Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

This space discusses suicide and self-harm. Consider limiting the time you spend here. To use the section safely, read the pinned discussion.

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Sophie_M Do you have a safety plan?
  • replies: 96

Safety planning involves creating a structured plan – ideally with support from your health professional or someone you trust – that you work through when you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, feelings, distress or crisis. Your safety plan starts wi... View more

Safety planning involves creating a structured plan – ideally with support from your health professional or someone you trust – that you work through when you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, feelings, distress or crisis. Your safety plan starts with things you can do by yourself, such as thinking about your reasons to live and distracting yourself with enjoyable activities. It then moves on to coping strategies and people you can contact for support – your friends, family and health professionals. The safety planning model was developed in the US by suicide prevention experts Barbara Stanley and Gregory Brown. It has been used extensively by US veterans’ health organisations, hospital emergency departments and high schools, and there is strong evidence that it works. Many health professionals in Australia also use some form of safety planning to support clients experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings, or after a suicide attempt. beyondblue has an app you can use to create a safety plan, called BeyondNow. The BeyondNow app takes the principles of safety planning and makes it even easier to use – so rather than carrying around a piece of paper, you’ve got it on your phone at all times. It’s free to download from the Apple Store or Google Play. If you don’t have a smartphone or would prefer to use your desktop or laptop, BeyondNow is also available to use on our website. Do you have a safety plan? Do you have questions around how you might create one, or fill out some of the sections? This thread is for discussing ideas around creating a safety plan, and sharing tips about what has been most useful about this process for you. Below are two videos featuring Peter and Nic, who have both used safety plans successfully. Peter Nic

Sophie_M PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: posting in this section
  • replies: 0

Life gets pretty hard sometimes and many people in this online community have had times where they have thought about hurting themselves or ending their life. This can be a stressful and at times overwhelming experience, and this section is here to h... View more

Life gets pretty hard sometimes and many people in this online community have had times where they have thought about hurting themselves or ending their life. This can be a stressful and at times overwhelming experience, and this section is here to help members who have had these experiences. This is a place to share where you are at, seek ideas for help and know that you are not alone. We are here to create a safe environment for everyone. Please do not provide any details about any plans/ideas that you may have had to hurt yourself, and importantly, help us to understand if you are safe by letting us know in the post. Making comments that let us know that you are having thoughts, but are safe, helps us to know that your conversation can continue without interruption, and that we do not need to put any further follow up for you in place. This section will not be for everyone.It shows posts from people who are distressed, offers public replies to these posts, and encourages people to come back and share how they got past that difficult point in time - what worked, what didn’t and how they now approach these difficult thoughts. It is important to think about what you want from the forums, what information you need and what threads will be helpful to your situation, rather than reading everything that is posted. For some people this section might be difficult to read – if it is not helping how you feel, then please consider moving to another section. This section, like the rest of our forums, is closely monitored and all posts are reviewed by moderators before publication. Moderators will also ensure that anyone needing follow up will be provided with information about how to access further support. ​This section remains a discussion forum focused on helping each other through the dark times, it is not a crisis support service. Any posts that do not abide by the community rules will not be published. Unlike other areas of the forum, threads in this section will be closed after a period of one month of inactivity. If you are in crisis or need immediate help, assistance is not available via these forums. Please call Suicide Call Back 1300 659 467, Lifeline 13 11 14 or contact emergency services on 000.

All discussions

myeoluv What do you call this?
  • replies: 1

Recently for the past year rather than self-harm I'm feeling the opposite but not necessarily in a good way. I have these thoughts of wishing/wanting the rest of the world to go away or more like wanting to be the only inhabitant of this planet as op... View more

Recently for the past year rather than self-harm I'm feeling the opposite but not necessarily in a good way. I have these thoughts of wishing/wanting the rest of the world to go away or more like wanting to be the only inhabitant of this planet as opposed to how you would usually describe self-harm as if it would be me who is "leaving." I don't mean this is in an aggressive way I just feel like my life would be so much better without anyone in it. I'm not really sure there's a term for this or something similar. I don't think I described it well either because it's hard to explain it. I've tried to talk about this to my therapist but I don't think I got my point across.

PocketRocket88 My inner demons are winning
  • replies: 40

TW Suicidal ideations and urges here we are once again, waking up feeling like crap then to have my inner demons shouting like hell inside my head… no one truly understand the feeling that one goes thru in moments like this… so let me tell describe w... View more

