[Lilly2]

Here are some helpful tips when you're in crisis:

Call a hotline number.
Call a friend after you've called a hotline number.
Call more hotline numbers if the first one didn't work out.
Use the coping skills you've learned in therapy.
Make a list of things that you'd like to discuss with your therapist, a new therapist, an IP doctor/staff, a hotline person, etc.
Make a list of the *solutions* you'd like to see in yourself, such as a reduction of depression, a reduction of the pain you are in, a reduction of the emotional storms you are feeling, a reduction of the SI or SH thoughts/plans/actions/attempts that you've contemplated, and any other problem areas you'd like to see changed through help from other professionals.
Read articles (from a Google search or PsychCentral search or PC Forums search).
Get advice from us here on the PC forums, and pick the one that works best for you.
Hang on, even if it takes one second at a time, because there are people who do care about you.

[Lilly2]

Here are some more helpful tips when you're in crisis:

Call 9-1-1 (if in the USA), or the police number (if in another country).
Visit your nearest emergency room.
Leave a message on your therapist's voice mail after you've called 9-1-1/or other emergency number, called a hotline, or visited the nearest emergency room.
Leave a message on your close love one's voice mail after you've called 9-1-1/or other emergency number, called a hotline, or visited the nearest emergency room.
As best as you can, breathe, tell yourself that you're doing everything you can within your power to seek help and get better, tell yourself that you can take one small step at a time.
Count to 100 before making any impulsive decisions.
Breathe and focus on your breathing.
Hold onto something comforting and safe, like a pillow or teddy bear.
As best you can, make a brief list of your symptoms that you would like to discuss with your emergency treatment team.
As best you can, make a brief list of the solutions you'd like to see from your emergency treatment team.
As best you can, remove yourself from any dangerous objects, people, places, or things.
As best you can, ask for a safe person to wait with you while help arrives, or accompany you to the nearest emergency room.

[Lilly2]

More Resources:

Suicide Hotlines

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

Crisis Chat: Lifeline Crisis Chat - CONTACT USA

Crisis Text Line: Crisis Text Line

IMAlive: IMAlive – An Online Crisis Network

Poison Control & Drug Overdose Hotlines

American Association of Poison Control Centers: (800) 222-1222

SAMHSA’s National Helpline: (800) 662-4357

National Institute on Drug Abuse Hotline: (800) 662-4357

Cocaine Anonymous: (800) 347-8998

Disaster Distress Hotline(s)

Disaster Distress Hotline (SAMHSA): (800) 985-5990

Veteran's Crisis Line

Veteran’s Crisis Line: (800) 273-8255

Youth Crisis Lines

YouthLine: (877) 968-8491: Text TEEN2TEEN to 839863

The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: (800) 422-4453

Covenant House: Help for runaways: (800) 999-9999

National Runaway Safeline: 800-RUN-AWAY

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: (800) 843-5678

Child Find of America Helpline: (800) 426-5678

Domestic Violence & Maltreatment Crisis Lines

Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 (SAFE)

National Domestic Violence Hotline / Child Abuse / Sexual Abuse: (800) 799-7233

Adult Abuse Hotline: (800) 222-8000

Common Hotline Phone Numbers

[Lilly2]

These tips would be helpful as stickies on a lot of forums on PC, btw. But instead of reinventing the wheel and posting duplicate threads, I'll just leave it here in the "Coping with Emotions" Forum.

There are also "warm lines" for non-crisis issues that could also be listed as stickies somewhere. I may find and post those on a thread somewhere. I know of a few warm lines for veterans, but not yet for civilians. I may have spotted the term on PsychCentral somewhere, however. Warm lines are for those with SH, ideations (no plan, no active intent), ruminations, struggling with coping skills, loneliness, domestic ruptures, relational conflicts, tremendous losses, etc.

I hope these tips help those who are actually in crisis, or may think that they are heading toward crisis.

(((safe hugs)))

[TunedOut]

Find people you trust (including a psychiatrist if appropriate) and tell them everything that is going on. When you hold part of the story back, it is harder for them to help you. On a few occasions my anxiety got so bad I became paranoid or suicidal and hid it for a long time--isolation can be very dangerous when you begin feeling like this. You need help but are hiding it.