Care to share your coping methods for suicide/depression?

Question

I often feel suicidal and depressed. I know that during those times it's not death I want, but a change for the better in my life. I have 3 steady coping mechanisms I use mainly:
1. I allow myself 5 minutes to sob about my life and then I write a gratitude list.
2. I tell myself that I'll miss Desperate Housewives
3. I put on extremely loud and fast music and jump around to it.

It's those first 20 minutes of the blues that I usually need to get through, then I see how to fix my problem. However, these don't seem to be working as X-mas and New Year's draw near. So please share with me your best coping mechanism for when you are feeling depressed or suicidal. Thank you.

Résumé by Dorothy Parker

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

I actually keep a copy of The Portable Dorothy Parker (Viking Portable Library) at the side of my bed!
Thanks, Catherine.

That is, Thank you very much Katherine (with a K). Sorry.

Answer 1

There are a number of things to try:
* If this has been going on for more than two weeks, see a doctor. Medication can help.
* Confide in someone, hopefully someone older and wiser.
* The music and exercise do help, actually, it's been proven, but it will help more if you do it steadily, like 30 minutes a day. Don't wait until you're depressed to do it.
* Call a friend
* Try volunteer work - it will give meaning to your life. You can find it through www.volunteermatch.com or by putting in your zip code to www.pointsoflight.org. If you work with people who really have it tough, you'll have an easier time counting your blessings.
* Especially volunteer on Christmas Day. It makes the day go faster. If you can't figure out what to do, visit a nursing home or a veterans hospital. They can really use you, and people will appreciate it.
* Look up a poem called "Resume" by Dorothy Parker: it will make you laugh! Or try any kind of humor, jokes or cartoons.
* You need to get out of your head and off your pity party - you can change your life, but you need to choose to do so.

BTW, personally I give blood. It makes me feel needed, that someone out there can live because I stick out my arm for a few minutes. It also makes me appreciate that I'm healthy.

Answer 2

My first recommendation is St. John's Wort, available in health food stores, which I call my "good faith effort to have a good attitude."

Now as to suicidal, may I suggest you spend a little time contemplating those whom you would leave behind. I mean in detail. My Steve committed suicide on December 16, 2005. It's coming up on one year, and I've pretty much accepted it now, but it was a very, very hard year in a lot of ways. And the period before he did it was hard, too, because he did talk about it. He did not shout and cry and go on, he talked. Quietly. Most sincerely. And intellectually. He and I agreed that ultimately, it was a decision no one can make for another, but that I, personally, would very much rather he stopped talking as if he might do it.

Then he did it.

That night was the most horrible of my long and rather soap-opera life. There were sheriff's deputies and coroner's deputies, and something called Crime Scene Cleaners, expensive and worth every penny, when you figure what they had to clean up. He shot himself. In the head. I do not have and do not want any more details than that, except that I noted little circles on the ceiling in the living room, where the sheriff's office people had circled in pencil the blood spatters. On the ceiling. He was not a very tall man.

So think about the empty place in various people's lives before you figure you gotta right to quit anytime you want. A right in the sense of no one can take it away from you, perhaps. But it is not a right thing to do.

I like your list of things you have done to cope. Add some serious contemplation, and perhaps even meditation, to the mixture, and I think you will be fine. Lots and lots of young people have to confront this particular demon and conquer it. You can, too.

Answer 3

I have been suffering from post partum depression for the past one year when I gave birth to a baby boy. I couldn't stop thinking about how my husband loves him more than me and how things might be better if he wasn't born at all. Thus, I stayed away from him because I knew that I might do something I will regret for the rest of my life.

Almost instantly I went to a therapist and convince them that I need help. Among other things, I've tried herbal supplements and other book to treat depression but nothing works like the Depression Free Method. So now I'm proud to say I'm one of the happiest mother in the world. My husband loves us both very much and I thank the Lord for the blessing he gave us.

Depression Free Method?

Answer 4

Suicide is usually a result of an insult unto death. Depression is formed long before suicide was exposed. Your coping is a Start. Now you need to see society as two groups... The winner-players and the outsiders or fillers as they are called. Accept that you are an outsider and find one friend in the same group. That will get you into the subject that takes a lifetime to study. Helping others allows for faster learning... good luck.

Answer 5

1-800-SUICIDE
Paxil
Cold water splashed on face.
Hot baths while lighting a candle and listening to sage! (it's sounds like the wind, fluts and wind chims very relaxing).
I pray and ask that the feelings go away.
Take Borage oil.
Take spirulina.
Muscle relaxer if nothing else works.

