How to handle overwhelming suicidal thoughts?

How do you handle your suicidal thoughts/urges when they are just overwhelming? When on a 10 scale you are at 8 and climbing.
Sorry I don't know what else to say. I feel like there's more to say I just don't know how to put it into words.

Sorry if you aren't religious but...

I usually pray to God to take those thoughts away. Usually works too.

Or if I don't pray I try and distract myself. Do things I enjoy or surround myself with my family.

I think the worst thing you can do is isolate.

I am religious but praying doesn't really help.

Honestly I'm not sure I have an answer. When I am at an 8 or above I either act on the thoughts or end up in hospital. I know hospital isn't an option for you though. Would sharing more here help at all?

I have never attempted but I have come very close twice. Once I was at the point where I had the "device" (trying to be as generic as possible) in my hand. I was almost certain it would work but because I wasn't 100% certain I wouldn't try. I put it away and went to bed. One of my worst fears is surviving an atempt.

Thank you for not suggesting I go to a hospital.

This may sound strange but I let myself imagine doing it (the ways might vary), and that somehow helps. It calms me down.
Other times when I'm really on the edge, I'm doing other self destructive stuff. Obviously not recommended.
If I can cry that helps. Other activties that require more discipline like writing it out, breathing exercises could help but maybe when one is calmer.
Music.
Something that reminds me of what I like about life...usually something artistic, related with colours
Watching/ reading something painful, so I can feel my pain expressed in a way.
Maybe a lot of these are not 8/10 stuff...

Sorry that your going through this

I don't have an answer either. When I'm at 8 or above I do not know how ...

((( Humpty Dumpty )))

((( whisperingskye )))

Hospital is not an option for me either

I've heard some people usually give themselves some time before doing any action (such as waiting 24 hours). In the meantime, their suicidal feelings go down. I'm sorry you're struggling

distract, distract, distract, distract, until it passes, or at least gets easier. I watch sitcoms friends, frasier, two and a half men, some others. Humour eases the pain and distracts as well. two birds with one stone.

I have night medications that knock me right out so I go to bed even at 4:00 in the afternoon and feel better when I wake up. If you are at an 8 out of 10 it's time to contact your t and pdoc for some help. I was in the same position Good Friday and had to put in an emergency call to my pdoc. Good luck. You're not alone.

That's all well and good for those that have a t or pdoc, of which I have neither. Plus if I did they would obviously want to commit me which is not an option.

Here's where I'm weird:

I will never distract myself from it, not really. I put on a movie or music as background noise and then I write. What do I write? Suicide notes directed towards specific people. Most of the time, I can't finish them. When I can finish them, then I plan out every detail to a 't'. Then I set a date, time and place. I'll have everything in motion. Everything. Then I force myself to act like nothing happened around my family and friends. When I'm with them, I ask a simple question, "Are they ready for what I'm about to do?"

They're not, nor do I imagine they'll ever be. And so, all planning and letters don't mean a ****ing thing because I can't deliver them. Not when I know what will follow for them.

I get it.

I've been thinking about this, just yesterday. I think writing suicide notes would actually help me process stuff (yeah I'weird too)

I'm not going to lie, I started doing this because the methods hotlines and school counselors offered me weren't doing a thing. So, senior year, I decided "Screw it. I'll do the exact opposite of what you're telling me." And it worked.

This might be in bad taste, but suicide prevention made me want to eat a bullet for breakfast.

(I'll understand if this comment is removed. I tried... )

Easy, call 911. You can't undo suicide. There's no take backs in it. Its very final. Better safe than sorry, ya know?

You do realize that calling 911 is for emergencies only & for those who actually need help? If I do that I will be locked up & that all but guarantees I will go through with it.

You don't consider having the strongest desires to take your own life an emergency? It most certainly is. What's so bad about being in the Psych ward anyways? You're safe there. No way you can go through with it when your there. No worries.

I usually go for distraction of some sort, whether good or bad it doesn't matter so long as it takes the edge off the urge until I can get through how I'm feeling.

The problem is when distraction isn't enough anymore, when 'giving in' to those thoughts is all you can think about. When ones desire to hang on for just a little while longer is slowly diminishing and you feel so exhausted and out of hope, that it would be a welcome release...

((Hugs)) to anyone else who is feeling this way.

Here, call one of these numbers, Humpty. https://psychcentral.com/lib/common-...phone-numbers/

I can think of at least 2 ways right off the bat to kill myself in a mental hospital. Give me 10 minutes there & I bet I can come up with a 3rd. That's just how my mind works. No where is "safe" for me. Last mental hospital I was in the first thing I noticed was the electrical outlets in every single room.

Maybe this post will be taken down, but I've been at an 8 & higher...& have carried thru.
Obviously I'm still here.

I understand not wanting to be hospitalized. I'd never want that again & for me it's detrimental & increases my rage...& effort.

So what do I do?
I did like the idea of writing the suicide letters. I've done that too. It helps to get it all out. Write & rewrite it. Even did one for whoever found me.
Then I get obsessed with my method & google everything about it & look at it more thru how something will effect my body...how will this process work & possibilities if problems.
Sometimes I find a problem. Just never know.
I also use pain. Now I'm not promoting this at all & I WAS a cutter, but now I try to use something that causes pain that I hate. Mine is cold or ice.
I'll stand in a freezing shower until it hurts or take an icy bath & stay in it as long as I can.

When I have those primate feelings of fleeing, get myself warm I realize it's my body signaling my brain to fight for survival. Your body wants to survive...your brain makes that decision.
So I realize that my instinct is to survive, it's my thinking that's off. I try to grasp that flimsy straw, NOT call it hope bec I hate that word, & know my true self is not fully aligned in this.
Then I sleep. A lot. It's a safety valve for me. I can hide in sleep.

I hope you come down from being an 8. Celebrate being a 7 or 6...even if it's just with a smile.

Stay on here.

PS. Sticking something into an electrical outlet will only produce a shock which will make you let go & pass out. You also don't know the voltages in an outlet...or have the right conductor.
You'll give your heart & body a really good jolt tho.

it has been a little bit since I've been at an 8 but 8 is not uncommon for me. Suicide is something that is constantly on my mind, (it's really draining & often times I just want to give up because I'm tired of fighting) but just because I am thinking of it does not mean I am ready to pull it off. Those who do not suffer with this affliction do not understand that.

True. They do not understand.
I think of suicide every dam day of my life.
My first attempt was with pills & I relive that day, parts of it, a flash or feeling of it every day bec I put vitamins & minerals in my mouth every morning. It's an automatic trigger.
Some days it's just a puff of air across my brain..& others...well the thought is always there.
As a positive it's made me very comfortable talking about death which some find disturbing. But in some cultures it becomes a main pillar to be viewed everyday bec it is inevitable.
In the US, many have issues discussing this. I welcome it & love to study it.

Wish you contentment!