I agree with sophiesmom. I find that I censor myself. I ask myself what outcome do I want from my engagement with this person? For instance, I get narcotic pain killers (hydrocodone) from my PCP, and I would like to keep getting them. So, when I visit my PCP every 6 months, I'm not going to dwell too much on my issues with depression. I don't want to put my PCP (a nurse practitioner) in a spot where she has to worry about prescribing a potentially lethal drug to a person with a potential for suicide. The Feds are coming down on providers for just that. She has a right to protect herself.

People resent being put on the spot. When you go to anyone with talk about killing yourself, you automatically put them in a spot. Immediately, the person has to evaluate whether or not they should call the police to check on you and offer to take you to the E.R. for an evaluation of your potential for self-harm. People resent having to make that decision for an adult. People, with some justification, feel that they are being imposed on inappropriately. There thinking, likely, is: "What is it you want me to do for you?"

Often, we just want someone to listen sympathetically. But, if our need is couched as a threat, it can evoke the opposite sort of feeling.