Suicidal Ideation - When To Seek Help?

[Mufasa]

Hi everyone. Keeping in mind that a Therapist must report any concerns over safety, where would one turn to seek help if there was serious contemplation of suicide and thoughts keep turning to this method of problem solving? Were not talking imminent threat here but enough to say it may be within the realm of the possible. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[spookedlife]

i think you should tell your therapist...they're trained to distinguish between ideation and imminent threat....i know this from personal experience...as i've discussed the fact that i regularly toyed with the idea of suicide for some time. if you trust your therapist, you should trust that he or she is able to differentiate the two...if you do not trust your therapist to this extent...then you either have not been with him or her for long...or you should find another one, in my opinion.

 

[WillyKat]

I think its best to tell your therapist. You said it yourself, nothing imminent so s/he will take it as an opportunity to talk.

Many years ago in therapy I talked with my previous therapist about this. I think I scared her when I said thinking about it "was comforting." I spent decades thinking such things every day, all day. I came very, very close once, and maybe "close" again twice more.

Several months ago, I refined the idea of being comforted. Thinking such things served a purpose: it reduced the anxiety, it calmed me down. On those occasions when my mind was racing and my anxiety was through the roof, it cleaned out my mind and brought me down…to a really shitty place mind you, but it did calm me.

It's like it was a really piss poor version of grounding. Not the kind I would ever recommend.

I didn't realize it, but over the past several months, I've had relatively few such thoughts. (And I need to take that up with my therapist. She would appreciate the good news I think.)

 

[obsidian]

I always think of my grandson's and the effect of Paw Paw committing suicide, That is the reason I will not committ suicide, the effects on them would be catastrophic.

 

[risingsun]

thoughts keep turning to this method of problem solving?

I'm sorry you feel this way. My mind tends to go to this method of problem solving as well. Mostly, i suppose it is just my way of coping; a escape in my mind. I know it is not healthy and I'm trying not to feed it as it only brings me into the hole that much deeper and it becomes difficult to get out of.

If it is really bad, though, and something you think you may act on, I would share this with your therapist or get it under control maybe at the hospital. It is nothing to feel ashamed of. Even going into the hospital for a bit is nothing to feel ashamed of. But do reach out for help if you think you are going to act on it or feel unsafe in anyway.

I'm sorry that you feel this way. You are not alone though. My prayers are with you. Stay safe and remain strong. Rising Sun.