Yea me - Happy Birthday...

[tg_myths_secret]

. . . and all that crap. I had a definite urge to go bungee jumping with rope instead of elastic; tied around my neck instead of my feet. Unfortunately with today being 47, the symmetry would be all wrong

Comments

being blunt

[tg_myths_secret]

Of course I’m blunt about suicidal thoughts and feelings. I’ve found that facing them head on and honestly is the only way to rob them of their power. When I’m dealing with someone else who is feeling suicidal, I don’t dance around the issue, that only makes things worse by demonstrating a lack of understanding. Rather I take the issue on in a very blunt and straightforward way. I know what it’s like to be there and talking about it won’t make it happen, it’ll help to center the thinking and reveal the errors in the mind that is coming up with these crazy thoughts.

One of the things other people try when dealing with suicidal people is, “Think of your family, pets, friends, etc.” In my experience this is totally ineffective and triggers thoughts of, “They’ll be better off without me.” This should be avoided. Talk about the feelings, talk about the thoughts. If you’ve had similar thoughts and feelings, share them so the other person knows you’ve been there and aren’t filling them full of crap.

Re: being blunt

[tg_myths_secret]

Thank you for the warm b-day wishes; I smiled.

I occasionally run into professionals who don’t have a clue how to defuse potential suicides, they want to de-escalate the situation or involuntarily confine a person to someone else’s care, but they won’t face the issue honestly. At what point is sidestepping a serious issue the professionally accepted technique? When is it unethical incompetence?

Allie spent the last few days feeling seriously suicidal and I’ve spent a while talking with her and I believe she can now avoid the hospital without doing herself any harm. (A condition that was unlikely when we started talking.) My technique has worked many times, so how do I get paid?

I never know when the phone rings what sort of call it’ll be. I never know when I run a support group what sort of support is needed. Surprisingly enough these times are therapeutic for me as well as the other person.

[paperwings21]

Happy birthday!
(ok... so I'm a little late, but I've been terrible at making regular LJ appearances lately). :D

Sorry you're feeling down, though. Hopefully this new medication makeover will turn things around after it's finished turning them upside down.

All the best to you, CJ!

[tg_myths_secret]

Thank you. I don’t spend much time on LJ because I’m busy, so I understand.