Thoughts of Suicide - Is there a cure?

Question

For many, many years now, since I was a teenager, I've never felt "happy" unless I was abusing drugs or drinking. I saw a therapist for a short while, but that didn't help at all.

Recently life has almost hit rock bottom and I may end up being homeless here within a few days/weeks and cannot keep up with anything.

I do have a few friends that I could talk to, and have on various occasions, and it's helped at times, but these thoughts of just giving up continue to return. I know there are people way worse off than myself, but I don't know what to do.

Soon enough, I will have no one to look to for help, is there anyone out there that can suggest anything?

Answer 1

My friend, Look at the list of people who are "listening to you" at this moment. Across the miles, we can express caring for your situation. Some of us, including myself have been homeless. It's a terribly hopeless, dark, depressing feeling. Please assure yourself that one good relationship can lift you from these circumstances. It does no good for me to tell you, "I know how you feel," because I can't step into your shoes. I can, however place a little hope in your heart that things will get better. A situation can improve drastically overnight. When a counselor sees that you are trying to comprehend how to attain a better life, he/she will bend over backwards to help you. Getting free of substance abuse is important. Your cognitive and relationship skills will improve. Instead of bucking the currents of society, you will flow with them. Now it seems that people are "against you." This is just an illusion. Please seek help wherever you can gain it. We all have to get help at some time in our lives. I've been given lots of help. Believe it or not, people find value in helping others. People believed in my intrinsic worth in spite of my bad habits and depression. I believe in you. In my mind's eye I see you rising up and becoming the best person you can be. Do this in baby steps. Good things will come into your life. All it takes is a little belief in yourself. The feeling of self-assurance will grow with each small victory. Before you know it, you will be free of addictions (which are cheap substitutes for self awareness and solid relationships with others.)

Please forgive my rambling message to you. When I see someone in your position, I remember my own despair. I am thankful that my life has improved far beyond what I could ever have envisioned or hoped for. In my mind's eye I see your success and happiness. Within you there is a person yearning for re-birth.

Answer 2

I know you mentioned you saw a therapist for a short while- but the reality is that depression, especially situational depression can only be managed (not cured) through therapy of some sort. Drug abuse and Alcohol abuse is self medicating and will only cause you to find yourself deeper and deeper in a mental disarray.

There are many types of therapy out there, and many different therapists. Just because one therapist didn't work doesn't mean someone else might not help. I've gone through many therapists- there has to be a good relationship between patient and doctor for any treatment to work.

Therapy only works when you apply what you learn in therapy to your life- if you just go in sit down, talk.. and that's it- it's going to feel like a waste of time and money. You have to isolate your issues- is it situational? is it chemical? Identify your triggers- what are the red flags that you see in your life that have made you unhappy? Is the unhappiness/depression (for instance suicidal ideation) causing you to modify the way you live your life? Is it disrupting where you go.

when you go into therapy, you should also be making goals- where do you want to be. You should discuss a treatment plan- and as I mentioned, set goals in which you can achieve towards a healthier life style. Management of depression is not only just seeking therapy or taking medication- it's a whole life style change. And it's something you need to want.

1. What could have caused my condition (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress disorder) to develop? How common is it? Could it have hereditary roots? How is it related to my age, lifestyle, gender, current medical condition, or a recent occurrence or set of circumstances in my life?

2. What are my treatment options?

3. Should I begin therapy sessions? Which type would be best? How soon could I expect signs of feeling better? How long would therapy treatment likely last?

4. To what extent will my insurance cover my treatment?

5. Will I need to take any medication? If so, for how long?

6. What, if any, side effects can I expect from the prescribed medication? Can I do anything to prevent or alleviate side effects?

7. Is there a clinical trial I could participate in?

8. Are there lifestyle changes I can make that will speed up my recovery? Would I continue these changes just until I begin to feel better, or would they need to become a permanent part of my everyday routine?

9. Are there any alternative treatments (e.g., special diet, acupressure, massage therapy, biofeedback, vitamin/mineral regime, yoga, exercise program) that would complement my recovery program and help me feel better faster?

10. Is there a video, book or any other printed literature that contains useful information about my symptoms and recovery plan?

11. How likely is it that my symptoms will return in the future? What can I do to help prevent that from happening?

12. When my family or friends ask how they can help me with my recovery, what things can I suggest?

13. Can you think of anything more that I should be asking or considering?

Finding a good therapist is daunting, it's trial and error- find someone you can work with well- someone who you feel comfortable with. Someone able to work with your individual issues.

Once you find the right type of therapy and person- you'll be able to manage your depression and benifit from it more than you did before.

Answer 3

If you really want to commit suicide, no one can stop you. But the fact that you are asking this question, means you don't want to die.

But you abusing alcohol or drugs means you have a weak mind. You can't resist temptations. (or that you're surrounded by negative influences)

There is no "absolute" cure for suicide.

What is your goal in life? Have you ever thought about it? If you have a child, maybe that child can be your strength in life. But we can't live for somebody, so it's better to find an alternative. This may sound lame, but you need a hobby.

Go traveling. See how different people live. It's refreshing.

