If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Many people experience suicidal thoughts when they feel overwhelmed by the pain in their life. While you might feel hopeless, there is help available. For many people, suicidal thoughts can be effectively treated with the right intervention and psychiatric care.
Here at Boston Neurobehavioral Associates, we have years of experience treating people with depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health conditions. Our team can help you find relief through a combination of psychiatric medicine and psychotherapy. If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, this blog post has information on how to cope and find resources.
Suicide refers to intentionally taking your own life. However, suicidal thoughts can encompass a range of feelings, including feeling like the world would be better off without you or making a specific plan for how to end your life. These thoughts can affect anyone, regardless of your gender, age, or background.
In addition to having suicidal thoughts, you might experience other symptoms of depression, such as:
Many people start to feel suicidal after dealing with an obstacle or difficulty in their life, such as mental health problems (especially depression), bullying, the loss of a loved one, housing problems, addiction, trauma and abuse, a break-up, or any big life change.
In other words, many people feel suicidal because they are struggling to cope, leading to feelings of hopelessness and exhaustion. While these feelings can be scary and intense, there are ways to cope with them.
If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, there are ways to help yourself cope with these thoughts.
If you feel you might be an immediate risk to yourself, it’s important to remove any dangerous items in your home such as guns, knives, or other potentially lethal objects.
While it may seem like they can help numb painful feelings, drug and alcohol usage is actually associated with increased suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Even if you don’t feel social, sometimes just reaching out to another person can help distract you from suicidal thoughts. You don’t have to talk about your thoughts if you don’t want to, but over time, you might be able to share your feelings and get support.
If you don’t have anyone to talk to in your life, you could contact a crisis helpline. These helplines are anonymous and staffed by trained responders who can help you navigate a crisis.
Try to remember the activities and things that brought you joy. See if you can schedule a time for these activities throughout the day. Exercise and time outdoors can also help boost your mood.
Suicidal thoughts may be scary but they can be treated. Dr. Mohammad Munir and our team here at Boston Neurobehavioral Associates can help diagnose any underlying conditions and find the treatment plan that works best for you. For most patients who have suicidal thoughts due to depression, a combination of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy is highly effective.
There are many types of antidepressants that can help improve your daily functioning. Some of the most common types are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Most of these medicines work by inhibiting the reabsorption of certain neurotransmitters in your brain, which is thought to boost or prolong their activity. While there are many types of antidepressants available, we work with you to determine which is best for your lifestyle.
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or counseling, can help by providing you a safe, nonjudgmental place to help you make sense of difficult circumstances, resolve complicated feelings, and reflect on your behaviors and actions. While some people view therapy as a last-resort treatment, it is actually becoming increasingly common and can help you even if you are not in an immediate crisis.
If you are feeling like life is not worth living, there is hope. With treatment, you can find ways of coping with these thoughts and living a fulfilling life. If you’re ready to seek help, contact Dr. Mohammad Munir and our team at Boston Neurobehavioral Associates via our online booking form or visit any of our six Boston locations today.
