You are reading this blog; it’s a sign that the word ‘suicide’ is somewhere in your psyche. It could be curiosity to read about this topic, or you are actually going through a traumatic event in your life that you are considering ‘suicide’ an option.
If you are in the latter category, know that your perception is shrunk at the moment. There’s absolutely no denying the fact that your emotional turmoil is making your life a living hell, but understand that it won’t last.
Stick by because a brand new sunrise is waiting for you on the other side of this dark thought.
Read the article. Who knows, you may find something that can change your perspective about suicide once and for all.
What are Suicidal Thoughts, and Why do they occur?
Suicidal thoughts occur when we think of taking our own life. They can be categorized into two types: passive suicidal ideation and active suicidal ideation. Passive suicidal ideation is when we keep ‘suicide’ in our passive thoughts and wish we weren’t alive in the moment. This generally affects us psychologically and often occurs when we feel dejected in life.
Active suicidal ideation is when we actively think about how to materialize the suicide. We engage in active planning on how to take our lives and get rid of the emotional hurt or pain that’s going beyond our tolerance.
We often fall into these categories when we are faced with an overwhelming emotional upheaval and don’t find any way to deal with it. When we get into the clutches of hopelessness and powerlessness, we feel the urge to end our lives and relieve ourselves of all the pain and anxiety that we are facing.
Practical Strategies to Stop Suicide Thoughts
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 800,000 people die by suicide every year, and for each suicide, there are more than 20 suicide attempts.
If you have read this far, it shows your hope of finding light at the end of the tunnel. Go through the suggested ways, and you’ll find the next step to guide you toward life.
#1: Give a Last Chance to Life
Whenever you are flooded with suicidal thoughts, turn to this quick resort of delaying it to the next hour or maybe the next day. Think for a while; you can always commit suicide the minute you decide, but isn’t it a valid point to give life a last chance before you quit?
It is the deep pool of sorrow and hopelessness that is triggering your suicidal tendency. Before you can solve the entangled mysteries of life that are pushing you to despair, try to live for that one hour, and you’ll find that you’ve crossed a difficult junction. It could be anything from listening to inspiring music to spending time with your pet.
When you engage in something that makes you feel better at that moment, you have walked past the urge to get over with your life, and now you can start afresh.
Note: You do not have to think of time ahead of you. Restrict your planning to the next hour or the next day. Also, drop everything from your plan for a while that’s making you drown in helplessness or misery.
#2: Bring Temporary Distraction
It is understandable that giving you any thought or advice at the time when you are feeling suicidal is futile. But think for a while: isn’t it a psychological play that is overpowering you in the given moment? No matter how extreme the scenario is, suicide can never be the way out.
The best way to deal with it is to step outside the mental territory and not try to find any solution for the disruption you are experiencing. Instead, take a deep breath and abandon your mind as if you’re already outside your body. Observe your thoughts with a non-judgmental attitude. It will serve you in two ways: first, you’ll be able to reduce the intensity of negative feelings. Second, you’ll step into the power and access a dimension where you do not have to a slave of your thoughts and emotions.
It may sound weird, but it’s most efficiently performed when we are already feeling helpless in our current state.
Note: When you choose to distract from your pain, know that it is a temporary solution to get a tiny bit of relief to surpass the suicidal thought. Once you gain a hold of yourself, try to create a permanent resolve to all that you are facing in life.
#3: Seek Help
It is always advisable to seek outside help when you are not able to deal with the emotional distress. It could be joining the community to help you through your difficult times or sharing your feelings with a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional.
When you are in the low phase of your life, don’t deprive yourself of the sources that can pull you out of this torment. Also, it will give you proof that life isn’t as bad as it seems at this moment. Pain has a tendency to make you feel that you are alone and there’s no end to what you are feeling at the moment. The best way to dodge this illusion is to surround yourself with people who genuinely care for you. And when you do this, you’ll be able to break your shackles of limited perception and carve a new life for yourself.
#4: Avoid Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol and drugs are the most difficult temptations to resist when we are drowning in the sorrow of hopelessness. Also, they are the most readily available resorts that we generally choose to get rid of our pain.
When we get under the influence of drugs and alcohol, it might bring us temporary ease and relaxation but block our ability to make sound decisions in life. When we think of committing suicide, we are already acting according to our impulses, and alcohol and other intoxicants are known to increase our impulsivity. So, how can it be a helpful resort for a person planning to commit suicide?
Our ability to think clearly is compromised when we are caught in suicidal thoughts. The least we can do in this situation is to stay away from alcohol and other intoxicants to help ourselves a little more.
#5: Contemplate
When you’ve reached this extreme stage where you are planning to commit suicide, understand that you are disconnected from yourself. The permanent solution to deal with the suicidal tendency is to contemplate the reasons behind it and try to understand the source of your pain.
When in a calm mood, ask yourself questions like, Is it the unrealistic expectations you have of others, or a dysfunctional relationship, or Am I being a victim of self-sabotaging behaviors that went unchecked for long?
When you commit to yourself and get into self-inquiry, you can slowly and gradually unwind the layers of your unresolved wounds. This is when you’ll start to build a connection with yourself and move towards a better life.
Conclusion
Overcoming suicidal thoughts is not easy, but take one step at a time, and you’ll be fine. Know that you are not alone, and there are practical ways and strategies to deal with it.
You can start by delaying the action when stuck in suicidal thoughts, reach out for help, and step aside your mind to feel like a completely different entity for the time being. On gaining calm, have the courage to step into the dark territory and process your pain and unresolved trauma.
Remember, temporary distractions will work only for a while. So, prepare yourself to work through your pain and hurt to reverse this thought process of escaping life. One important thing: never try to change the way you feel. It will add insult to injury. Embrace your true emotions and transform them with time. We wish you hope and healing.
FAQ’s
When you are going through a time when the mind is hijacked by suicidal thoughts, rely on external support. It could be your friend you can trust, any family member, or call the immediate helpline number 988.
Try to give them your unconditional presence. Throw your judgment out of the window and allow them to confide in you with their pain, emotions, and distress. When you do this, you comfort them and negate their belief that ‘everything is out for themselves.’
Yes, therapy can be an effective resort to reverse suicidal thoughts. Suicide is triggered when pain overpowers coping resources. When a person is overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts, therapy, where you can openly talk to a therapist, can ease your pain and provide directions and courage to navigate through it.
While it’s not uncommon for people to think about suicide when stressed, persistent and intense suicide ideation can be a cause of concern. Seek professional help if you find yourself having suicidal thoughts on a frequent basis.
What are the two types of suicidal ideation mentioned?
