If you ever have a chance to intervene and help someone going through a suicide crisis and have surveyed the scene for safety, do not worry about not knowing what to do or say. Follow your heart to that person. 988 on your phone will connect you to someone who is trained and they will guide you.
A few nights ago, I could not sleep and I was excessively worrying about a particular situation that I had under control. It was a situation that I had handled before. So why was I worrying so much? I felt an almost apocalyptic worry over this situation. In my head I spiraled thousands of situations
of how this particular situation and other situations would spawn off of it. I started having straight up old school panic attacks. I was using all my challenging tools to show myself that this situation did not warrent this level of anxiety, but they just were not working. And then I remembered.
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Everyone experiences anxiety which is a normal human emotion that keeps us alert and motivated. Repression is a psychological defense mechanism that pushes uncomfortable thoughts and feelings out of our conscious awareness. Which sounds great until it isn't because that anxiety does not actually leave rather it hangs around out of sight and deep in mind.
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The mind will hold onto that anxiety and release it when the mind feels that it can be done so safely. A podcast that I was listening to reminded me of this defense mechagnism. With my anxiety that night my awareness was heightened enough to realize that the situation I was dealing with did not warrent this level of anxiety and I let go of it.
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My thought challenging tools immediately became effective and I felt my anxiety burn away. I came back to the present and enjoyed the peace and quite in and around myself.
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This was a huge milestone for myself. For once I did not attempt to bury my anxiety or put out the flames by using alcohol or maybe even getting high. I haven't dealt with panic attacks like that in several years, and several years ago they would have sent me running to the liquor store, or looking up an old acqaintance.
Cognitive and CBT works. Your mind is yours to control. You have to get in, lay down the ground work and reclaim your territory.
🟨In 2021 over 48000 people died because of suicide.
🟨12.3 million people seriously thought about killing themselves.
🟥3.5 million people made a plan to kill themselves.
🟩1.7 million people attempted suicide.
⬛Every 11 minutes one person dies as a result of suicide.
The Centers for Disease Control (2022) stated that there were 46,412 suicides among adults in 2021. But suicides are just the tip of the iceberg. For every suicide death*, there were about:
Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, June 28). Suicide Data and Statistics | Suicide | CDC. Www.cdc.gov; CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/suicide-data-statistics.html
Hey there, if you're reading this, you're probably knee-deep in that exhausting loop of highs, crashes, and compulsions that come wi...
