Feelings After a Suicide Attempt
“Sometimes even to live is an act of courage” - Seneca
Exhausted, numb, shame, guilt, hopeless, failure, relieved
These are just some of the emotions you may be feeling after your suicide attempt
You may also be asking yourself:
why am I still here? I wish I were dead. I couldn’t even do this right.
how do I tell anyone about this? What do I say to them? What will they think of me?
maybe someone will pay attention to me now; maybe someone will help me.
Emotions
After the shock of your attempt wears off you may feel a sense of loss and grief. Your life as you knew it is over, that sense of happiness is gone, and you may wonder if life will be good again.
You may also be struggling with images you can’t get out of your mind.
If this is not your first attempt, you may be feeling anxious and fearful; will I try again? You are possibly also asking yourself, “what am I doing wrong; how can this be happening again?”
Your family and friends will also experience many emotions as they struggle to understand why you tried to end your life.
On one hand they may feel immense sadness and guilt that they did not help you or appreciate the extent of your pain and despair. But in some cases, they may feel anger and blame in not understanding how you could be so selfish and not consider their feelings.
No matter your emotions, all your feelings are normal. Your mental illness is just that, an illness, and you are not to blame.
So how do you make sense of the trauma you have been through? How do you manage your emotions? How do you pick up the pieces and start your road to recovery?
There are no easy answers. The road ahead will be tough and have many bumps. But please stay on your road; there is hope for a meaningful, happy life ahead.
People adopt many different strategies to deal with their suicide attempt. Some tips for you to consider include:
Seek help from mental health professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists
Be inspired by stories of hope from survivors living meaningful and happy lives after an attempt
Adopt self-help strategies including engaging in activities, healthy eating and exercise
Reasons For a Suicide Attempt
There are many different reasons that may drive someone to take their own life. What is sad and disturbing is that the reasons are usually hidden and kept secret. The person thinking about suicide often endures these experiences on their own without support.
At the same time family and friends go about their day-to-day activities oblivious to the pain and suffering of their loved one.
In addition to possible psychological factors and chemical imbalances, survivors often grapple with different issues including?
poor mental health such as depression
feeling alone, isolated and without any friends or family
low self-esteem and thinking you are hopeless and worthless
abuse and domestic violence
a marriage or relationship breakdown
losing a job
financial pressures
being bullied at work or school
experiencing drug or alcohol problems
traumatic stress, such as that suffered by many of our veterans
As people age, enter retirement or become empty nesters as their kids move on, lack of purpose and meaning in their lives may also contribute to suicide ideations as well as a suicide attempt.
Try to identify the reasons that led to your suicide attempt, as well as the different emotions you are feeling? The more you can talk to your family and friends about the issues you are facing, the more likely they will be able to support you on your road to recovery.