I need to cry for help. Should I try suicide?

Question

I experience a maddening infuriating sense of helplessness brought on by the lack of control over my life. I see no way out. My parents do not let me go out with friends, drive a car, have a boyfriend, or anything else all other 15-yr-olds do. They make me stay home and study whenever I am not at school.

I told them that I have a problem and that therapy may be a feasible solution, but they do not want to pay for it and do not let me work. As long as I get all A’s and stay safely locked up at home, there is no problem.

In health class, we learned that suicide is a cry for help. I considered attempting a suicide, but fear that I might end up killing myself. Aspirin overdose is the safest available methods and is among the most common for females my age.

I considered other alternatives, like failing a class, but I do not want to sacrifice my GPA. And besides it is not a fail-proof method. They might take away tv and computer, which will only add to my helplessness.

The problem with college is that my parents want me to go to a local college just so that I will live at home. Even though local college sucks so bad that I don’t need a GPA above 1.1 to get in.
If I could, I would go somewhere else, but my parents sit on all my legal documents. I don’t know my own social security number.

Can’t call anyone. Not allowed to use the phone.

Talked to guidance counselor. Got “You will thank your parents when you grow up.”

Talked to a teacher. Got “Go to a far-off college.” Can’t. Parents won’t let me apply.

I don’t want to KILL myself, I want some ATTENTION to my PROBLEM. I don’t have suicidal thoughts other than what I was taught at school that it’s a cry for help.

Can’t deal with parents for an A. If I get A-, I lose TV privileges for half of a semester. But that hasn’t happened since 6th grade.

I don’t really have friends, just the people I talk to who might or might not know my name.

I got 780/750/740 on my SAT. I can go almost anywhere. But I’ll go to a college that required 400/400/400!!! Thanks, parents, the perfect GPA will do me so much good. I’ll have a wonderful job after this rat hole.

It’s not like I’ll go sleep with half my school, use drugs, or lose GPA if they let me go out occasionally. Don’t know, once a year sounds good? I never went out.

Maybe if I get to juvy for 2 years, then the system will give me my documents? But then my chances to go to college will decrease somewhat.

I love my parents, but this is ridiculous.

Answer 1

No.
Most adolescents feel helpless and out of control. You are in the transition period between childhood and adulthood. Your parents still see you as a child. You see yourself as a young adult. You are neither. But during this transition period, you do need to experience a bit more freedom so that you can learn to handle it gradually. How much is really at the discretion of your parents, like it or not. Ask them for more freedom. Don't ask for everything at once. Start with something small, like maybe going to the mall with your friends on occasion. Make sure you follow all of the rules and are back at or before the time they gave you to be home. Show them that you can be responsible in small things so that gradually, they will give you more and more freedom.

Answer 2

Please whatever you do, do not try suicide. I have had the unfortunate experience of having to go through the effects of it with two people that were very close to me. One succeeded the other didn't. Try to think of all of the people that care about you. If your parents will not let you go to counseling then talk to a trusted teacher about everything that you have mentioned or even a school guidence counselor. That will get the ball rolling and get your parents to wake up. It sounds like you are experiencing depression and no matter what anyone tells you it is a disease and a very serious one that should be treated by a doctor. Please don't wait talk to someone that knows you at school that is an adult that can help. Your parents are trying to protect you and help you make something of your life when in fact they are part of the problem. A family counseling session is in order. Even though its hard try to think positive. The first step in your recovery is knowing that there is a problem. You have one foot in the right direction. Good luck.

Answer 3

You do not want to use attempted suicide or failing classes as a way to "cry for help". Aspirin and Tylenol overdoses are extremely dangerous and VERY PAINFUL...don't even think about it!

Your parents might be overprotective and controlling but at least they care. Would your prefer them to let you ram the streets and do what you wish? I know this is a frustrating situation for you for you but please realize that there are thousands of kids out there right now that wished their parents gave a damn about them and made them stay home!

With that said, I am very concerned about your thoughts of suicide and pleas for attention. Please go to the phone RIGHT NOW and call the Girls and Boys Town National Hotline at 1-800-448-3000 (free call). The Girls and Boys Town National Hotline is a 24-hour crisis, resource and referral line. Trained counselors can respond to your questions every day of the week, 365 days a year. They can help teens with suicide prevention, depression, school issues, parenting troubles, runaways, relationship problems, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, chemical dependency, anger and much more. Any problem anytime. CALL THEM NOW! I mean RIGHT NOW.

If your parents don't take you seriously (they might if you let them read what you posted here) then you also need to convey your troubles to a trusted adult: grandparent, teacher, coach, guidance counseler, etc immediately. You need to get this addressed immediately.

Remember that people love and care about you (just look at all the people that responded to your question). Suicide is a final solution to a short term problem. It is NEVER a choice, even for attention. Call the hotline RIGHT NOW and they will give you the answers you need.

Good luck and I will keep you in my prayers!

