have fun; there isn’t any point in trying.

If any of these thoughts sound familiar – it is likely that your mental health problems are making your feeling of loneliness worse. Tempting as it is to isolate ourselves, telling ourselves that it is saving us from pain in the long run, the truth is that we are creating our own pain through our actions. Knowing this is the first step to fighting this life threatening problem.

Practical Steps for Easing Loneliness

Loneliness, left alone, will only ever get worse. It is not something that will fix itself and not something that gets better without attention and effort. Unfortunately, new friends are unlikely to simply knock on the door.

There are lots of ways that people will suggest you ‘find new friends’ – most of them involve joining a club or group to find like-minded people. This is an excellent idea but the simple fact is that if you were in a place where you felt able to go and join a group of strangers, the chances are that you would not have stopped seeing your own friends and family in the first place. Sites like Meetup.com are an excellent resource for finding friendship and getting out of the house, but they are not necessarily the best ‘first step’ on the road to re-socializing.

The UK National Health Service recommends that people suffering from loneliness ‘learn to love computers’. It is indisputable that the internet makes connecting with people easier and less stressful for many people with social anxiety issues and who need to be able to speak to people on their own terms. Online communities can be an excellent place to start to build up broken down social confidence – on forums and in chat rooms, talking to people without normal social pressures. It is, however, important to remember that these communities are not a replacement for ‘real life’ social interaction. As a starting place they are excellent, but they should be a supplement to other social interaction.

Once your confidence has been rebuilt to some level you can try:

Finding clubs and groups online – sites like Meetup offer groups with no obligation.
Joining a church, if you are religiously inclined
Taking a night class or day college course – most colleges offer short courses that can last as little as one day in all sorts of areas.
Re-connect with old friends – often a simple apology for having dropped off the face of the planet for a while and an invitation to coffee is enough to start to rebuild a friendship.
Volunteer for a charity or non-profit – having structure and a shared goal/purpose makes it easier to build friendships and eases social pressure.

Everything Starts with Starting

Making a beginning is the hardest part – but it is also the most important. Nothing changes unless something changes. Doing the brave thing today can make all the difference to your tomorrows. Here at SF we understand the difficulties that loneliness brings and we understand how hard it can be to start.

What is Depression and Do I have It? Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Butterfly — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 17:41:50 +0000

What is Depression? Do I have it?

Everyone has felt depressed from time to time, and often this feeling passes in a matter of days or even hours for most people. Suffering from long term depression, however, can be scary, exhausting and debilitating. Depression is a medical condition that needs medical attention, whether you think you are depressed “because your life sucks” or whether you have no idea why you are depressed because your life is generally good. If you are suffering from depression, do not suffer alone. Your doctor can help you and here at SF we can listen and support you through this difficult time.

So, What is Depression?

Depression is a mood disorder which causes the sufferer to feel low in mood for a prolonged period of time, and is more than just feeling a bit sad or upset for a few days. Depression can disrupt your thought process and can be severely debilitating as it can affect different areas of your life in negative ways. It tends to manifest itself with you feeling low in mood, having periods of tearfulness, persistent negative thoughts about yourself and the world around you and you may even have thoughts of suicide and wanting to hurt yourself. Depression can also be a symptom of a more severe mental health disorder, so it is important to seek help straight away.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

There are many different signs and symptoms of depression. Depression affects everybody differently, so you may find symptoms from person to person vary. The most common symptoms are:

- Feelings of persistent sadness that does not go away
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling worthless
- Becoming more tearful than usual
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Comfort eating or completely losing your appetite
- Losing confidence in yourself
- Low self-esteem
- Feeling anxious
- Not being able to concentrate properly
- Isolating yourself from your friends and family
- Feeling more tired and lethargic than usual
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Feelings of guilt
- Loss of sex drive
- Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
- Self harm
- Thoughts of wanting to end your life

If you are in crisis, have immediate plans to end your own life or have harmed yourself then please seek medical attention urgently by either calling the emergency services, calling a crisis line or going to the Emergency Department.

Treatment for Depression

Depression is a very treatable illness and recovery is very achievable with the right help and treatment. To seek help for your depression, you must first see your GP or family doctor so they can diagnose you with depression. Only a doctor can diagnose depression and help you work out which treatment plan is right for you. They may also want to run some blood tests to ensure that there are no physical illnesses causing your depression. Your doctor may suggest starting you on medication to treat your depression, such as anti-depressants, or they may suggest that you need a course of therapy, or a combination of both. Research suggests that recovery success rates in people with depression are much higher in people who receive a combination of therapy and medication.

Your doctor will want to monitor your depression closely so you will need to see your doctor regularly, especially if you need to take medication. In more complex cases where depression isn’t responding to treatment, your doctor may suggest that you are seen by a psychiatrist. This is nothing to be scared of or worried about. A psychiatrist is a specialist in mental health, and will ensure that you are receiving the right treatment and will monitor you closely.

