When You Feel Like Giving Up… (Suicide Ideation)
“I give up!” , “I’m a total failure!”, “I just can’t love myself anymore and no one will!” , “I just want to be gone from this world already”
These phrases or lines sound familiar to you? You’re not alone! I’ve been through that and I’m going through it again. But why do people reach this point where they want to or feel like giving up on life?
Some circumstances such as experiencing certain health conditions, unexpected events, longtime hardships or things just didnt turn out the way you wanted them to be can really make people feel like giving up on life itself. (Source: “I Give Up: What to Do When You Feel Like Giving Up on Life” from Nadra Nittle”; https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-do-when-you-feel-like-giving-up-on-life-5186949)
It’s only normal when people go through these phase where they want to give up on life esp when they go through various life circumstances – stress, burnout, fear and mental illness and it can even be exhausting to try navigating these complexities where they have negative thoughts, depressive symptoms, or even suicidal ideation. (Source: “Giving Up On Life: What It Signifies And How To Receive Support by Better Help Editorial Team; https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/giving-up-on-life-it-could-be-a-sign-you-need-help/)
Suicidal ideation occurs when people reach this point where they are not worth it anymore or when their life is no longer worth living. This ideation refers to thoughts of suicide or taking of one’s own life . Suicide ideation has two kinds: passive and active. A passive suicideal ideation is where one wishes he or she was dead or could die but they have no plans or don’t formulate a plan to die by suicide whereas an active suicide ideation is where one doesnt only think of wanting to die but also plans on how to take his or her own life. It is one of the symptoms of both major depression and the depression found in bipolar disorder, but it may also occur in people with other mental illnesses or no mental illness at all.
When Do You Know If Someone Has A Suicide Ideation
A suicide ideation can be really alarming. Here are warning signs when you or a friend/loved one is having one:
Isolation from loved ones
A feeling of hopelessness or being trapped
Talking about death or suicide
Giving away possessions
An increase of substance use or misuse
Increased mood swings/anger/rage/irritability
Engagement in risk taking behavior
Accessing means to kill oneself
Acting as if saying goodbye to people
Feeling extremely anxious
You can hear these familiar thoughts from people wanting to give up on themselves:
“Why should I live?”
“I have nothing to live for anymore”
“I’m tired of life”
“I don’t care about anything”
“What’s the point?”
Why People Give Up On Life
Financial insecurity
Relationship conflict
Death of a loved one
Loneliness
Mental health conditions
The sense of not fitting in
What Causes People To Have Suicide Ideation
A lot of factors can lead or contribute to suicide ideation and these often strike when someone is feeling hopeless and out of control in life or feels like their life is meaningless or has no purpose at all. (Source: “Understanding Suicidal Ideation and How to Cope” by Marcia Purse from Very Well Mind; https://www.verywellmind.com/suicidal-ideation-380609)
Previous suicide attempt in the past
Mental health disorder
Feeling hopeless , isolated or lonely
Not being married
Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender
Having served in military
A chronic illness (e.g. cancer , diabetes or terminal disease)
Chronic pain
Traumatic brain injury
A family history of suicide
Drug or alcohol use disorder
Living in a rural area
Having access to firearms
Sources:
I Give Up: What to Do When You Feel Like Giving Up on Life” from Nadra Nittle”; https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-do-when-you-feel-like-giving-up-on-life-5186949
“Giving Up On Life: What It Signifies And How To Receive Support by Better Help Editorial Team; https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/giving-up-on-life-it-could-be-a-sign-you-need-help/
“Understanding Suicidal Ideation and How to Cope” by Marcia Purse from Very Well Mind; https://www.verywellmind.com/suicidal-ideation-380609
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