What exactly are you allowed to say in t? (trigger)

What am I allowed to say regarding suicide without getting in trouble/getting T in trouble? T tells me that we need to be able to talk about it, but at the same time whenever I say something she asks me if I really mean it and tells me that if I say yes then I have to go to the hospital. So then I have to tell her that I didn't mean anything I just said. I'm not suicidal right now, but its something that I've been thinking about a lot and I want to be open and honest about it with her. And I feel like a fool telling her all of this stuff and then immediately having to tell her that I didn't mean any of it, even if I did. I guess I'm just wondering if you know what the threshold is of what I am allowed to say before it becomes a problem.

You should be able to discuss thoughts about suicide pretty openly, but when you show intent and/or a plan, your T will kick into a different mode. She has to do that. To do any less would be negligent. You might want to have a discussion about where she draws the line. The description of her saying if you mean what you said you have to go to the hospital seems a bit vague. A detailed discussion about thoughts vs. ideations vs. intent vs. plans might be in order.

If you really do have intent or a plan, the hospital probably is where you need to be for your own safety. I know you don't want to hear that, but it is the reality.

With my T, if she knows that I have intent, she has called an ambulance for me. I have been able to discuss the thoughts with her, even plans I have had. The only time it becomes a problem is when I admittedly have intent (or, I won't admit it, but she now knows me well enough to know)

Talking about suicide can be a sticky wicket for sure, but it does come up and should be talked about.

In fact, talking about it is a good way to prevent things from moving toward a crisis.

Personally, I would rather look like a fool and feel better than keep it in and get in real trouble later on.

IF you have a plan, and you therapist asks you if you have a plan, then PLEASE TELL HER. The best way to deal with this is to be totally, utterly honest. Forget the threshold and trust your therapist. That would be my rather rigid (sorry) advice on this subject.

I totally agree with Chris..get specifics from T. I usually start with "I have thoughts, and several scenarios, but not immediate intent, can I talk about that a little?"

I agree with the others... Talk to your specific T abt it.
My old t couldnt handle ANY of this kind of talk. New T and i talk abt suicide frequently. She doesnt freak out or threaten to call 911. She knows i just need to talk sometimes.

I have these thoughts also and I share them with my T. I have been hospitalized before for this but have more coping skills now. I tell my T that I will be honest with him if I am in an unsafe mode. I don't want my loved ones to go through the pain I have by losing 4 people to suicide. That is what keeps me here in the worst of times. He knows this is important to me and he trust me to do as I have promised and I will.

I think if you differentiate and qualify, say something like "I do not feel suicidal but have been thinking about the idea of suicide. . ." that might help your T better understand where you are coming from.

Think about "I have been thinking about suicide." That can mean committing it as well as just the "concept" so it is important to be clear and start with telling your therapist how you do not feel at all suicidal right now, unless you do and then you should tell her that too so she can help, even if it means hospital rather than a suicide attempt!

It's better to ask a "stupid" question than make a stupid mistake. It is better to go to the hospital if you are thinking of suicide too much than to not go and attempt your life. Talking about plans and how you would commit suicide if you were suicidal is thinking about suicide too much.