Tips for Seeking Help With Depression

It is very scary when you are talking to the doctor for the first time. It can feel intimidating and can put you off going to see them. Here a few tips to help you talk to your doctor:

Write down everything you would like to say to the doctor. This is helpful because you may feel too anxious to talk when you get there, so if you can’t talk or forget something, this can be very helpful for both you and your doctor.

Take somebody with you. This may not be applicable in all cases, but taking somebody who knows you well and trusts you can help. Their presence may help you feel more at ease, they can be a great source of support and they may be able to talk to the doctor about how they feel the depression is affecting you (the doctor will ask for your permission to speak to them and they will do this with you present).

Be honest. Being honest is the best way to getting the correct help and treatment. If you only tell the doctor half the story, then they will not get the full picture and despite their qualifications, doctors are not mind readers. Doctors can only act based on what you tell them. If you went to the doctor after suffering from a broken leg and the pain was unbearable, and you tell them the pain is only mild then the doctor will not give you the appropriate analgesia because you told them your pain was mild. The same applies with depression.

Depression Links and Resources

Here a few links and resources that you may find useful and helpful. If you come across any others that are not here and you think it will be beneficial to other members, then please post them in this thread and we will add them into this post.

http://www.mind.org.uk/information-…gclid=CLvfxvOhx8UCFYvpwgodV74AsA#.VVe-helFBMs

http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-resources

http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/depression

Depression Self Help

http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/depression.asp

http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/depression.htm

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/dealing-with-depression.htm

Get Help on the Forum and in Chat – Share Your Experiences!

Please use the forum and chat to other members about your experiences with depression. It helps to talk to people who have experienced depression who will understand what you are going through. Sharing experiences, hints and tips are useful to other members, and be sure to post if are you are looking for support, help and advice.

Suicide Methods – 10 Ways to Die

Member Submission — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 02:52:29 +0000

There are more than a million searches for methods of suicide and ways to commit suicide every month. That is according to just one of the largest search engines – there are many many more from others. That is a scary number to think about, that there are that many people looking up ways to their life. As the previous owner of SF – a suicide and depression support forum, I can tell you that number is not surprising. Having the benefit of having spoken to thousands of people that were looking for suicide methods, as well as some personal and family experience in the area, I am going to share the methods that kill most suicide victims.

If I put this as a poll I am sure there would be all the obvious guesses and some creative things as well, but the methods and things that are killing more than 2000 people per day around the world have very little to do with what they endured the final few minutes of their life and everything to do with what they endured during the weeks or even years before those final few minutes. The things they felt in the time leading up the final minutes are what killed them and more importantly, nearly all of these things could be addressed in other ways if only somebody had taken the time to really listen and try to help.

The list I am going to share is the list of things that are killing nearly a million people a year. From the site, I have come to understand what many suicidal people I have personally spoke with were dealing with. These are the things that are killing the people, and unlike the searches for painless methods and easy methods, these are all marked by incredibly intense and unendurable pain, a pain so bad that somebody would literally rather die than face another hour of it. In no particular order –

