How do you know if you’re at risk of suicide?

[Rupes79]

I’ve been having a pretty tough time the last 6 or so weeks. There are times when I am very depressed. Sometimes I string a long a couple of good days but it’s rare. Most days are tough.

Im often occupied with thoughts of why do I even bother continuing to live when it is so unpleasant? Why do I feel like I have nothing to live for? I look and see people who are happy and content and ask myself why I don’t have that. What is making them happy and me so miserable? What do I have to do to enjoy life?

Hence the title for this thread how do you know if you’re at risk of suicide? If you feel you have nothing to live for and that you’d be better off dead than alive are you suicidal?

I suppose because when truly suicidal you end it you don’t get to relive and learn from that experience because it’s over so how do you know what and when that feeling is?

In terms of feeling safe yes right now I am safe.

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

From someone's who's made one attempt, have a sister that's made one attempt and had a brother and uncle that did end their lives I feel I can answer your question.

I don't think, when it comes to happiness, we can ignore the basics of how the average person maintains their happiness.

• Our nature. Some have the genes of a happy nature
• A stable, secure and happy childhood
• Hobbies
• Passions (hobby that takes up every spare minute of thinking)
• A sense you have a stable family with support
• Friends, at least one close one
• No money problems.
• Goals, short, medium and long
• A love relationship if desired
• Holidays
• Career of choice
• Good health
• Positive frame of mind.
• A pet

Those are just off the top of my head. If you don't have any of those issues then therapy could help.

What I do know is that life can be incredible and so joyous but you might need to work for it. E.g. forcing yourself to play a sport to meet others and keep fit. Working a second job to provide extra funds for spending on hobbies. Ridding yourself of toxic people. Etc

So such planning of your future is essential.

I hope that helps. Please ring 1300 22 4636 if you need to talk to someone.

Repost anytime. Many members do so for some time until they improve.

TonyWK

[Guest9337]

Hey Rupes79. I've not studied this one but instead experienced it. Tough topic...

Suicide paths may move from questioning about living, i.e whats the point of life and having an answer that dead is somehow better than living.

Then thoughts/feelings progress into planning. Thinking about methods, discarding or accepting methods, refining methods.

Then onto acquiring items needed for the plan.

Then failed implementations of the plan. Trips to hospital.

And unfortunately the final display is achieving the plan.

I imagine some people go through all that in an hour or a day, or years.

A lot of suffering prior to and along the way, so keep an eye out for pain and suffering, aim to reduce those.

[geoff]

Hello Rupes, and good replies by Tony and David as this is an important question and don't have much to add than what's been said.

If someone is addicted to alcohol and/or drugs then this thought may have been going through someone's mind for quite a while, especially when they have had an excess amount and all it may take is just one little argument with someone they know or live with to spark a final decision, that's what happened to me and it wasn't the thought but what action I actually did.

When I was recovering in hospital, I was very sorry for my family and did feel guilty.

Geoff.

[smallwolf]

Hi Rupes79.

I found a post of yours in another thread so I went searching... and here I am!

As Geoff said... the other replies are good also.

I am not sure what is happening in your life at the moment. We can only assess where things are at in our own experiences. If I were to speak for myself, that sense of not wanting to live was a result of everything being overwhelming, that feeling I could not anything right, etc. Through my psychologist I had leave from work. I had no plan to end my life, nor desire per se.

Over time after then, I worked out that if I were to have balance in my life, and do something I was passionate about, things which white knight mentioned, there is a possibility things can get better.

But that is part of my story. I hear you when you feel there is no way out, when the negative thoughts smother any positives. I am interested in your story... Talking can help. As I said, I know very little of your story. If you want to, we could chat for a bit, about yourself, what you like(d) to do, or something totally random.

Listen to you, Tim