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.
