Teenage Suicide – “I’m Feeling Suicidal”

Teenage Suicide – The Key Points

The pain of life can sometimes feel like it’s overwhelming your capacity to deal with life.  Many people get to this point in life – or very close to it – so you’re not alone in hitting this low point.

#1 The pain of life can sometimes feel like it’s overwhelming your capacity to deal with life

This is particularly true if you are suffering from depression, which is distressingly common among teenagers. Most people get to this point in life -or very close to it – so you’re not alone in hitting this low-point.

You are on the floor crying for days. And that is you being brave.
That is you getting through it as best you know how.
No one else can decide what your tough looks like.
Clementine von Radics

#2 Feeling Suicidal Does Not Mean That You Are

• Bad
• Weak
• Selfish
• A loser
• Incompetent
• Unworthy
• Unlovable

It Does Mean That You Are Probably

• Temporarily overwhelmed by the pain of your life
• Worn out from expending lots of energy to cope
• Feeling hopeless, unconnected and out of options

#3 Suicide is a permanent solution for temporary problems

This is true even for the problems that feel overwhelming. It is obviously always an option, so step away from it now and see if there is a better solution to what you’re experiencing.

#4 Growing up is hard and the teenage years are an emotional rollercoaster

The teenage years can be wonderful and awful, sometimes in the same day. Remember that with rollercoasters it can be terrifying on the steep drops, but if you don’t jump off (a bad thing to do), you then head back up.

Rollercoasters can be intimidating at first, but as you get more experience with them, they lose much of their power to intimidate. Life is like that, so don’t jump off right now – there will be an upturn.

Unfortunately, the down times can sometimes last for a long time. However, they don’t last forever – even though they sometimes feel like they do. Sometimes you just endure and keep moving.

#5  There are effective solutions for dealing with temporary problems, even the severe or long-lasting ones

It doesn’t seem that way when you are feeling suicidal – because you are in extreme pain, are worn out from trying to find solutions that are hard to find.  But the solutions are there and there are people that are very willing to help you find those solutions.

“One Step.”  Sometimes you just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you get out of the darkness and solutions start to appear.  That applies to all of us.

Actions You Can Take – Crisis, Short-Term and Longer-Term

As small, powerless, alone or pained as you might feel, you can still take effective action – I know that sounds strange, but it’s true.  The following sections provide specific actions and guidance to give you enough power and hope to get on top of the suicidal thoughts and feelings.  There is even a section on “helping your helpers”, which is surprisingly important.

Crisis.  If you are in immediate danger, you can get emergency help with one or two steps.

Short-Term.  There are five very specific steps that you can take – even when feeling overwhelmed – that can help you get out of the danger zone and open up possibilities for you.

Longer-Term.  These six strategies are good strategies for recovering from suicidal thoughts/feelings or a suicide attempt. They are also good strategies for managing your life throughout adulthood, so that’s a bonus.

Teenage Suicide – Table of Contents

The sections below provide some sources of that power and you will discover others.  In fact, this whole site is designed to help you discover your power and become the author of your life experience.

You can exercise power in the current crisis, in the short-term, and longer-term.  It probably doesn’t feel like it right now, but it’s true.  Suicide is always an option, but it is the last option and you have some other options to try.

• Get Emergency Help if You are in Crisis
• Five Steps You Can Take
• Help Your Helpers
• Six Longer-Term Life Strategies
• Resources – Hotlines, Websites & Videos