Break ups – Whether it is a divorce after year sand the loss of a family or the first love of a young teen that lasted a few months. The thing to remember about this is it is not a break up and go on to the next for all people. For some it is the first or only person in the world they ever loved or felt loved by and without that person they cannot see a possibility of love in their life again. Life without the possibility of love is hard thing to face. The real issue here is if there was enough love around them when they felt this way, most would realize that it is not going to be a life without love, but simply a life without that love- still painful, but maybe bearable. It is the lack of love they feel from all sources that make them believe it will be a life of no love at all, and it is what they feel that fuels their pain, not what others think.
Failure– Real or perceived is really of no matter. Maybe they were fired from a job, or did not make a sports team, got bad grades in school, or just didn’t finish a project on time. The difference in spending a lifetime of savings and years into a failed business, or getting cut from the Varsity team is measured by the person feeling it, not what happened. Whatever the failure or series of failures, in the end they do not see themselves as anything but a failure and their shame will not allow them to entertain the possibility that others see them differently.
Money – Life is hard and everybody is ultimately controlled to some extent by money. The adages od money can’t buy happiness are true, but it is also true that it is hard to be happy if you are facing homelessness, or feel ashamed when people ask you what you do. There are some that would rather die than face the idea of accepting help freely offered, and the real truth is there is not enough help anyway for those that really need it. When every thought of your day is on how you will pay for something or how to support yourself and your family some people start seeing themselves as just another bill and part of the problem.
Rejection and feeling excluded – Everybody faces rejection at some point in their life. Some people cannot ever remember feeling anything else. It may be because they never have, or it may be because the overwhelming sense of rejection from an incident blinds them to past successes, but in the end they die because their feeling of rejection is greater than the total of positive input form others in their lives to help them feel something different. They know they will never fit in because everything they feel tells them that. It may be they feel excluded from all the others and rejected by friends that were too busy to call, or that every girl they ever spoke to said no to a date, but they would rather die than let another rejection add more to the overwhelming pain they already feel.
Being left behind – Some people look around and see everybody they went to school with already has a job, marriage, house etc. Maybe it is even a simple as their friends already have girlfriends or boyfriends, or perhaps they are approaching middle age and realizing the dream of family and children is becoming impossible, or elderly and need to accept those possibilities are gone. In the end, they see everybody else as so far ahead of them and they cannot see a way to ever catch up.
Loneliness – some people truly have no family and no friends. Some people are surrounded by others all day but feel like they have to hide their real selves so much that nobody really knows them. If nobody knows them then they feel just as alone as somebody that has nobody in their lives at all. Humans are social animals, and isolation and seclusion have been used as punishment and even torture for centuries. It is hardly surprising that if somebody equates their life to something used as torture that ending that existence seems a better choice.
Feeling irrelevant – All anybody really wants to do is make a difference. When the feeling that it no longer matters what you do or think has any value to anybody becomes pervasive enough it is hard to hold on to a will to live. If a person believes were they gone nobody would be impacted, it is hard to find a way to face even the simplest of struggles in daily life because they feel there is no reason to anymore.
Physical health – Some social scientists have theorized when a person’s body begins to fail them it is a clear evolutionary sign that it is time to die and that invokes a response in the brain to do that. If that is true or not is open to debate, but when disease, frailty of age, or simply bad luck results in the loss of physical ability, plus the fact this is sometimes combined with very real physical pain, it is seen by many as a sure sign that it is time to give in and die. The loss of health regardless of cause is a reminder of ultimate mortality and then it is becomes more of a question of when and how. Fear and pain added to the natural urge to control one’s own fate make this result in premature death for millions.
Being a burden – This is when a person feels the cost of others for their own existence is greater their contribution. It may be completely inaccurate or it may be a fact that using a slide rule would have a financial advantage if they were not there, but being a burden and contributing are based on far more than dollars and cents. The intangibles are there, but if a person cannot see them or does not feel them all that is left is the feeling that the people they love would be better off if they were not there and the taking of their life as the last thing they have to offer to make life better for those around them.
Mental Illness –In nearly all of the above situations some form of mental illness may play a part. Depression and anxiety can certainly result from many of these situations and feelings. The illness then takes on a life of its own and needs to be treated and dealt with. There is however the very real fact that sometimes it is just the mental illness that made a person feel a certain way, or caused them to be in these situations. Since many estimate a full third or even more of people with mental illness never receive any treatment at all it is unsurprising that even the more treatable mental illnesses have a higher mortality rate then some forms of cancer.

If you or somebody you know has ever felt like these situation apply, or maybe feel some of these things now, get help. Even just consider talking to others that do and have felt the same way. It will not solve the problem, and it will not make the problem disappear overnight, but it will be easier to understand. A chance to talk without worrying about what the people listening are thinking because they have felt the same things is a valuable experience.

Knowing others have felt the same way and finding out that there are ways to make the pain stop without dying has value. In the end, people die because it is the only way they can find to stop the pain. If someone is looking for a way to stop the pain and have not found it by themselves, they should talk to a professional. If they cannot or don’t feel ready for that, then try talking to people that understand, are willing to listen, and that will not judge in our community forum and chatrooms.

Creating a Suicide Safety Plan

admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 18:38:56 +0000

Being in the grip of suicidal thoughts and feelings can be terrifying. You may be unable to think clearly, remembering only pain from your past and unable to imagine anything good ever happening in your future. That’s why it’s helpful to have a suicide safety plan in place before you find yourself desperate. The purpose of the plan is to give you some concrete steps to follow to keep yourself safe when you feel like you can’t go on any longer.

Start creating your plan at a moment when you’re still capable of feeling some hope, and have some belief that life is worth living. If you can’t imagine feeling that way, then get someone who cares about you and knows you well to help. Start by writing down a collection of warning signs that you are starting to become severely depressed and suicidal. These warning signs will help you and others recognize when you are likely to need extra support. Examples of warning signs might be, “Withdrawing from friends and family,” or “loss of interest in hobbies.”

Next, write down a list of coping strategies that you can use to make yourself feel a bit better. Some people take a hot shower, or cuddle with a pet, or take a walk. The goal isn’t to make you feel all the way better immediately. There may be nothing that can do that. The point is to give you some things to try before you give up completely. Sometimes even feeling a tiny bit better can be enough to take your mind off suicide.

The next step is to write down the names and phone numbers of family and friends who might be able to help you when you are suicidal. You might want to call and talk to these people first and ask them if you can put them on your emergency list. If you know ahead of time that it’s okay to call someone at two in the morning when you’re at the end of your strength, then you won’t feel reluctant to call when you’re in crisis.

Finally, write a list of professional people you can call in case of emergency, along with their phone numbers. Include your doctor, counselor if you have one, and the number for the local hospital. Again, it’s a good idea to find out ahead of time what will happen if you call after hours. You don’t want to be stuck talking to an answering machine if you’re in crisis!

Share your suicide safety plan with supportive people who are close to you, so they know how to take care of you if you become suicidal. Keep it with you in your purse or wallet. If you’re worried about someone finding it and judging you, just don’t label it “Suicide Safety Plan.” Call it something like “Important Phone Numbers.”

If suicidal thoughts and feelings strike, keep going step by step through your plan until you feel safe.