Admitting Suicidal Thoughts

[Alibongo]

So today I told my T I'd been thinking about suicide. The minute I admitted it is instantly regretted it-i didn't want to talk about the specifics. Now I'm terrified it's going to be on my medical records and she I'll tell my GP. It was hard enough admitting it never mind anybody else knowing! Anybody know what the procedure is when a client admits this to their T?
Thank u x

 

[Lilly 13]

First, let me say kudos to you for admitting it! Ever since I got severe PTSD 2 years ago, suicide has been on my mind often, two times came close but held on for dear life . It is , sadly, a quite normal thought for people with PTSD .

As my experience as a counselor (had to leave my career when I got PTSD ), I often assessed for suicide. There are certain questions to ask but as long as the person didn't have a plan or say they were going to do it, we would just set up a written safety plan. It's one thing to feel like not being in the world for one for minute because it's too unbearable with the symptoms of PTSD , yet another to have a plan to lull yourself . This said , professionals should always take it serious . Being in the other side now, I've told plenty of professionals I would rather be in heaven but wasn't going to kill myself. The two times I really wanted to and searched for best ways, I told no one. I'm grateful I didn't do it, today! There must be a reason we have made it this far so keep holding on for one more day. If you really want to kill yourself , please call the suucide hotline (I have called and talked to them) and just talk or call anyone . I know the fear involved with that but it helps.

I've been to treatment twice over the last 10 months due to the severity of my symptoms ( I had no idea, so sorry for those that suffer with this). It really helped in March . Hope this helps and please reach out if you feel like hurting yourself .

 

[Deleted member 541]

Suicide ideation is part and parcel with PTSD. The minute I get depressed, I start thinking of suicide. It's ok to think about it, but it becomes a problem when you actually start planning it out.

 

[Tinyflame]

If you really want to kill yourself ,

Do people get SI without it? :confused:

 

[aut555]

I am glad you are here today. And l hope that you feel hope today that slowly with therapy things will get better for you. You are important, you do have some issues but working on this will help heal. Find something small to smile about. Exercise really help take me out of the funk. Find something passionate to do.

 

[Alibongo]

@Lilly 13
Thank u so much. I'm so sorry for what uve been through and having to leave ur job over ot-that must have been awful. I do have a plan but she's made me promise to keep myself safe. It happened near the end of the session so don't think there was time to do a safety plan or anything. Will see what happens net time. Thanks for ur support. Hugs

 

[Alibongo]

I am glad you are here today. And l hope that you feel hope today that slowly with therapy things will g...

I do exercise and I think this has helped a lot - it's certainly helping with the physical symptoms. She thinks I'm doing this too much tho and not finding an alternative way to calm myself down. thanks for caring

 

[aut555]

Great. So proud of you. You can do this and feel better. There maybe some sadness on the journey but then the sunshine will come back out again. To heal we must process some of the pain we feel which can drive us back into that dark corner. So love yourself, take responsibility for how you feel and step out of that corner. Give yourself lots of love, this really helps. Even wrap your arms around yourself and give yourself the ok to feel good about you. Accept all the many feelings you have. It's ok.

 

[Alibongo]

Great. So proud of you. You can do this and feel better. There maybe some sadness on the journey but the...

Thanks u so much it means a lot

 

[joeylittle]

Anybody know what the procedure is when a client admits this to their T?

Well, you essentially need to be willing to keep talking about it. They need to assess how active your thinking is, and whether or not you are going to be a danger to yourself. @Lilly 13 explained it very well.

Like @She Cat said - suicidal thoughts are an incredibly common symptom. That doesn't mean they should just be stuffed down and ignored - you really did the right thing in disclosing them to your therapist. It's a scary thing to do, but very important.

do have a plan but she's made me promise to keep myself safe

Do you trust yourself to keep this promise? Is your plan something you could put into motion immediately?

A coping strategy I used for quite awhile was making sure that my plan had some 'speed bumps' in it. For a long time, this helped me to never act impulsively. Small things, like making sure you don't have easy access to the method you might be thinking about, can make a big difference when a crisis comes on.

Do you know what you'll do to get help if the thoughts become more 'real'? (It's always good to think through a crisis-intervention plan). Or are you feeling pretty confident that you are in a lot of emotional pain, but can manage it?

 

[aut555]

This is so important.

 

[Alibongo]

Well, you essentially need to be willing to keep talking about it. They need to assess how active y...

I'll try my best to keep my promise. She told me to remove the method from the house-but what if I need them? It's a scary thought not having the option. I know how crazy that sounds. I don't know who I'd call if I was struggling -I'd probably just try talk myself out of it. I wouldn't want to burden anybody else with it. Plus I'm ashamed of feeling like this