Suicide is NOT a solution!
Updated: Aug 24, 2020
The recent shock and disbelief over the untimely death of a young and upcoming actor Sushant Singh Rajput is causing ripples that will take time to settle down.
He had talent, fame, good looks, popularity and yet the untimely death that has left a nation mourning his loss. What were the circumstances that drove him to such a tragic end? Only time will tell, and when investigations come to conclusions that can be relied upon! Yes, all of us agree that it is not easy to survive in the glamour world; it has a pound of truth in it. But is it not the same when it comes to any industry that is swirling in the waters of the corona pandemic with job insecurity, pay cuts, uncertainty of what the next day will bring in and added to this is the anxiety of the very basic safety and security to life!
What are the aspects that drag one to the dungeon called suicide? How does one stay on the safe track and not slip down into the slippery side of life? What should one be wary of? All of us go through ups and downs in life, and tend to feel sad, angry, anxious or fearful. These are normal reactions, and we learn to cope and move on. However, if the stresses in life increase multi fold, then that is an alarm bell! It can be due to debt, disease, divorce, death of a loved one, conflicts in ongoing relationship, or one and more of these that leads to a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. A deep pain in the mind and body with a churning feeling in the gut and a thought that there is nobody to turn to for help. That is one of the major signs of Depression! Recognizing and getting treatment for depression is the key. However, many people are not even aware that they have Depression, nor are they aware that this is treatable and that there is cure.
Trouble concentrating, and making decisions
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness
Feeling overwhelmed
Pessimism and hopelessness
Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or sleeping too much
Irritability
Restlessness
Loss of interest
Overeating, or appetite loss
Digestive problems that don't get better, even with treatment
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
Suicidal thoughts or attempts
What can one do? If you know someone in the throes of depression, reach out. One trustworthy person in ones’ life is enough to bring back hope, and hope is all one needs to survive the difficult times.
If you are a victim of depression, know that you can overcome and make depression your slave.
1. Reach out: To one trusted person in your life, a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, a pat on the back can go a long way to survive. Family is the biggest support system, stay in touch and share your agony.
2. Seek professional help: if it is long standing you may need prescription medicine, taking it regularly can set the chemical balance back in the body.
3. Stop the stigma: Follow up with counselling and therapy, do not stop till you are sure you have reached stable ground. Going to a counsellor or therapist when you are feeling sad or overwhelmed should be as normal as going to a doctor when you have the flu. Yes, it is time to end the stigma that surrounds mental health!
4. Write down on paper: Anger, fear and sadness are strong emotions that can rock people to depth of despair, become aware of them, write down those thoughts and feelings, you will be transforming your emotions and feelings from your heart and mind to the sheet of paper, and out of your system.
5. Tackle suppressed emotions: Bottled emotions are supressed emotions, and it may appear that you are keeping a good face to show all, but without notice it can uncoil and spring a surprise to you, just like a pressure cooker that can burst when it cannot let go off steam, the body too cannot take the pressure of supressed emotions! Let those feelings out, you can scream out your angry thoughts in the confines of your safe space!
6. Exercise: Go for a walk, feel the fresh air, run, jog stretch, any form of exercise will remove the toxicity created by the mind
7. Breath Awareness: Become aware of your breath, allow your breath to get a little deeper, thoughts may come, let them come and let them go, they move on. Imagine you are watching a train, and the thoughts are the compartments, they come and go…let them, they are bound to go. One relaxing breath can act on your energy centres in the body and remove the unwanted blocks in the body.
8. Attitude of Gratitude: Have a gratitude diary and list down one good thing you have done for the day, and one good some body has done to you, you will be surprised you will find many. Unfortunately, our brain focusses on the negatives and make it a whirlpool and conveniently ignore or delete the good aspects of life.
9. Deal with Conflicts: Conflicts in close relationships and the pain caused by rejection, differences in opinions, values and beliefs in life can be very daunting. Become aware of your conflicts, do not push it down as if it does not exist. Work on them, communicate and look for resolution where possible.
10. Let go of the past: Past memories pin down hopes and aspirations, letting go of the past is very crucial, if a relationship did not work, it was not meant to be, may be something better is in store!
11. Allow to heal: Time is the biggest healer; know that this too will pass.
Trust in divine energy: Trust in the divine energy, keep the phrase in mind, when one door closes, another one is sure to open! Life is like a rainbow; colourful and beautiful. The rainbow appears and then it is gone, life ebbs out naturally so fast, do not make the journey shorter than what it is…live life to the fullest like the rainbow; as bright and as beautiful as possible.
Author: Mrs. Sabita (Counselling Psychologist- Eyedentity)