How to Overcome Thoughts of Suicide.

To say that life is difficult is an understatement, and many times people fall under the load; some more than others. Some people contemplate suicide, overlooking the thousands of Instead Choices available. This article will present many of these Instead Choices for the person who feels at the end of the rope. If you have had thoughts of suicide, please look over the Instead Choices and keep one in mind, just in case. Additionally, share these Instead Choices with everyone who has made a statement about suicide. Thoughts and statements of suicide should be taken seriously.

As always, my prayer for you and your loved ones is to remain healthy and safe, become wealthy, and grow wiser.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An open mind to examine your present situation
• Courage to make some changes
• A pad and pencil to make your own personalized 'Instead List.'
• A comprehension of the verse, "Lord, grant me the the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage and strength to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

1. 
   A phone call to a trusted friend may pull you from your dreadful thoughts.

   Suicide is too final. You can't change your mind once you have followed through. To overcome thoughts of suicide, implement some of the points below.
   1. Make a list of the most enjoyable things that you like to do. This is called an Instead List. Study your list and decide on the 'most' enjoyable Instead Choice. When things get too bad; when you are ready to end it all, do this enjoyable thing instead. Sounds simple, but it works, at least for the moment. You now have an 'Instead Choice.' You don't have to end it just because this particular day was too much. I have a special Instead Choice and I will share it now. I am not advertising, though it is a very good place to eat. I take off to the Red Lobster. I treat myself to a fine seafood dinner; enjoy the service and casual conversations with the waitresses, then come home. Expensive? Yes, somewhat, but not as expensive as opening a grave site. I have always told my children, "When things get too bad, call me; we will go to the Red Lobster." It has worked so far, some thirty plus years.
   2. Make a pack with a friend; someone whom you know you can trust; someone who will be there, and listen when you need someone to listen. Tell your friend that if you call for help, you really need help. Having a plan of whom to call for help also gives you a choice.
   3. Take a hot bath or shower. Turn the radio up very loud and enjoy. Stand under the hot water or keeping running hot water into the tub to refresh the water until there is no more hot water. You may be thinking that such behavior is wasteful. Yes, but not as wasteful as wasting the precious life that God has given you.

2. 
   A day on the lake away from everyone and everything can renew the spirit.

   The following are things you can do to keep the stress and depression down to manageable levels, avoiding the feelings that might push you over the top. These suggestions should be implemented in your daily life to help keep down the locked in, stifling feelings that precede thoughts of suicide.
   1. Try exercise or walking: Exercise helps to refresh your mind and body. Exercise helps you go to sleep faster and stay asleep longer.
   2. Get eight hours of sleep each night. The mind and body needs eight hours of restful sleep each night. Sleep refreshes the mind, helps the body to heal itself at the cellular level, helps the body renew energy and increase it's own immunity techniques, and on and on. Additionally, if you are sleeping, you are not thinking. People often get depressed by 'thinking' too much; sleeping can absorb excessive thinking time.
   3. Accept yourself the way you are. You are special, no matter what you may think of yourself. You have much to offer this world and the people around you.
   3. Eat healthier. Eating healthy helps all aspects of mind and body. You are what you eat. Your depressive attitude and lowering mood swings may be related to poor eating habits. Don't skip any meal. always eat a small amount of something nutritional. You can't go wrong with fresh fruits and vegetables. Additionally, don't deprive yourself of favorite foods when you are having thoughts of suicide, even if the foods are not healthy. During these times eat what you desire: Just eat less.
   4. Keep yourself well groomed. Take hot showers. Fix your hair. Put the make-up on for yourself and no one else. Getting dressed and ready as if you are going out will make you feel better.
   5. Do things that you like to do. If you like to go fishing, go. If you like to take a hike, find a mountain. If you enjoy movies, get there early and stay late.
   6. Do something to help you to relax. If having a back rub has helped in the past, invest in a $20 massage. This costs less than a casket. If you think a one person whirlpool would help you relax, have one put in this Saturday.
   7. Start a hobby. Get away from the television and do something you have always wanted to do. Take up karate, take a college course; join a club.
   7. Buy your favorite things to drink and keep these in adequate supply. Have several different things to drink. I am not talking about alcohol here; alcohol will make things worse.

3. 

   1. Spend time with the people who need you: You have loved ones all around you who need you. Children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. You could be the most important thing and person in his or her life, if you would just step up to the plate.
   2. Laugh: Don't respond to everything as if it were the end of the world. "Don't sweat the little stuff: It is all little stuff."
   3. Be good to yourself: This includes buying you a few special things now and then, taking yourself to places you enjoy, talking good to yourself, not allowing others to mistreat you, and refusing to be a door mat.

4. 
   Having a close relationship with your child can head your

   Sometimes things around us are causing our low moods. A change in environment may be what is needed.
   1. You may have to pack up and move, if you can't find peace within your present setting. If you are being mistreated or if your spouse is doing things your can't live with, don't commit suicide to escape your surroundings. Move. Renting a moving fan is less expensive than renting a hearse. If moving out is the only way to improve our situation, do it. Moving is another Instead Choice, aside from suicide and a grave. There is a big, wonderful world out there, and you could be a part of it.
   2. Change jobs if necessary: More suicides are committed on Monday morning's. Can you imagine why? Some people with horrible working conditions and unreasonable bosses have grave difficulty going back to work. If you can identify with this type of situation, downsize and get another job, for the sake of your health; for the sake of your 'life.'
   3. Change friends and/or family if necessary. If people around you are mistreating you and putting you down, refuse to listen any longer. Get away from the people who are saying these hurtful things and stay away. Talk to these people only on the phone, or don't talk to them at all. No one deserves to be criticized all the time. We should surround ourselves with people who can be a support, and if there is no one to fit this description, we can be our own support. If you stand up for yourself, yourself will appreciate it, and you won't end up in an early grave because of a self inflicted wound.

Tips & Warnings

• Having an Instead List can help you avoid suicide. Also, talking with your children and significant others and helping them to make an Instead List will help them overcome thoughts of suicide. I told my children years ago, "If you get down and are having thoughts of suicide, call me and we will go to the Red Lobster." We've eaten a lot of seafood at that restaurant, but have yet to attend a funeral because of suicide. Help your family decide on a special 'Instead Choice.'
• When we keep allowing others to mistreat us; when we aren't good to ourselves, always accepting seconds, never doing things we want to do, pulling all the overtime so we can buy everyone around us what we 'think' they need, our subconscious begins to realize that we are mistreating ourselves. Our subconscious tries to tell us that things are not well on the inside, but we don't listen. We refuse to make changes that need to be made to make things better. We continue to put ourselves last; sacrificing for others; accepting bad treatment and tolerating from others what we would not tolerate from ourselves. Our subconscious begins to develop these moods of depression which, if not addressed, leads to suicidal thoughts. If we allow these thoughts to continue, these thoughts are very likely to lead to actions. Please reread the techniques above and take action. Identify your own Instead Choice, and use it. God loves you, and so do I!