[Wild Coyote]

SUICIDE DISCUSSION THREAD

Welcome Everyone!

We'd like to introduce a (trial)Suicide Discussion Thread to address the topic of suicide, which is a significant challenge for those living with either Bipolar I or Bipolar II.

Researchers estimate that between 25% and 60% of individuals with bipolar disorder will attempt suicide at least once in their lives and between 4% and 19% will compete suicide.

Suicide attempts in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence

In response to recent requests for a safe place to openly discuss suicidal thoughts/ideation/struggles, we hope to address these needs via a discussion thread here in the Bipolar Forum.

~Christina and Wild Coyote have secured PC Admin's approval to start a (trial) Suicide Discussion Thread.

Please Note the Following Guidelines:

*This thread may not be a good fit for some; yet may prove very helpful for others. Know your triggers!

*Do NOT discuss plans or intentions here.

*Neither one of us offers 1:1 support. If you are experiencing acute difficulties and are not receiving the support you need from the community, you may note this in your post; it would then be wise to seek an alternative source of support.

*Make sure you have a crisis plan in place with your provider so you know which steps to take in order to stay safe.

PLEASE REVIEW THE PC COMMUNITY GUIDELINES FOR POSTING ON THIS TOPIC:

https://psychcentralforums.com/depre...resources.html

There is a list of hotlines on the above thread as well.

If you have questions, please pose them in a post directly on the thread.

This is a trial Suicide DiscussionThread. If members respect guidelines, we may be able to offer long-term Suicidal Discussions and support.

THANK YOU!

[Wild Coyote]

We'd like to give special thanks to Daonnachd. He has consistently advocated for the needs of people struggling with various suicidal issues.

[Nammu]

Good topic for discussion. In my state suicide ranks in the top ten reasons for death, yet mental health budgets are constantly cut. The number of Pdocs is shrinking as the older ones die off and/or retire and new doctors are not choosing to practice psychology. This needs to be talked about and brought into the open .

[wiretwister]

thank you for opening a public forum . . . .

[~Christina]

Nammu I agree with you fully. It is a huge problem and just getting worse.

[~Christina]

Welcome Tig

[Moose72]

@Nammu its good that I've found a good pdoc. I will be upset when mine leaves. Funny thing is, when I had my sui attempt five years ago, I don't remember her being involved. There were police and an ambulance and a hospital stay but pdoc never visited or called. I wonder what's in my file about it.

[Nammu]

I do remember in my darkest days that I thought I was alone. I truly believed my daughter would be better off without me around. Looking back I can see this was false and twisted thinking of my illness. I can remember waking up in ICU and raging that "they" had saved me. I don't know what can be done for anyone in that state except being put in a safe place and kept safe. There is no magic meds in my opinion and we need more hospitals for that state. All the meds and all the coping skills in the world don't matter when your own mind is in that darkness. It was terribly terrifiing being in that place and I believe only time and compassion from the staff helped me. I don't know but this new trend of throwing meds at people simply isn't the answer. We need safe and accessible hospitals. That's my 2 cents on suicide. Maybe meds can prevent a person from being consumed by the illness but once there you need that safe place.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I do remember in my darkest days that I thought I was alone. I truly believed my daughter would be better off without me around. Looking back I can see this was false and twisted thinking of my illness. I can remember waking up in ICU and raging that "they" had saved me. I don't know what can be done for anyone in that state except being put in a safe place and kept safe. There is no magic meds in my opinion and we need more hospitals for that state. All the meds and all the coping skills in the world don't matter when your own mind is in that darkness. It was terribly terrifiing being in that place and I believe only time and compassion from the staff helped me. I don't know but this new trend of throwing meds at people simply isn't the answer. We need safe and accessible hospitals. That's my 2 cents on suicide. Maybe meds can prevent a person from being consumed by the illness but once there you need that safe place.

I am so sorry you have gone through all that

I agree with you, there is only so much that can be done before you need IP for your safety and safety of others.

Im glad that mental health is being talked about more, More talking and taking the stigma away can help show a need. A need for More a need for Better.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I do remember in my darkest days that I thought I was alone. I truly believed my daughter would be better off without me around. Looking back I can see this was false and twisted thinking of my illness. I can remember waking up in ICU and raging that "they" had saved me. I don't know what can be done for anyone in that state except being put in a safe place and kept safe. There is no magic meds in my opinion and we need more hospitals for that state. All the meds and all the coping skills in the world don't matter when your own mind is in that darkness. It was terribly terrifiing being in that place and I believe only time and compassion from the staff helped me. I don't know but this new trend of throwing meds at people simply isn't the answer. We need safe and accessible hospitals. That's my 2 cents on suicide. Maybe meds can prevent a person from being consumed by the illness but once there you need that safe place.

Hi Nammu, Thanks so much for sharing .your story. with us. You help to shed light on the needs of the individual, which is critically important.
I definitely do not think the meds are a better approach than human compassion. I have seen studies where certain AP meds address suicidality almost immediately.

Thanks again.

I have struggled with these thoughts ever since I can remember (even before being diagnosed)

think it was the abuse from my family that prompted it first off

thanks for the thread

[Crazy Hitch]

@wildCoyote

Are we allowed to discuss previous personal experiences, as in we are not a threat now to ourselves or others? And when you say “plan” does that mean we are restricted from mentioning methods we may have used in the past?

Sorry to be late to the party but I need to be sure I understand peramatera.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

@wildCoyote

Are we allowed to discuss previous personal experiences, as in we are not a threat now to ourselves or others? And when you say “plan” does that mean we are restricted from mentioning methods we may have used in the past?

Sorry to be late to the party but I need to be sure I understand peramatera.

Thank you for your question, Crazy Hitch!