Answer 4

You have some issues that can only be solved by communicating with your parents. My sister went through a similar situation when she was your age (I was only 8 years old at the time). She rebelled against them and did what she wanted to anyway, but they just cracked down harder and harder. If you entertain thoughts of suicide now, you will be more likely to have suicidal thoughts when you are grown and out of the house. What your parents need to realize is that eventually you will be 18, and you will be free from most of their restrictions. So they need to learn how to trust you now or they will never be able to trust you when you get into college. Ive seen it before, people who have super-restrictive parents dont know what to do with all the freedom and usually make destructive decisions. Besides, often the only way you can learn about what not to do is to either see others experiences or experience it yourself.

Your parents need to realize that their restrictions are making you suicidal, and that they cant hold on to you forever. When you talk to your parents dont raise your voice, even if they do, you have to prove you are mature, even more mature then they are. You do need to realize that 15 years old is actually pretty young though, they have some good reasons for being strict. What is needed then is a series of compromises, which is what adults do. You are obviously a smart person, im sure your parents realize that, now you have to convince them that you are mature.

Please do not attempt to commit suicide, it will only make things worse, and your parents will only restrict you more, or even worse... put you in an institution.

Answer 5

Your parents seem to look at your future rather than what is happening to you right now and keeping you from making fatal mistakes that may jeopardize your future, you sound like a smart person and that is what they are protecting. If you are really close to your mom or your dad then talk to them and tell them your feelings, or at least ask them why they don't let you do things with friends. I think it is really sad that you feel you have to go to the extreme to get attention, but I really don't know the whole situation either. I hope things work out for you and just be strong, it will all make sense to you one day, and you might even thank your parents for it later.

Answer 6

The major plus here is that you want to maintain your GPA, which means the problem is not your life. If it were about your life, you wouldn't give a damn at all. And I mean not give a damn in the sense that you would lay in bed and never come out of your room even to wash.

The problem right now is feeling trapped. Not to say that you don't have a problem, but believe me, please, in 5-10 yrs you are going to thank your parents for keeping you on the straight and NOT crazy path. By keeping straight you will stay on the path to being successful. Your parents care.

You should have a guidance counselor at your school. Request to speak to someone and tell them you feel trapped. (Don't mention suicide... you may be saying that you think about it, but your post today shows that you love your life and world...you just feel held back.) Next, try to talk to your parents. This is going to be scary. But, try to incorporate them in a way to get out of the house. For example, suggest to them that for every A you make, you get to eat at your favorite resturaunt at the end of the month. The whole family can go.

I know it feels strained now. I was in your shoes once... My parents where really stict. I got out of the house for ONE party in the 11th grade! LOL I don't remember any others. And I didn't have the grades you did. I realize now that my parents trying to keep be in was their way of protecting me. Now, I am a very responsible person who loves life.

I hope this helps!

Answer 7

We all have problems in life and suicide is NEVER the right alternative, even attempting it to grab your parents attention. If they won't help you, find someone who will, a friend's parent or school counselor and tell them what's going on with you.

You probably feel the same way as I do when people tell you that this is "the best time in your life". Don't believe it. I'm holding out for what comes after I can bust out on my own. You should too.

Answer 8

I'm sorry, but here's a rude awakening. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO KILL YOURSELF OVER!! People who even say one little thing about suicide will NOT go through with it. All they do is want attention. Honestly, your situation is not as bad as others. Other children our age have to work full time jobs, not going to school, and pay the bills at home, watch their bro/sisters. And they can't handle going to school at all, because they're too busy caring for the lives of their families that don't take care of them. THOSE are the kids i understand would even CONSIDER suicide. So don't EVEN think that you're going to be asking for help. Because guess what? YOU'LL BE DEAD, YOU CAN'T GET HELP IF YOU'RE DEAD!! So don't even complain.

Answer 9

Your health class teacher is partly right, but suicide is also attempted by people trying to get control of their life, people who, like you, feel powerless to control anything. As you realise, sadly sometimes people succeed when they did not intend to and that would be a tragedy.

So what can you do? Have you asked your parents when they are going to give you a bit of freedom, explain how you feel without criticising them and tell them what you would like. Could you make a deal with them, such as "If I get A in English, could I . . . . ?" and ask for whatever you most want to do. Good Luck

Answer 10

Honey do you know that an overdose doesnt send you off to sleep and you die in a coma. You know it can takes days, weeks even, while you writhe around in considerable agony and throw up your guts.

Poisoning yourself is a horrible way to die, and rarely works.

Apart from this, no suicide is for those who truly want to die, not for attention. It does sound like you're unhappy, and you should try reason with your parents and tell them how you feel like you wrote above.

Failing this see the school counselor.

You will act out so bad when you hit 18 if they don't let you have some freedom now. I hope they realize this. But you know - when you get good grades and go to college you'll have so much fun. And oh yeah good jobs = more money ,so more fun.