TW Suicidal ideations and urges here we are once again, waking up feeling like crap then to have my inner demons shouting like hell inside my head… no one truly understand the feeling that one goes thru in moments like this… so let me tell describe what or how I’m feeling when I’m struggling… More than often it’s starts with feeling anxious upon waking up. When I say anxious, it means im abit on the edge that it’s like there’s an immediate threat towards myself. Some of the time it settles down when I fully wake up which can last upto 2hrs upon waking up. If it doesn’t, then my demons starts waking up. When I say demons, it’s the suicidal ideations in my head. Not long after they wake up comes the urge to act on it… the urge is like an itch or pressure inside me, if you scratch it(act on the thought) I feel some relief but the downside is that if wanna keep doing it just to relieve that pressure. If I don’t act on the thought, they will go for a little bit but comes back 10x worse than the last which means it just keeps building up until I can’t handle it anymore.., and more than often I I’d give in to just feel some relief. Then it start all over again during the day… I can go many cycles (short intervals) in a day but sometimes I only get a few long cycles which is worse than having little ones… I do feel ashamed of what I’m doing to myself specially when people knows about it. Hence I try to keep to myself which then brings the isolation… which leads to loneliness then lead to an attempt… I currently feel that I’m in the brink of really giving in to these demons in my head… work can just keep me safe for 8hrs but after that? It’ll be hard to not act on the urge… I live alone and coz I’ve distanced myself from people including my family , that no one will think or wonder if I’m okay or not. Perfect setting for the ending of a sad story, my story.

Gob Exhausted
  • replies: 3

I've been struggling hard for 4 yrs and things are just getting ridiculous now ,I wake up and my eyes fill with tears my heart feels heavy with pain and sorrow and I feel so tired even though I've had a good night's sleep.more frequently I have thoug... View more

I've been struggling hard for 4 yrs and things are just getting ridiculous now ,I wake up and my eyes fill with tears my heart feels heavy with pain and sorrow and I feel so tired even though I've had a good night's sleep.more frequently I have thoughts of killing myself and how I would do it ,how good it would feel to just breathe out my last breath and be done with it .the suffering I feel is unbearable these days I struggle hard to smile and find hope in that each day im closer to something better.i find myself overwhelmed with intense sadness and desire to just starve to death ,im trying to over come and recover from an ED aswell and its insanely hard .And what makes it worse is that I Can't. I cant kill myself.i can't do that to my family .but then what ? Am I to suffer forever? I pray for others that go through these struggles ,that you will have strength to get through each day.What do i do then ? Im so alone in my life and no one seems to understand, im shut out by ones that I thought would be the only ones to understand.then I turn to substance abuse to softent the voices,and to dull the pain for a short time ..I wish I was what people wanted ..I wish I could be what I wanted ...I'm going insane ,I can't stand it for much longer I feel myself growing weaker every day I feel no hope .im so very alone

tikalouise I’m Tired
  • replies: 2

Some days I feel so suicidal I don’t even feel like leaving a note. I just feel like walking out the door and never coming back. I get annoyed that I’m loved by people cause it forces me to stay.My favourite “oh you should stay”, is thinking about th... View more

Some days I feel so suicidal I don’t even feel like leaving a note. I just feel like walking out the door and never coming back. I get annoyed that I’m loved by people cause it forces me to stay.My favourite “oh you should stay”, is thinking about the reallysmall impact people that you’ve met like if your primary school crush found out, or that teacher who used to think you’d go really far, “she’s really smart she just doesn’t focus” those people who would spend a minute mourning you, the old best friend. One of the 4 boyfriends you’d had growing up. The guy I spoke to yesterday questioning his self worth cause he couldn’t “save me” I also get annoyed thinking I want to go cause I’ve lost people I love in my life and I know they’d take my spot to be here in a heart beat.. how could I possibly be so ungrateful. I also get annoyed that I’ve told so many people I’m sad and they just kinda agree and laugh. has depression become something we talk about at dinner? Maybe that’s not a good thing.. at least not for me. my favourite line from anyone who listens is “wow your so self aware, that’s the first step” Well funny thing is Karen I’ve been self aware my whole depression experiencei know all the problems but somehow 2+2 is still equaling 5. I like to go inside my head and list off all the reasons why I might be like this. - am I too lazy to change - do I find no purpose in life- does nothing excite me I feel like sadness off of inside out but it’s like an embedded sadness like one thats more a personality trait. Like when I get home I get to take off my funny, cool girl suit and turn into jelly. Even when I am ‘myself’ I’m never really ‘myself’ till I’mby myself. Idk if that makes sense I’m so angry tonight cause I had a good day yesterday when I was fully just me and happy and I’m sick of looking back on that one good day I get a month and crying to myself saying, well at least I got that day. what a rip off. Hopefully I never commit suicide, honestly I don’t know with me, they say if you talk about it you won’t do it.I’m just tired and today a little angry.

Centaured The constant struggle.
  • replies: 288

Why do I wake with thoughts of wanting to die...the struggle of the previous day hasn't stopped and it has already started from the moment my eyes open and will last til I close them again and then continue to go on until sleep takes me or I give in.... View more

Why do I wake with thoughts of wanting to die...the struggle of the previous day hasn't stopped and it has already started from the moment my eyes open and will last til I close them again and then continue to go on until sleep takes me or I give in. I have found nothing really seems to give me relief from these thoughts. So what is so bad about my life you may ask. What is so wrong or bad my existence that is the only thing ever in my head. Well nothing really, so I don't know why I want to die. I just do. I just need every to stop. I want the only permanent solution to my life. I'm tired of dealing with this all the time. I'm tired of fighting that person in my head that tells me to do it. I'm just tired.