We are in unchartered waters. I am currently attempting to doublecheck with Fooze on your question, which is an excellent question. I hope to get back to you ASAP Thank you for your patience.

[FooZe]

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

Are we allowed to discuss previous personal experiences, as in we are not a threat now to ourselves or others? And when you say “plan” does that mean we are restricted from mentioning methods we may have used in the past?

Sorry to be late to the party but I need to be sure I understand peramatera.

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Thank you for your question, Crazy Hitch!

We are in unchartered waters. I am currently attempting to doublecheck with Fooze on your question, which is an excellent question. I hope to get back to you ASAP Thank you for your patience.

Sorry to be late to this discussion. Everywhere in these forums, including in this thread, we don't allow you to describe plans that you may be considering for ending your life. That would include, for example, "If I'm not feeling better by (date), that's it!" We'd probably let you mention in passing that at some time in the past you were feeling so low that you were considering (unspecified) suicide plans. Still, no details, please.

We normally don't allow methods or means of suicide to be discussed, even behind trigger tags. We'd expect such discussion to prove too upsetting for at least some other members who might have considered ending their own life and/or had a loved one end theirs.

[Sunflower123]

My first attempt was at age 16. My most recent was in early 2019. I’m horrified when I’m thinking clearly at what I’ve done. At the time it seems to be the only answer and I am impulsive. I’m not scared to seek help. It just gets that bad that quick and it’s off to the races. I’d like to think I’ve learned from these experiences so it won’t ever happen again.

This is a great thread. I was active on the site in the days before and after my latest attempt and I felt that I couldn’t say a word so I didn’t. There is such a stigma around it that I feel vulnerable and will probably delete this post.

I do now have a detailed prevention plan as well as a hope box.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

My first attempt was at age 16. My most recent was in early 2019. I’m horrified when I’m thinking clearly at what I’ve done. At the time it seems to be the only answer and I am impulsive. I’m not scared to seek help. It just gets that bad that quick and it’s off to the races. I’d like to think I’ve learned from these experiences so it won’t ever happen again.

This is a great thread. I was active on the site in the days before and after my latest attempt and I felt that I couldn’t say a word so I didn’t. There is such a stigma around it that I feel vulnerable and will probably delete this post.

I do now have a detailed prevention plan as well as a hope box.

HI Jennifer,

You are very courageous to post your experiences here.
I am so glad you have survived and are okay.

I do think many attempts are impulsive.
I am soooo sorry you'd felt you could not share about this and were left all alone to cope with all that was going on for you.

I certainly wish I could have been present for you during that time.
I am available to you anytime, whatever is going on, no judgment, ever.
I love you!

[CANDC]

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

My first attempt was at age 16. My most recent was in early 2019. I’m horrified when I’m thinking clearly at what I’ve done. At the time it seems to be the only answer and I am impulsive. I’m not scared to seek help. It just gets that bad that quick and it’s off to the races. I’d like to think I’ve learned from these experiences so it won’t ever happen again.

This is a great thread. I was active on the site in the days before and after my latest attempt and I felt that I couldn’t say a word so I didn’t. There is such a stigma around it that I feel vulnerable and will probably delete this post.

I do now have a detailed prevention plan as well as a hope box.

Jennifer, I am sorry you have had a couple of attempts, but fortunately not successful.

I have heard of safety plans which sounds like a "prevention plan" but what is a "hope box" and how do you start one?
@CANDC

[CANDC]

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

My first attempt was at age 16. My most recent was in early 2019. I’m horrified when I’m thinking clearly at what I’ve done. At the time it seems to be the only answer and I am impulsive. I’m not scared to seek help. It just gets that bad that quick and it’s off to the races. I’d like to think I’ve learned from these experiences so it won’t ever happen again.

This is a great thread. I was active on the site in the days before and after my latest attempt and I felt that I couldn’t say a word so I didn’t. There is such a stigma around it that I feel vulnerable and will probably delete this post.

I do now have a detailed prevention plan as well as a hope box.

Jennifer, I am sorry you have had a couple of attempts, but fortunately not successful.

I have heard of safety plans which sounds like a "prevention plan" but what is a "hope box" and how do you start one?
@CANDC

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

My first attempt was at age 16. My most recent was in early 2019. I’m horrified when I’m thinking clearly at what I’ve done. At the time it seems to be the only answer and I am impulsive. I’m not scared to seek help. It just gets that bad that quick and it’s off to the races. I’d like to think I’ve learned from these experiences so it won’t ever happen again.

This is a great thread. I was active on the site in the days before and after my latest attempt and I felt that I couldn’t say a word so I didn’t. There is such a stigma around it that I feel vulnerable and will probably delete this post.

I do now have a detailed prevention plan as well as a hope box.

Jennifer I am so sorry that you have hit that dark hopeless place. Thank you for sharing

This Thread came together because we need to have a place to come to and talk and how yes we can go from doing okay to hell in the blink of an eye..

[TunedOut]

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

My first attempt was at age 16....

There is such a stigma around it that I feel vulnerable and will probably delete this post.

I am glad you haven't deleted your post. I remember how when I had my very serious attempt in 2015 that when I was with others who didn't know (for instance, my H and I went to a play with friends), I felt like I was different from every in the room and if they knew what I had done they would be shocked. It was hard to think of much else other than how shameful what I had done was. I was in a whole different mindset and PC was the first place I could talk about it. My H supported me as much as he could but it was hard (and would be repetitive) to talk to him about it everytime it was on my mind because it was always on my mind. My POV is that it helps to have a place to talk about it. Hugs to you. I know the more recent the trauma is, the harder it is to talk about it. Stay safe Jennifer and everyone else struggling with this issue.