What is suicide ideation?
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Suicide ideation is the process of being so depressed and down, that you want to end your life. Suicidal tendencies may be on a spectrum and are categorized then as active and passive ideations.
People with active suicidal tendencies tend to think of ending their lives with a proper action plan to follow. They think about what ways they can use to kill themselves. People with passive suicidal tendencies think about suicide but do not have any game plan. However, passive suicidal tendencies can also morph into active ones over time.
What are the symptoms of suicide ideation?
Suicidal tendencies symptoms to note in others and oneself to be mindful of include:
- Accumulating suicide paraphernalia like medication.
- Being depressed
- Being forlorn, as if you are leaving people
- Experiencing anxiety
- Having mood swings and general mood regulation problems
- Isolating yourself
- Partaking in risky behavior
- Talking about death
- Using, rather, abusing substances
- Feeling stuck in a rut
- Experiencing changes in the usual routine
- Having personality chances
- Getting your life, paperwork etc. in order, for no reason other than because you want to kill yourself
How is suicidal ideation treated?
There are different treatment options that can help in improving suicidal tendencies symptoms. These include:
Therapy
Depending on the underlying cause, different therapy techniques can be explored that can be effective in improving your condition and preventing suicidal thoughts.
Medication
Medication can be used in treating underlying causes like depression, anxiety, psychosis, etc.
Substance abuse treatment
If substance abuse is behind the suicide ideation, getting treatment for it is necessary.
Lifestyle changes
Alongside getting counsel, making lifestyle changes can also be of help. These include exercising, eating better, working on your sleep, aiming for a greater work-life balance, spend time with friends and family, pursuing things that make you happy and trying to manage your stress better.
How to prevent suicidal tendencies?
- Self-counsel: If you are feeling very down, give yourself time to gather your thoughts. Tell yourself the feelings, the tough times, and the problems, are temporary.
- Learn your triggers: Some things can trigger suicidal thoughts. Identify yours and work on avoiding them.
- Work on your happiness: Carve out time to manage your stress. Do activities that give you pleasure and are gratifying. All these then have a positive impact on your mental health. Try also to practice gratitude and self-love to improve your outlook.
- Have a support system: It helps to have good social support. So, if you are feeling down, talk to your friends and family about it so they can offer you help that improves your condition.
- Get treatment: If you are suffering from difficult circumstances, or have mental health issues like depression that can lead to suicidal tendencies, you should seek urgent help from experts at Fitcy Health. As the service is available remotely, you can get immediate care and attention that can protect your life. However, if you are on the brink of suicide, you must contact one of the emergency helplines, so you get instant help.
