Suicidal thoughts
It has been noted that here is no effective method of measuring suicidal
ideation -or suicidal thoughts about engaging in suicidal activities. The studies that there have been conducted appear
to have been based upon individuals responding to questionnaires, and so only provide an 'indicator' of this serious problem.
Intrusive thoughts (or obsessions, as psychiatrists choose to call them)
are said to affect everyone from time to time. Such thoughts may be totally senseless, or could involve things which we know
we shouldn't do
Most people are able to put these thoughts completely out of their minds. Others (particularly those affected by
depression or stress disorders following a traumatic event) are often unable to do so.
Intrusive thoughts and flashbacks can be persistant and very difficult to handle up to the point where they are debilitating.
Intrusive thoughts are thought to be most likely to occur when one is stressed or experiencing negative moods:
Anger. Anxiety. Depression etc
Typically, these unwelcome thoughts and images involve doing or saying something which is inappropriate and unacceptable.
The most common 'themes' include aggressive, sexual or religious content (eg shouting or screaming obscenities. Unacceptable
sexual acts. Behaving violently towards others. Or blasphemous thoughts and images). Having said that, it is said that
most intrusive thoughts are very different from the mental health problems that can result in inappropriate, or illegal, aggressive,
violent or sexual behaviours.
Most people have the ability to distract themselves from unpleasant thoughts or memories in the early aftermath of a
trauma, and usually employ the common sense distraction technique of keeping themselves busy as a distraction.
Whilst it is believed that most intrusions will weaken and diminish over time, sufferers will conceal such thoughts from
others through confused feelings of shame and guilt. By sodoing, such thoughts become suppressed - and suppressing such thoughts
can be extremely dangerous.
What we can do to manage suicidal
thoughts.
- A
great many people maintain a daily journal (like a diary) to record our thoughts, dreams, hopes and feelings. Firstly,
we are required to write down our hopes and dreams for our futures and include our loved ones and others who are important
to us and our lives.
- Simply
writing things down is a good way of focussing on our thoughts and feelings. But we must remember to actually read what we've
written down on the occasions that we need to give ourselves a reminder where we are and where we are going.
- Resist
the temptation to run away and cut ourselves off. We are recommended to fully engage ourselves in social activity as
much as we possibly can.
- Going
out with family and close friends is highly recommended.
- Dining
out is also highly recommended, but we should do everything possible to avoid alcohol and narcotics.
- Bear
in mind that when we are ‘well’, we value and enjoy spending time with loved ones - But when we become depressed,
it can feel almost impossible, but it is still extremely important.
- Visiting
friends and relatives who care – and encouraging them to visit you - can help you feel much better about yourself and
life in general.
- Given
that most deaths by suicide result from sudden, uncontrolled impulses. Avoid alcohol and drugs which can be a major contribution
to such impulses ,this being so, it is essential to avoid them.
- Drugs
and alcohol can also seriously interfere with the effectiveness of any medications prescribed for depression.
- Journaling
is a great tool for learning to recognize the earliest warning signs of an oncoming suicidal crisis. There are often subtle warning signs our bodies give us when an episode is developing. As we learn to manage
our 'condition', we will learn how to be sensitive to them. We must not be afraid of these warning signs, they remind us
to treat ourselves with the utmost care,
- We should not be afraid to talk about suicide with people we can trust and who can understand
us. Self-help and peer support groups are ideal for this purpose and are a good source of coping strategies.
·
By sharing our thoughts and feelings with others that we
trust we will discover that over time, our ability to explore our thoughts and feelings about our depression will provide us
with many valuable insights.
·
Talking about suicide with people will not plant the
idea into someone’s mind. We must not forget that - not everyone who thinks about suicide commits or even
attempts it.
·
For the overwhelming majority of people suicide is
a passing thought that diminishes over time. For others however, the hopelessness and anxiety brought on by untreated or under-treated
depression may create suicidal thoughts that they cannot easily manage on their own. Sharing our experiences and insights with others like ourselves, could benefit both us'
and them.
