If online text chat is easier for you, find a service in your country. In the US, try 988lifeline. org. For TTY (Text Telephone) services in the US, dial 1-800-799-4TTY (1-800-799-4889). If you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, or sexually self-questioning in the US, call 1-888-843-4564 or 1-866-488-7386.
It may be easier to write the friend an email, a letter, or a chat, even if you are sitting next to her. If the crisis lasts for an extended period, arrange other friends to be with you on a rotating schedule, or ask your friend to arrange this for you.
It is also possible to talk to an online therapist. A therapist can work with you to make all of the coping steps below easier, and to identify specific treatments that can help you. She may refer you to a psychiatrist, who can prescribe medication.
Try to see your emotions and actions as separate. The pain can feel so overwhelming that it distorts your thoughts and behavior. But thinking about suicide isn’t the same thing as going through with it. You still have the power to make a choice not to take your life. [3] X Research source
Social isolation, withdrawal from friends and family, thoughts of not belonging or being a burden Extreme self-hatred, feelings of hopelessness Sudden mood changes (including for the better), rage outbursts, low tolerance for frustration, agitation or anxiety Increase in alcohol or drug use Insomnia or severely disrupted sleep Talking about suicide, planning it, or acquiring tools for suicide While self-harm is not the same as suicide attempts, the two are strongly linked. Seek immediate attention if you inflict serious or frequent self-harm, including punching walls, pulling out hair, or scratching your skin.
Minimize alcohol and drug use. Despite the temporary good feelings, they can make depression worse or harder to deal with. If you don’t feel as though you’ll be safe in your own home, go somewhere where you do feel safe. Stay with a friend, or go to a community center or another public place where you can hang out.
If you aren’t comfortable sharing with anyone in your life, read about the award-winning, global Buddy project on their twitter page, and sign up for a buddy here.
1. Call someone on my list of people I can talk to. Write a list of five names or more, including 24-hour suicide hotlines. In a crisis, keep calling people on the list until I reach someone. 2. Delay my plan for 48 hours. Promise myself that I won’t take my life before thinking through other options. 3. Ask someone to come stay with me. If no one can come, go to a place where I feel safe. 4. Go to the hospital. Drive myself or have someone take me. (It’s not recommended that you drive yourself, as you might take reckless actions when driving due to a “death wish”, so it’s better to have someone else take you to the hospital, such as a trusted friend or one of your parents). 5. Call emergency services.
Depression, schizophrenia, bipolar, PTSD and other mental conditions often lead to suicidal thoughts. [5] X Research source These conditions can often be treated with therapy and medication. Make an appointment with a therapist and start exploring treatment options if you have a mental condition that’s causing you to feel suicidal. If you’re a veteran or you’ve experienced bullying, abuse, poverty, unemployment, major illness, or loss, you are at increased risk of suicide. [6] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source It’s important to get support from people who have been there and understand what you’re going through. Support groups exist for all of these conditions. Certain events or circumstances can lead us to feel helpless, isolated, or burdensome - feelings which often lead to suicidal thoughts. But even though it’s impossible to see it right now, these circumstances are temporary. Things will change, and life will get better again. If you don’t know why you’re feeling suicidal, it’s important to work with a doctor, therapist, or counselor to find out what’s going on.
Drugs and alcohol. The chemicals in drugs and alcohol can often make depressive thoughts turn suicidal. Abusive people. Spending time around a person who is physically or emotionally abusive can trigger suicidal thoughts. Books, movies, or music that trigger tragic memories. For example, if you have lost a relative to cancer, you may wish to avoid films about cancer patients.
Plan your day around the times when you most commonly hear voices. Some people prefer to relax or shower during those times, while others like to stay busy. Listen to voices selectively, concentrating on positive messages if there are any. Rephrase nasty statements to neutral ones, and use the first person. For example, turn “We want you to get out” to “I’m thinking of going out. "
Figuring out a treatment plan isn’t always easy. You’ll need to connect with a therapist you like working with and who uses an approach that works, and you may opt to try a medication or a combination of medications that could take awhile to remedy the problem. It’s OK if you don’t get immediate results - the important thing is to keep trying. Keep using your safety plan when you need to and working toward feeling better. For some people, suicidal thoughts come and go throughout life. But you can learn how to cope with the thoughts when they come and have a full, satisfying life, no matter what.
