Mental Health Awareness Is Essential Suicide Why People Carry Out Their Suicidal Thoughts?

Why People Carry Out Their Suicidal Thoughts?



Suicidal thoughts must be taken seriously

Fact: Suicide has been predicted to become the number one cause of death by the year 2020

by: Tamera C.Trotter

Suicidal thoughts can really seep into one’s mind at anytime especially if you are dealing with clinical depression, or other mental health disorders.

I know that trying to understand why someone would take their own life is the million dollar question. There is so much guilt that surfaces when someone we know commits suicide.  All of the questions about, “Why,” come up.  Loved ones are pained tremendously and wonder whether they could have done anything to prevent such a final act. It is likely the individual suffered in silence for a period of time unbeknown to their family or friends. The stigma that surrounds mental health issues is real and so many mask their feelings to keep from feeling like a burden.  The truth is you will probably never know the exact reason and there was likely nothing you could have done.  There may be warning signs but not necessarily.  These debilitating mental health diseases do not discriminate but take many innocent prisoners and often times out of the blue. Suicide is an act perceived to be, “Selfish.” The loved ones left behind must literally pick up the pieces and try to move on with their lives.  Unfortunately, most individuals who have dealt with clinical depression have more than likely contemplated suicide. They become overwhelmed by the hopelessness, guilt and agony they feel.  It is a painful existence and your support and understanding is what they need the most.

They suffer with Anxiety and Stress

If someone really wants to die by way of suicide there is not much anyone can do. Unless you are with that individual at the precise time they decide to end it all, you not will be able to save them. In most cases the successful person in committing suicide is not trying to hurt anyone; they are trying to end their pain. At the moment they decide to pull the trigger, hang themselves, jump off a bridge, take an overdose, step off the curb into oncoming traffic, or sit in the garage with the car running; their spirit was broken and death seemed like the only way to stop their pain.  They were suffering far beyond their ability to cope with their mental health issues.  They were overwhelmed and saw no way out.

They were overcome by unbearable sadness and felt death was the only way to end their internal, breathtaking pain.  Please know they tried to continue on, and they really did not mean to hurt anyone.  Your loved one felt only death would end their dark and sad existence. Their clinically depressed mind was telling them, “Life is too painful.” It was during this moment they decided to jump, pull the trigger, take the overdose, tighten the noose, start the car engine, or step off the curb into oncoming traffic. Many commit suicide on accident and its a tragedy; Suicide take no prisoners nor discriminates.

They Suffer with Suicidal Thoughts in Silence

The clinically depressed individual struggles daily to survive. Their mind is the worst enemy they have and they often trapped inside their thoughts. They make assumptions about their interactions, sometimes become paranoid and have difficulty decided what is true. They feel alone in their pain because they are convinced they are a burden to their family and friends. They have a couple of friends in whom they may confide, but unless you have experienced the deep-rooted sadness and helplessness no one  can really understand the day to day and often moment to moment struggle of mental health disorders.  For the most part sufferers of mental health conditions conceal the fact they suffer with clinical depression because society can be cruel and accusatory.  The negative stigmas that surround mental illnesses encourage silence and seeking professional help is perceived to be a weakness.

As hard as this may be to accept, you are not responsible for the death of your loved one; they did not kill themselves because of you. It is common for suicidal thoughts to run through the minds of those with a mental illness. Clinical depression is an unrelenting disease that affects millions of people; every single moment of every single day. People who are depressed do not want to be this way. They isolate themselves, stop communicating and try on their own volition to pull themselves out.  Once they realize they can no longer endure the pain they begin planning to end it all.

They may have untreated symptoms of depression

Individuals who suffer from mental health disorders put on their game face every day to appear normal.  They are not faking when they seem fine and go hang out with friends. But, you have no idea how hard it was for them to get dressed and leave the house.  If they appear to be having a good time, this is probably true.  However, when they get home, sadness sets in and they begin to feel alone all over again.  Next, they must build up the courage to wake up and face another day that may be filled with misery.

If you are trying to make sense over the suicide of loved one do not blame yourself for their act.  There may not have been any warning signs so do not beat yourself up.  You can play back your last conversation in your mind but it is not your fault if you missed it. You will never know. They were likely already resolved about their decision to commit suicide. It was all about them and not about you. They were in such pain and sadness beyond belief and somehow they believed death was the only way to end their pain. They may not have thought about how their death would affect you.  Their mind said, end their existence, end the pain. There death is not your fault, this treacherous disease that effects so many lives is the real culprit.

Remember your loved one by bringing more awareness to this condition in an attempt to erase the stigma that having a mental illness means you are crazy and do not let their dying be in vain.

You Can Help

The best help you can give to someone with a mental illness is to check on them, through a phone call, text, email or face to face visit.  Just don’t ignore them. Let them know you care and have thought about how they are doing. You can also encourage them to exercise, get at least fifteen minutes per day of sunshine, listen to upbeat music, keep a journal and set at least two attainable goals per day. Encourage them to seek professional help.

Do Not Give Up On Them

The depressed friend is not asking you to be their therapist. They just need to know you care, are concerned and take this disease seriously. The lonely feelings are locked inside because they do not want to push anyone away. Being rejected drives a stake right through their heart and sets off a series of unhealthy thoughts that deepens their depression even more. Depression is a debilitating disease with ripple effects that  are spread far and wide. If you know someone who is depressed check on them, even if its a simple text message, an email or e-card, but most of all help them feel they are not alone.

PRAY FOR THE MENTALLY ILL EACH AND EVERY DAY