Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (last part)

SUICIDE

continued from part 5

His family, relatives and friends could also be of assistance to the depressed person by being there to help him attend to tasks that he could no longer do such as his daily household chores. They should also make him feel loved and cared for deeply to alleviate his feelings of worthlessness. Furthermore, they could talk to the person, asking him whether or not he plans to end his life. If he answers the question with a yes, then his significant should let him feel that they take his plans seriously and that they understand that he is hurting deep inside. At the same time, they must emphasize that suicide is not the only option to go about things. They should also encourage him to see a psychologist or seek counseling. To display their concern, they could go with him to see a mental health professional for his initial session or actively help him in the assignments that his therapist might give him.

Again, with the right intervention and with more than sufficient love and care from his family, friends and relatives, the risk of suicide could be lessened and the behavior itself could be prevented. Had Dan's parents helped him through his feelings of overwhelming sadness and worthlessness, he may not have gone through the same fate. He may still be living.


This topic was requested long ago by one of my readers in US. Hey, if you're reading this, hang on tight, prayers always saves the day.





Related stories:
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 1)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 2)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 3)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 4)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 5)

References





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Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 5)

SUICIDE

continued from part 4

Suicide however can be prevented even in cases that seem hopeless. To avoid it from happening, intervention must be done for people who are depressed. One way is to give them medication to control their symptoms. There are many drugs in the market such as anti-depressants, tranquilizers and lithium that would help depressed individuals. Some of them may need prescriptions from a medical doctor while others are generic.

Another way is through psychotherapy. A person who undergoes the process of psychotherapy is helped by the clinician to understand the reason for his depression and then taught different ways to cope with his problems. For example, through the process of cognitive behavioral therapy, he may learn how to change his negative thinking and develop problem solving skills. Here, he may be asked to observe and write down the times and the reasons why he is feeling sad. Then, the therapist would gear him towards seeing how these reasons may be irrational and would challenge him to change his perceptions by requiring him to write down things that would counter them. If the individual then jots down that he is weak compared to everyone and that this is the reason for his sadness, the therapist would tell him to list down some of his achievements. Doing so would emphasize the irrationality of the thought thereby helping the person see himself in a more positive light. During later therapy sessions, he is taught to engage in behavior that would help him solve problems more concretely. Therefore, if he cannot see his strengths, he will be asked to do things wherein these could become visible. ( last part... )



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Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 1)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 2)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 3)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 4)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (last part )




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Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 4)

SUICIDE

continued from part 3

An important manifestation of depression is anhedonia. Anhedonia is a psychological or medical term that means "loss of pleasure for life". Generally, it pertains to a loss of interest in everyday living. Because clinically depressed people experience anhedonia, they are also likely to withdraw from society and increasingly spend their time alone. An increase in their alone time also increases the possibility of them committing suicide. This is because there is no one in their environment who could stop them from doing so.

But why do people engage in such desperate measure? Researchers agree that there are a variety of reasons for the occurrence of such behavior. Some think suicide is caused by chemical imbalances in the person’s system. Others theorize that it is a maladaptive behavior that people learn from their environment. A person then who grows up in a community where suicide is rampant may resort to the same thing when problems arise. Still, there are theorists who say that the act of suicide is passed from one person to another on a multigenerational level. Therefore, even when the parents of a suicidal person do not show the same behavior, it is possible that somewhere in his family tree, the pattern is repeated. Whatever is the triggering factor of suicide, the cause is usually different from it. Hence, the skirmish that Dan had with his professor may have been the trigger for his action, but he had been feeling depressed way before his suicide occurred. (to be continued...)



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Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 2)
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Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 3)

SUICIDE

continued from part 2


Psychomotor agitation or retardation may also be manifested by depressed individuals. Agitated people may become restless and may be seen continuously pacing back and forth in an unsettled manner. On the other hand, those who have psychomotor retardation display the opposite of agitation. They may be stuck in one position for a long period of time, staring out of the window looking at nothing in particular or they could be sulking in a corner with glassy looks in their eyes, oblivious to whatever is happening in their environment.

In addition, a sudden change in appetite is significant of a depressive episode. However, contrary to the popular belief that depressed people often have weight loss, the change in weight as a result of the change in appetite may go either way. For some, they may unexplainably gain weight even when they do not eat. For others, they may shed a lot of pounds even when they keep on taking in food. The reason behind this phenomenon is the differences among people’s metabolism. There are individuals who may have slow metabolism that even a decrease in their appetite does not automatically mean that they will also become thinner. (to be continued...)


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Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 2)

SUICIDE

continued from part 1

Daniel Lewis, or Dan to his family, is only one of the many people who are driven to suicide due to problems and overwhelming sadness. Many people who engage in such behavior often think that death is the only solution to their current dilemmas. They may also be diagnosed with Major Depression.

People who suffer from Major Depression are often preoccupied with thoughts of dying unable to stop thinking about it. They may also have feelings of worthlessness and guilt even when there are no reasons for them to feel this way. These beleaguering emotions distract them and they could not think with clear heads. Because they are preoccupied, they may not be able to concentrate on things. (to be continued...)


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Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 1)

SUICIDE

Dear Mom and Dad,

I am sorry for having been a mistake in your life. I am sorry for existing. I love you both.

Dan.




The short but painful letter was Daniel’s last attempt to ditch his irrevocable feelings of despair. His parents found it crumpled on the bed, beside Daniel’s limp body. Scattered around him were sleeping pills and an empty bottle of Prozac. Daniel had a drug overdose. He died on the spot.

Because of their unending responsibilities at work, Dan’s parents spent most of their waking hours at their law firm. They brought their legal concerns everywhere, even to the dining table. Since Dan generally was a quiet son who earned good grades and never got into any trouble, they thought that he was okay. Unknown to them, Dan had been struggling with depressive episodes since he entered law school. Even when he did well in his classes, he had no desire to become a lawyer and only enrolled in Berkeley to show his parents that he could follow their path. A few days before his death, he experienced a skirmish with one of his professors who insulted his deductive capability in front of the entire student body. ( to be continued...)


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