re: Lost an acquaintance to suicide

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Well if you were only an acquaintance I cannot see why you would feel the need to second-guess yourself.

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IDK, it's just hard to understand. I wish he'd given anyone the opportunity to help him, family, friend, acquaintance, stranger.

It always seems odd to me when people with family and stable job do this. These are basic staples of life that keep you wanna schedule it’s the people going without that would see more at risk

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It always seems odd to me when people with family and stable job do this. These are basic staples of life that keep you wanna schedule it’s the people going without that would see more at risk

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But that's not always a ticket to happiness as lots of folks do those things thinking that's just what they're supposed to do instead of doing them because they want to.

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Suicide is a terrible, terrible, horrific experience for the survivors (those left behind after a loved one takes their own life). I hope I and nobody in my family never know the pain a person suffering from severe depression knows but I unfortunately do know the pain a suicide survivor knows and it's not fun

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I'm sorry you experienced that.

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Please, if you have suicidal thoughts, reach out to someone. Chances are that someone doesn't know you are having those thoughts and would love to help in any way they can. Please, seek help. No shame whatsoever in seeking help.

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This cannot be overstated.

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Sorry to hear it. Fortunately, there are a lot of kids in my family so any depressed thought about killing myself would be immediately snuffed out by the thought of how the babies would feel. Honestly, I can't even bear the thought of it.

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You have a rational, normal functioning brain, to expect someone suffering with severe depression or other mental issues to think like you do is not realistic, often those that commit suicide saw themselves as a burden to their family.

I was in a severe depressed state, bordering on psychotic, when I made an attempt at suicide. I'm already bipolar (wasn't diagnosed until years later). But this was the blackest mood I've ever been in. I'd just lost my girlfriend of 3 years, she cheated on me. I lost my dog. I had been laid off earlier in the week. My house was underwater and going into foreclosure.

I called the suicide hotline. That was a waste of time. Called everyone I knew almost except my parents. I really wanted my brother. I needed to talk to him and him alone.

Finally, I just gave up trying.

I drank a bottle of Maker's, got a razor and slashed both wrists multiple times. I then got in a hot shower and laid in the bottom of the tub.

My brother showed up, kicked down the door to my condo and pulled me out of the shower. He bandaged my wrists, and asked me why. I couldn't really even tell him.

We agreed to never speak of it again.

I went to work the next day.

After that, I tried to slowly kill myself. Or in my words, "Dare God to take me the frick out."

Drinking too much, combining all kinds of illicit drugs and prescription pills, driving like a crazy person, jumping off cliffs, swimming in rip tides, anything to put my life in danger.

Never worked.

Now I'm sober, and the dark voices are quieter, but they're still there. I don't know if they will ever go away, but I can tell them to ,"Shut up," these days.

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A few years ago, more than half of the replies would have been derogatory along the lines of “that weak fricking coward” or “I knew someone who committed suicide and I hate them for it.”

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Afternoon and evening shifts haven't chimed in yet.

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To anyone on the board who is struggling with depression, or who is having thoughts of hurting yourself, please, please reach out to someone. You're never beyond the help of family or friends, and your life is precious, and you are loved.

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Unfortunately, people today dont reach out because the insane government has things in place that will forever label them and cause them to lose constitutional rights, among other things, if they see someone about depression.
Many many people suffer and dont seek help for short term issues, and it's all because they will be flagged forever.

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It's not just that easy. Sometimes you talk to people and they don't care or don't take you seriously.

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This. And there are those who'll give you a pat on the back but six months later when you haven't snapped out of it they're nowhere to be found. Most people, and that includes immediate family members, aren't there for the long term, especially when the depression is intractable. I speak from experience dealing with someone close to me who's been in a major depressive episode for about two years. I've watched friends and family drift away until almost no one is left. Even therapists lose patience with someone who's not getting better. They're not supposed to, but they do.

I'm not saying don't reach out, but if you're not willing to be there for the long haul, you're not doing the person any favors.