Preventing Suicide

     What drives people to commit suicide? Well first off, suicide is considered when one has lost all hope. When I was back in high school and learning about depression in class I remember asking myself, 'How could someone even consider such a thing? How can someone lose all hope?' Today, I understand this more than ever before. The answer is simple really, and there can be many factors. Depression is obviously the leading cause of suicide. Usually a series of disastrous events in one's life leads them to this critical point. It's still quite difficult for me to talk about the reasons for my suicide attempts. Again, there were several factors. Not long after I graduated, I started feeling intense loneliness. The most accurate way I can describe it is like looking down into a deep black and bottomless pit. I felt cold and I shuddered at the thought. As a result, I started to depend heavily on my closest friends. I have a tendency to make more girl friends than guy friends. I learned the reason for this not too long ago. My psychologist said it's because I'm closest and most comfortable around my mom. Many people are like that. Anyway, one of my closest friends was a girl and I grew frightened at the thought of losing her. Long story short, I grew irrational and paranoid and I didn't realize I was in deep depression until it was nearly too late. One day, I found myself in the emergency room underweight and dehydrated. I cut on my arms until they were bloody. I wanted to hurt myself. I liked the pain for some reason. Tears were streaming down my face because I felt like I was such a mess and I had no intimacy in my life. I wanted to die. When I looked at my future, I saw a black coffin. I saw no hope and all I saw was my death. Another factor leading to my depression is instability. I had no idea what to do with myself after college so I slowly fell apart. How did I prevent my suicide? I can promise you that it was impossible for me to do it alone. I had and still have an overwhelming amount of support from friends and family. Being a pessimist is no longer an option. It's hard work with all the constant negative thoughts but I have to fight if I am to hold my ground. I refuse to go down that road again. It shook me to my very core. My friend and family gave me reason to live and I had a renewed faith in Christ. He is the only thing that is eternal. Everything was stripped from me. I wasn't able to depend on anything. Especially myself. Jesus carried me and I would be dead for 2 years had it not been for Him.
       So how can friends and family help prevent a loved one from committing suicide? First of all, don't take anything they say that hints of death for granted. Casually ask, 'Are you planning to hurt yourself?' Depressed individuals usually cave in because their feelings build up for so long that they just want to talk. They want help. Suicidal individuals see death as their only option of escape. Always be on watch for signs. Anything from change in behavior and habits to their daily routine. If an individual is determined to end their life, they may not divulge any sort of clue. Sadly, we cannot prevent this kind of thing all the time. When talking to a suicidal individual, be loving but firm. Don't just brush them off and direct them to a psychologist. Go with them. Show them that you care. Listen to their plight. I, for example, was very scared of telling anyone because I thought I would be shipped off to the looney bin and I thought no one wanted to hear about my issues. I was so scared of being left alone. I still am. But these are just a few ways to help you prevent the death of a person close to you. Suicide is hard for a lot of people comprehend, much less understand. I hope this gives you a glimpse into how to deal with it if it ever comes into your life.