Usually, “Suicidal Ideation” precedes a suicide attempt. What is Suicidal Ideation? This is when a person is facing various problems and over time has given way to despair. (We have all been there.) But then they slowly begin to think that suicide may a solution to their problems, or perhaps a blessed relief from the pain. This idea does not go away.
Perhaps they have tried medication, drugs or alcohol. Perhaps they have tried speaking to people. However the walls feel as though they continue to close in, and the idea of suicide become more persistent. It becomes an inward obsession, which is not usually shared with others. One “toys” with the idea repeatedly. Idly one thinks of ways in which it could be done, and slowly one begins to put those plans into action. Perhaps obtaining pills or a gun, perhaps researching methods on the internet. Gradually, as the idea grows it moves from being a possible solution, to an attractive or even necessary solution.
This suicidal ideation is due to three factors.
1. The problems – these could be old / lifelong; the results of bad parenting or due to previous trauma. Or they could be recent overwhelming problems (being fired from ones job; divorce; the threat of bankruptcy; caught doing something shameful with the threat of exposure; a dread disease. And so on.)
2. A mindset of worthlessness (low self-esteem) / an ideology of nihilism (life is not worth living; I am just an accident; no-one will miss me, etc.) This logic justifies / allows / permits the concept of suicide.
3. Dwelling on / indulging the thoughts of suicide; which becomes a recurring mental pattern. Instead of the idea being temporary and passing, it persists. And grows until it becomes compelling.
(The “spontaneous” action of suicide is a natural consequence of these previous steps.)
However.
The entire thing can be defeated. How? By breaking that chain.
- Dealing with past issues. This will involve painful personal growth, due to facing painful inner issues and past traumas.
- Dealing with current issues – which may involve very hard, unpleasant choices. It might be humiliating.
- Accepting you are of value; that your life has meaning and that you can survive the current situation. Finding reasons to live and prosper. learning from the victories of others in history.
- Learning to control ones thoughts and feelings, so as to habitually stop the negative dysfunctional ideas and instead dwell on positive, functional ideas.
- Engaging oneself in positive actions from exercise to meditation and social relationships. Holistic solutions.
Later posts will deal in detail with various aspects of these solutions; which involve engaging ones whole being (mind body and spirit, including emotions) in a positive, functional and productive direction. It also covers personal growth, healing from past traumas and dealing with wrong ideas which hold us back. One simple, great example is physical exercise, such as gym or playing a sport. This practice, interestingly, is one of the “factors of longevity” which also includes social connectedness (ie friends and family.) All of these holistic factors bear the most serious consideration.
Overall, suicide represents one (negative) end of the spectrum of everyone’s existence, whereas the other end is abundant, meaningful life. So when we talk about suicide it is part of the overall, possible existential choices that we make in life – the path which we have chosen, unconsciously or consciously. In my experience positive choices are usually conscious and negative choices are largely unconscious.
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