Suicide.
Yes, that horrible, terrible "S" word.
I have avoided this topic like a plague.
I do not want to talk about it.
I want to pretend it does not exist.
But it does. As last week was Suicide Prevention Week and I just now found out, I think it is time we talked.
Robin Williams ended his life recently. The whole world knows what happened to the beloved Williams. What is glossed over is that he took his own life. Dead from suicide.
Over the summer I found out a former high school teacher of mine decided to end his life at the young age of 33. I did not care of this teacher, but I do not believe anyone deserves to feel so hopeless they take their own life. Death by suicide.
Back when I was a freshman in high school, a classmate of mine's brother took his own life. A suicide.
Back when I was days from graduating high school, a man, whom went to my old church at the time, ended his life. Another suicide.
At the start of a spring semester, a professor at my college found out he had terminal cancer and decided to end his own life. Another suicide.
Today I found out a former neighbor of mine took her own life yesterday. She was just 14. One more tragic suicide.
I cannot talk about suicide without talking about the evil that is depression.
Depression is a very stigmatized illness. Most mental illnesses are because we have this idea that it is easily helped. Society has an overall idea that mental illnesses are controllable and we can fix it on our own.
Just do not be sick. Just not be sad. Just be happy.
It is not that easy. It is like something grasps at you. It grates at you. Mentally, emotionally, depression will wear you down. It makes you believe you are worthless and everything is hopeless. It is a battle against your own mind. And depression is not one to give up so easily.
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. So little is still known about how the mind works. There a lot of chemicals and wiring and signals that go into the functions of the brain. Too little, too much, one little fault in the wiring, or a mixed signal can turn the mind off-kilter. It is far more complicated than just being happy and not sad.
When someone chooses to end their own life, those left behind are left with an array of complex emotions and feelings. It is a death of a loved one, so there is always that grief of loss and an awareness that they are gone. In addition to trying to come to terms and accept the loss, those left behind have to wonder what went wrong. How did they not notice? Why did they leave the person alone? Did they do something, say something, to push them over the edge? Maybe they could have stopped it, prevented it somehow. Maybe they could have said something, done something to stop it. Then there is anger at the person who ended their life because how could they do that to them? How could they hurt you like this, hurt the family like this? The questions continue. There are not any real answers when it comes to this type of death.
If only...
If only...
We never know what is going on inside the mind of others. They may look put together, but inside they may be falling apart. I believe it was Plato who said, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Life is hard for just about everyone.
If you know someone suffering from depression, be a friend. There is always hope. Everything that goes down, must go back up.
If you or someone you love are showing the following warning signs
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.
- Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
- Talking about being a burden to others.
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
- Displaying extreme mood swings.
Please seek help ASAP
Call the following numbers anytime
US 1-800-273-8255
UK +44 (0) 8457 90 90 90 (UK - local rate)
+44 (0) 8457 90 91 92 (UK minicom)
1850 60 90 90 (ROI - local rate)
1850 60 90 91 (ROI minicom)
For all other countries, please refer to this site for your local hotline.
We can save lives together...
We can save lives together...
No comments:
Post a Comment