KiwiOrange123 Conflicting thoughts: wanting to kms but also trying not to
  • replies: 4

Hello everyone! I am new here. I am glad that I get to express my feelings today. I've been feeling extremely anxious and depressed lately and I couldn't stop myself from overthinking. I've been working in a small agency for a month and I'm feeling h... View more

Hello everyone! I am new here. I am glad that I get to express my feelings today. I've been feeling extremely anxious and depressed lately and I couldn't stop myself from overthinking. I've been working in a small agency for a month and I'm feeling happy and shitty at the same time. I know I should be grateful for my job as my team are really nice and friendly but I also feel like an imposter because I don't understand why they're hiring me. I don't see myself as a great asset here, even though I even passed my writing test during my second interview. I also think that because it's my first full-time job and I'm an international student - I'll need to work hard to stay in Australia to fully secure my job. I am so mad at myself. Having intrusive thoughts/overthinking has become a habit and it's ADDICTING. Whenever I feel like dying, I tried to re-read the strategies and my own logical statements that I've written the other day. I was literally forcing myself to think rationally and writing down emotional vs logical thoughts while my mind was banging and screaming and telling me to just die because I am worthless and I am not perfect enough to be loved. My thoughts are so conflicting - I want to die just to end my suffering but I also don't want to die because I don't want to run away. I hate myself for being so weak. Thinking about past experiences made me feel nauseous and I hated myself for being so vulnerable. When I tried to open up to one of my friends (I tried to trust them), it seemed like they didn't try to understand my situation and they thought I should rely on myself. I was so frustrated because from my point of view, I didn't even rely on them and they made it sound like a huge deal. I couldn't cry at all, Damn, I don't feel like working tomorrow. I just don't know how to convince myself that I am capable of doing my job. I want to succeed but I see no future, I want to get more tasks from my boss but I don't think I'll be able to nail my job. I tried to run away but I don't want to run away. I am all over the place right now, and honestly, I don't even know what to do.

alexis123 I don’t know how much longer i can do this
  • replies: 3

I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression and ptsd for 13 years, i’m at my breaking point, I’ve done almost every therapy, medicine, and anything to help myself, I don’t want to live in this world and feel like this, I have no future plans, jobs or any ... View more

I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression and ptsd for 13 years, i’m at my breaking point, I’ve done almost every therapy, medicine, and anything to help myself, I don’t want to live in this world and feel like this, I have no future plans, jobs or any motivation for anything. just needed to vent. Also sending love to everyone who is hurting and struggling x

Angie2480 When Life Seems Too Hard
  • replies: 4

HelloWow, I can't believe I'm here. I'm not sure where to start but enough to say I need help. I've been having thoughts of just "going away" from my life, my responsibilities and my everything. I have a loving husband, and two grown children but I j... View more

HelloWow, I can't believe I'm here. I'm not sure where to start but enough to say I need help. I've been having thoughts of just "going away" from my life, my responsibilities and my everything. I have a loving husband, and two grown children but I just don't think I'm enough. In the last 18 months, I've lost my 24-year-old niece, my father, my dog and my business. My mother has disowned me after I called her out on her narcissistic behaviour after the loss of my niece. I have worked so hard over the last 30+ years and all I have to show is loss. I don't want to leave my family but wouldn't it be easier to just go?I trust you all and your advice. Angie.

Evanthia I am Major Depressive Disorder with Psychosis features mixed with Borderline Personality Disorder
  • replies: 5

Hello All, I am new to the Beyond Blue forum , I wanted to introduce myself .I have been struggling with my mind for a very long time , but only recently was l diagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder and now Major Depressive Disorder with Psycho... View more

Hello All, I am new to the Beyond Blue forum , I wanted to introduce myself .I have been struggling with my mind for a very long time , but only recently was l diagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder and now Major Depressive Disorder with Psychosis features. It makes me wonder why l am complicated , l mean who wouldnt be right ??So l have been on and off meds over the years , antidepressants dont seem to agree with me so l have opted to stop them for good . I dont know if its a good idea , but for now l need to ride this out . I have and do SH , l find it a was of destressing , or at times punishing myself for bad thoughts or feelings. I've been hospitalised twice so far , other than being traumatized by the experience , didnt really help me other than keep me away from the public . I am not in a good place , in my mind . Its filled with nightmares and horrible visions and at times , the crazy in my head talks to me to do harm .I have seen things , l cannot explain and l am very paranoid everytime l leave the house . I've had Police involved many times and l hate it when l hear sirens or see them patrolling the area.I fear they are watching me or keeping an eye on my movements .I am having trouble sleeping also which is adding to my anxieties and unstable moods. Its been over 6 months of lacking sleep and l am running of fumes most days .There at days its all too hard for me to be here , but l am afraid to end it all.So l exist as an empty shell of a person , with lacking emotions , feelings and hope.Anyway for now l stay put , but who knows what tomorrow brings ...