That phone number is o.k. if you get a decent counsleor - I talked to one last night about 10:00 pm and I felt worse, I hung up on her and called her back and told her that if I were any worse off of a client that had called in she would have made me want to commite suicide worse. She was not helpful, she ws irritating and stupid, she would not answer my questions she was just plain out rude and acted as though she had better things to do. I will be calling again today to tell who evers on this shift about it too..... I ended up calling my friend and it seems as though she knows just what to say.... The thing is I really didn't want my friend to know how I was feeling and wouldn't have had to call her if that bitc* at 1-800-suicide would have done her job, I seriously don't think shes qulified to deal with persons like myself or other suicidial persons. I really hope she does things different if she continues working there b/c she is not helpful in any way! She just made me mad! And when I asked her why she wasn't very talkitive she said b/c everytime I ask you a question you seem to get more upset, well hello sometimes that is how it works lady!!!! I was answering her though wasn't I!

Answer 6

I'd like to know how many years you have been having suicidal thoughts and depression. And do you know what causes it? What are the triggers? Is it the Holidays? Or the way it is totally dark outside at 5pm? Do you live in a city that is overcast a lot like Washington or Oregon for example? Your coping mechaisms are ok, but I think you need to get to the root of the problem through counseling. It might just help. If you are religious, sometimes you can get free counseling through the church. Why do you get so sad with the Holidays? Do you carry with you bad memories from your childhood? It is normal to go through periods of depression. Everyone does. There is no magic that can make it better. Even anti-depressants don't always work, and in some cases never work. I think you need to concentrate on the things that bring you happiness or a feeling of worth in your life. Whatever talents you have (and you do have some, for each person in gifted and unique in some special way) develop them and find some peace from doing activites you like. Allow time just for yourself to do something special for you. Such as every evening before you go to bed try taking a warm bath and lighting candles in the bathroom. And some scented oil to the bath water like lavender. Go through the time to make yourself smell good by rubbing some lotion (or better yet cocoa butter cream) on your skin. Go to bed in something that makes you feel sexy. Your self esteem needs a big boost if you get depressed a lot. If you are not where you want to be in Life, concentrate on what your dreams are find a way to make them come true. Even if it's a very slow process, do little things like go back to college, save money for that special house you want to buy etc. Value yourself. And to learn to not take things for granted, donate your time to a homeless shelter to serve food etc. The more you reach out and touch people with your giving and loving heart the more you'll be Blessed in Life. Smile and compliment people that come across your path, even if you are shy and insecure. You'll be amazed at how much of a difference you can make in their life by seeing them smile back at you. Let you inner Light shine. Honey, you only have this one Life, and let it count. No matter how much bad things you've been through, only you can make the Life ahead a brighter path to follow. Good luck!

Answer 7

Do you have coping mechanism whereby you are with a special friend, another person whom you can trust with your thoughts/feelings? I don't know how old you are, but, young people are capable of sharing without having to feel embarassed. But you need to be careful though. Pick someone you know from your neighborhood or from school, someone whom you feel has a responsible job or role.

Perhaps you can pray about this. Ask God to open opportunities for you to find these rare people who can mentor, guide, not advice nor lord over your choices. Ultimately, you need to decide what's best for you. Any mentor only gives guidance, not demands nor judgment and he/she understands boundaries well.

Answer 8

i turn on zen relaxation cd really loud and use my brain for really concentrating on something like spider solitare or yahoo answers or email somebody. I call a friend and talk it out. I have heard that holding ice in your hand is supposed to help but it always seemed stupid to me when i was suicidal(do you hear this?)Good Luck and email me and maybe we can help each other out sometime with this depression.

Answer 9

I cope by listening to 3 Doors Down songs like 'Loser', 'The road I'm on', and 'away from the sun'. These songs remind me that I am not alone in feeling this way and that helps me. I then follow up with hard aggressive music from Disturbed like 'The sickness', 'Pray' and 'stupify'. The aggressive music snaps me out of my funk.

Answer 10

hello friend, one of my friend has the problem of depression. even i too get stressed often, its because of my temper, but u can control it. think that there is no person in this world who is perfect, everyone has a problem, the mechanisms u use are good, along with it try to do meditation everyday. also try some yogas and pranayama with a help of a teacher. it will surely help you