Just Say FUCK NO to Suicide!

I did not know till I looked up crisis line numbers for this post that this is National Suicide Prevention Week. We are actually in its final days and so though late to the party, I have something to say on the subject of wanting to end yourself.

I've been working on an article with tips and the what not on how to survive a deep dark depression, knowing the subject intimately, I thought I would share how I manage this feat over and over again.

Today I have only one thing to say...KEEP BREATHING! Call for help when you feel you can't and accept the help given as sometimes we fight an inner battle with life and death leading to fighting the very help we asked for. Ok, that’s actually three things…but try to imagine someone taking your life, would you fight for it? If so, there is a part of you that wishes to live no matter what. I know that sometimes it’s more than we think we can bear…but we do! Some of us cycle this over and over again and live despite how easy it would be to take all the drugs the psychologist has so conveniently prescribed us.

I also recommend finding a tether. Mine is my daughter. I go through a mental list of people who likely would be impacted by my death and how they would react and proceed with their lives. My daughter is the one being I know who would be damaged by my leaving. It is my responsibility to live for her, I made a deal with the Universe to give birth to her and you just don’t go and break a bond like that. So find your bond and believe me, most everyone has one and that bond may not be of the human variety. It could be a cause, a pet, a message meant to be given by you and only you. It can be ANYTHING. Hell it could be a tree in the forest you love, so tether you to it and when you come to your precipice, tug on it and know this is why you stay.

I will not lay claim to know this will work for everyone, I am sure there are people it won’t.  When you’re depressed it’s fucking hard to see opportunity, you only see what’s wrong, and that perhaps it’s just fucking time to say goodbye. And if this is the case for you, finding a reason to live is harder, but if you have spun down into this place and came out the other side before, it means you know how to survive, that your will to live is stronger than your will to die. Managing this makes you one strong mother fucker! You stared death in the face and said ” nay…I have shit to do, some other time perhaps.”

So just keep breathing and share your tales of survival with others. The more people talk about suicide the less taboo it becomes. The more we talk openly about it, the less alone we all will feel. I have no idea how many die because they share their feelings to friends and family and were met with discomfort and no words of support because they didn't know what to say. The crisis line can be a tether in those moments. If it is only for that moment when you need someone to listen, they are there for you, so please make the call.