“Your appointment is scheduled with your therapist. Please arrive fifteen minutes early to fill out additional paperwork.”
When I hung up the phone, I thought to myself “I don’t need therapy. I don’t need anyone that do not know me all in my business.” I was fourteen years old when I first started therapy. At that time in my life, I was dealing with so many issues. My physician suggests that I consult with a therapist and proceed to give me a list of numbers to a known therapist in my area. I was so scared because I didn’t know what to expect. When that day came for me to go to my scheduled therapist appointment, I decided to bring along a family member to my first appointment. I was so nervous because I didn’t know what to expect.
As I got out of the cab, I proceed to walk into the office building. I walk through the door and finally met my therapist. The first session confrim to me that I didn’t need to come back. We didn’t connect as I assumed we were supposed to do. I decided that day to never return to that building. Seven years later, when I became a wife, I realize how important it would have been if I decided to talk with a therapist back then when I was a teenager. From that moment forward my life became a living hell.
I decided to talk with a therapist because, by this time, I was hurting inside. I wanted answers to questions that were never going to be answered the way I wanted them to. There were feelings I thought I could suppress with alcohol and other recreational drugs, but it didn’t work and in the end, caused more damage. I even got incarcerated and couldn’t be around my family. I was a hot mess. I needed help, and I needed it bad. I decided to give counseling one more try. Once I return from the first session, I started to feel a tab bit better, but as I continued, it started to get better. I developed a relationship with my therapist, and my therapist helped me become a better person. Well I helped myself become a better person because I put in the work. My therapist was there to help me release all the hurt I caused myself. My therapist was there to help me forgive myself.
Getting help is very important when the thought of suicide comes in mind. Sometimes it can be scary, but you must follow through with talking out your problems. Here are very important choices I’ve made that help me. If you are experiencing feelings that you don’t understand, try these options so you can know what to do next:
1). Prevention Line
The most important thing you can do is call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number at 1-800-273-8255 or visit the website at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Once you contact the hotline a crisis worker will assist you in making sure that you are not alone. You will be asked questions regarding your safety, feelings, social situation, and any thoughts of suicide. If the counselor feels you are in danger, they will speak with you about accessing emergency services or gather additional contact information to ensure your safety. The chat counselor will work with you to create a safety plan if necessary.
2). Family and Friends
Some family and friends may not know about the attempt of suicide, but for the family and friends that know, they may need time to process what happened. Your journey is not their journey. If you need time on explaining to your family and friends, why then take your time. It is no rush to explain a situation where something serious happens to you.
3). Find a therapist
A good therapist can help you with your experience. They can also help with putting together a plan to find different ways to express life stressors. A therapist can help support you going forward, once you are no longer in crisis. Therapy can help you learn about what you’re feeling, why you might be feeling it, and how to cope.
4). Be kind to yourself
While being kind to yourself, you will learn the number one thing that you will always need to do. LOVE YOURSELF! Learn that, because once you do, you will stop trying to harm yourself.
5). Take care of your health
Taking care of your health is very important. Exercising, eating healthy, getting enough rest, and having healthy people do something to your spirit. I can have a HUGE impact on your health and mood.
6). Try Support Groups
Attend support groups, or if you dont have one in your area, create one. Different support groups such as depression, or other mental health conditions, and surviving suicide attempts help and show that you are not alone.
7). Someone you trust
Talk with someone you can trust when you are going through it. Let them know what happens and why. Supporting someone that attempted suicide does wonder about that attempted suicide. Just knowing that you had cared for that person when they were at their lowest during that time is very brave.
I am not a therapist, but these are some things that help me get through with my situation. I wanted to share with you how much it helps just by talking with someone. If these tips don’t work for you, please make sure that you call the National Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Don’t give up is the motto, and ALWAYS remember to #beboldstandbackup
Be bold stand back up 