We get depressed because we are often too focused on ourselves. And why shouldn't we? Life is full of problems. Write down your feelings, and your hopes, your fears.

Get a digital camera/webcam and make videos. Put them on youtube. Learn how to edit videos.

Traveling from time to time can also open our eyes. (I know it's cliche). It's inspirational. It's intoxicating (no pun intended).

Learn to meditate. Sit cross-legged on the floor, relax your arms, close your eyes, breathe in and out. Clear your thoughts. Focus on your breathing. Start with a few minutes..eventually increase each session to an hour.

**Therapy and medications can only do so much. (Some are bound to give u a long list of available treatments that you may find abundant on the internet).

Not to dismiss them entirely but seeing so many cases where people are still trapped in the vicious cycle of substance abuse and rehabilitation, and those who got addicted to prescription drugs, I can't help but feel jaded.

As a last note, I just think childhood is so important to a person. It can make or break us as adults. We don't realize it, but so many of us are still haunted by childhood abuses, pains and anguish.

Answer 4

you will be surprised how many people are thinking about suicide as a way out of their trouble. It is a very permanent way out and irreversible. don't do it. Are you a depressive? If so there are various medications that can be of help. Seek help. If you do not have the money seek help from a mental clinic and tell them that you are suicidal. They must help you. Do you have friends? Occupy your time talking to them rather than sitting around and thinking about death. I know what I am talking about because I am a depressive and I often have thoughts of dying. I take various medicines to help give me a little lift so I can pass over this damned affliction for a time. Suicide can be due to mental instability caused by a hormonal imbalance, personality disorder, manic-depression and so on. It can be checked for the most part. Don't sit around and do nothing. You CAN work this out.

Answer 5

Though I don’t know exactly why is it that you think, your life is not worth living, but I do know this, I have connected with lots of people who have passed over after suicide and they have all cried their guts out just to get another chance at life.

Because the irony is that nothing changes after death, as we remain just the same. And so the only place where you get to bring about any change yourself and so in your life is here on this planet, so make good use of these circumstances. Let them guide you to push your self hard so that you can use this gift called life well. It doesn’t take time to change life circumstances you just need a little bit of faith.

For starters ask for a divine intervention and chances are it would happen for you sooner than you think, God loves you even on your worst days.

So do yourself a favour get out and get involved in something else than your own life. A place you get to give out the goodness I know you carry within, use your life.

Answer 6

I've dealt with long term depression for half my life & finally got to the point where I was ready for help.

When you have a chemical imbalance in the brain - low serotonin levels - (which is directly related to symptoms of depression) it's practically impossible to make the necessary changes in your life w/out dealing w/ that first.

I've never been a person big on medication but I finally admitted to myself that I couldn't fix this w/out help & knew I didn't want to keep dealing with the same problems over & over again for the rest of my life.

The only way to raise Serotonin levels really is w/ medication. I took Zoloft & it really helped. You don't have to stay on it forever, just until your body is able to regulate itself normally.

This isn't a quick fix though. You still have to deal w/ the other underlying problems in your life; the medication has just allowed me to not get so bogged down by despair. I'm still struggling w/ other issues in my life but am able to take action more easily because my depression has been lifted (it saps all energy & initaive from you).

Think about it.

Good luck - to both of us:)

Answer 7

Yes, believe me- you had the wrong "therapist" Your County Mental Health Dept can help you find another, they are like shoes-you keep trying them on until you find one that fits.

You sound like you "self-medicate" with booze or drugs to feel better. You need meds to regulate your brain chemicals so you don't feel so bad.

Then you need a good counselor to help you figure out how your thought patterns keep you "running in circles" in your own head and how to find different ways of thinking that don't compound your depression.

I know- I've been there. Life is worth living and YOU can make this world better. Just fix your problems and then you can help others- I believe in you, YOU believe in you now.

Answer 8

look god put everyone on earth for a reason. He has a plan for you and it might be worth the wait. don't take your life cause u may not realize this now but tomorrow might bring u something to look forward to. i don't know u and i don't know what u have been through but be thankful u have ur health, u have friends... my ex fiance had ms, was on a wheelchair and a breathing machine, and had his best friend for childhood in the navy.. taking ur life is not gonna let u enjoy the things that u are blessed with. don't do it

Answer 9

Dude, keep on talking to friends, but especially find trained professionals who can help you. Check out the links below for crisis-hotline numbers and for a little bit about my own struggle with suicide when I was in high school. Feel free to e-mail me at [e-mail] if you'd like to talk. I'll be praying for you.

Answer 10

ok first of all, see a psychiatrist or admit yourself into a hospital.
I admitted myself into a hospital because if i didn't i was going to walk out into the middle of a busy highway. But anyway, yeah i have friends to, but it doesn't help of you dont feel comfortable with talking to them about stuff that's so personal. I have a friend, But I dont have that "sisterly" friendship with her that I can just spill my guts out to. In fact last week I planned on taking my life unfortunately i was stopped before i could go any further.

But anyway.......

You first have to identify what it is thats making you depressed. And is there any mental illness in your family?