I have been in the hospital for four months and I just got discharged. I was in the hospital for suicidal thoughts. I keep having the same thoughts, but I feel safe. My goal is to stay out of the hospital but it’s so hard to keep myself safe. I don’t have a plan. It’s so hard to cope with these feelings. If I go to the crisis center they will send me to a state hospital. I heard from professionals that staying a state hospital isn’t the best place and it should be avoided. I’m currently safe.
CONSIDER THIS:
- Suicidal ideation can be very isolating. It can feel like you’re on an island separate from everyone else you love who’s happy and healthy. No matter how isolated you feel on this island, know that you’re never alone and people around you want to help and be there for you through your good and bad times. You are strong for confronting the big struggles you face and for trying to get help.
- You are on the path to recovery. This is not a linear path– some days, you may feel perfect and safe. Other days, you may be in a slump and feel suicidal. Know that each day you survive, whether you’ve had a good day or not, is a day of accomplishment and a day closer to recovery. To keep yourself safe on your bad days, try to eliminate your access to things that may put yourself in danger. Perhaps this means asking to stay over at a friend’s place so that they can help keep you out of harm. Develop a mantra, a list of things that you’re thankful for, and a playlist of music you love to help keep you motivated through bad days.
- Lean on those around you. Let your friends and family know about your situation and work with them to develop ways to keep you safe. As mentioned in the previous point, you may want to stay with a loved one on your bad days so that someone can make sure you stay safe. It’s a good idea to let your loved ones know ahead of time that you might need this kind of support from them so that they’re not surprised. It’s also a good idea to keep open communication with these people and to update them on how you feel when you think your condition is changing. If you seem to be on a decline, talking with these people can help them anticipate if you may need help soon. People will be better with helping you if they know what’s happening and are ready.
- It’s best to be prepared and get help before you need it than discovering you need help while you’re in the middle of a crisis. Anticipation is key– if you become suicidal, you may lose the motivation to seek help when you need it so it’s best to get help when you notice yourself heading to that point.
- Build a network around yourself. You not only have friends and family to get support from, but their are support groups of people just like you that you can help you through tough times. Talking and listening to people who have experienced similar things to you can be therapeutic and these people may also have tips and resources to help you with your struggles. It can be an in-person support group or an online one: you have people there for you if you ever feel alone.
- If you ever feel in danger of hurting yourself, there are always people who can help you. If at any time you don’t feel safe by yourself, call the 24/7 Child Help USA hotline phone number: 1-800-422-4453
HELP YOURSELF:
- How can you best keep yourself safe?
- Who can you trust to help keep you safe?
- How can your loved ones help you stay safe?
- What is a mantra that can help motivate you through hard days? (Example: “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem” or “I have a lot to look forward to tomorrow.”)
- What are you thankful for?
