It is a sad reality but a reality just the same: People with mood disorders (Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder) comprise the largest group of people in the world that commit suicide. People who are suffering from Bipolar are less likely to kill themselves when they are depressed. This is because they are so worn out from the depression that they do not even have the energy to really carry through with it . It is when they are coming out of the depression that suicide is more likely to take place. Bipolar individuals who have have mixed states are the ones that are at the highest risk during a crisis. Their moods are so unpredictable and whirling out of control that they are more likely to carry through with it.

Suicidal ideations should never be ignored. They should always be taken seriously. A depressed person, whether Bipolar or not, should never be made to feel like they are a bad person for having these feelings. Neither should they be shamed by telling them that they are weak, or giving them poor but well intentioned advice like :
"just pull yourself up by the bootstraps"
"reading a good book should keep your mind off of things for awhile"
"whenever I'm feeling sad I just go and clean the whole house, that always makes me feel better!"
"I worked hard all my life and never had time for depression"
I'm sure you have heard all the "lines"......... No matter how it is said or put, the bottom line is that the people who say these things obviously have never been in a deep dark depression and wanted to die. I wonder if I wasn't Bipolar and didn't personally experience depression and suicidal ideations, if I'd have empathy for people who are depressed or suicidal like I have always wished that people would have for me?

Are you having suicidal ideations? We know exactly how you must be feeling right now. Feelings of hopelessness engulf every fiber of your being. You feel like hope is a four letter word, like hope doesn't even exist for you right now. And if you are having personal problems in your life right now, that certainly adds to the feeling of being weighed down with those overwhelming feelings of negativity. You must accept the fact that this is not your fault for having these feelings. It isn't anything that you can just snap out of. It takes time to heal, and the first thing that you can do to start the healing and recovery from this recent go-around of depression is to let your doctor know that you are having these feelings. Don't be afraid of telling him or her. Your psychiatrist will want to know what is going on with you so that they can adjust your medication.

Please don't be too hard on yourself right now. When you are recovering from surgery you need time to heal. Bipolar Disorder is a physical illness that causes mental problems. So just as with surgery or any other illness, it takes time to heal! Do you want to be depressed and have suicidal thoughts? Of course not! If you could take all of this away you would. I know I would. But we can't help it when we feel so bad.

When we are in the middle of a depression our thinking is clouded. Our good judgment has stepped aside...we sometimes think of suicide as a way out of the pain. We don't stop to think that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. You don't feel like it is temporary right now, you feel like you have been depressed your whole life and that the pain will never stop. But trust me, it will. You really don't want to kill yourself, you just want the pain to stop. And in time, it will. What if you killed yourself? The pain would stop but so would your life. Your whole life. The life of that of your family and friends and the friends that you might have made in the future. You would never get to see that beautiful sunset again, the fresh chilly mornings of Spring with all the birds singing, to hold your first baby in your arms, to see your kids grow up, to see your grandkids in that school play. Is there a family member that would be hurt by the news of your death? The funeral arrangements....burying you in the cold hard ground....they would be left behind to take care of all of this and they would be left behind with all the guilt, thinking that they didn't do enough for you, living the rest of their lives wondering what they could have done different. And what about your friends? But more importantly, think about what killing yourself would do to you, it is permanent ! There is no changing your mind later.

There are new medicines on the market all the time, and more being made and tested everyday. There are even pharmaceutical companies that have contracted with doctors around the country to have their patients try experimental medicines. Glaxo Wellcome is just one of the pharmaceutical companies that is doing this.

Please hang on, we know how you feel. We have been there before. Many of us fight the suicidal ideations and feelings of worthlessness frequently. If I sound like I am begging you not to do this, well, I guess I am. There have been times where I could have benefited from someone begging me not to do it. Many times I felt like I had to hang on in silence. But I have learned that it doesn't have to be that way. There are many people out there that care about me, that care about you, that would love to help you through this.

Below you will find some online resources where you can learn more about suicide prevention and there are even some that offer 800 numbers.

Pamper yourself. Love yourself. Hang on, and keep hanging on.

Love,
from Mela, Mongan and the Peer Counselors

 

Click on the links below :

 

Depression resource, Have a heart suicide help
http://www.have-a-heart.com/

Hot Lines
http://geocities.com/hotsprings/sauna/6585/hotlines.html
hot line number 1-800-999-9999

- Previous Page -		- Home Page -

We subscribe to the HONcode principles of the Health On the Net Foundation

Note: All information contained within this site is supplied by non-degreed people. A lot of the content within this site is based on personal opinion, not a professional one. Any questions about you or your loved one's health care should be directed at a psychiatrist or therapist for proper accuracy. Last updated: 8-10-06