If you or a loved one is contemplating suicide, it is not too late to find relief from your pain. The following resources are on standby to assist you in overcoming suicidal thoughts:
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available around the clock, every day of the week. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, regardless of the severity or frequency, this resource is able to help.
- Local authorities, such as police stations or fire stations, are available to help in the event of a suicide attempt. They can also connect you with local counselors or other resources if you are unsure who to contact for a long term solution.
- The local hospital emergency room staff are familiar with a variety of medical and emotional crises. If you are suffering from a suicide attempt or need a safe place to go for help, emergency rooms are open 24/7 and can provide you with the contact information of local pastors, counselors, or facilities that can help you heal.
Know that you are not alone. Every day, countless people around the world consider taking their own lives. While the reasons vary from medicinal side effects to broken relationships, the heart of the issue is intolerable pain. We are all familiar with it. During a crisis, some turn to isolation and self-deprivation. Others look to alcohol and drug use, which actually raises the risk of depression and addiction, leading to a higher risk of suicide.
During the overwhelming circumstances, it’s easy to believe no one else has walked where you are, and it’s even easier to convince yourself that no one else could understand your situation. That’s why each year 800,000 people around the world make the permanent decision to end their lives, leaving their friends and family in the wake of the devastating impact. In fact, 1.4% of all deaths in 2015 were the result of suicide. It is a very real epidemic, but there is a very real way to heal from the pain and prevent it altogether. Here are a few of the ways that you can find health and happiness in place of your pain:
Find a New Purpose
Do you have a full-time job that you actually enjoy? What are your hobbies? Do you have a healthy and positive group of friends? Sometimes if we stand back and look at our day-to-day lives, we realize that we are feeling empty and unfulfilled by the routine we have set for ourselves. We have no motivation or hope because we feel we don’t have a purpose. In some cases this leads to depression.
Studies show that those who struggle with depression set less specific goals, because they are not confident in their ability to achieve them. If that sounds familiar, stop limiting yourself to the same mundane schedule. Try to set one or two goals that are attainable, yet somewhat challenging. If you are having trouble determining those goals, speak with a counselor or friend who can help you set and attain them. Reset your focus and allow yourself to see the value and purpose of your life.
Community
Those who struggle with depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts tend to pull away from the ones who love them. Physical or mental pain skews reality and makes us believe we have nothing to offer to anyone and we end up rendering ourselves useless. To curb that thought process, surround yourself with healthy friendships, support groups, and family members. Open up to a few people you can trust about your suicidal thoughts or attempts and allow them to help you find the light at the end of the tunnel. (There is one.)
Allow Yourself to Enjoy Life
There’s this guilt trip we often place on ourselves that says our pain has to outweigh any joy that we have in life. If we are struggling with work, stress, family issues, or physical issues, somehow we convince ourselves that we are no longer allowed to have any fun. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, studies have shown that people who enjoy their lives naturally live longer. Spending time traveling, finding a new pastime, or seeing a new movie can all influence your life for the better and actually help you desire to live.
Life doesn’t end here. There are so many good days ahead that are worth fighting for. You can be free from your pain and enjoy a very long, healthy life worth living. The first step is letting yourself ask for help.
Article by Jennifer Scott