suicide Archives - Page 2 of 9 - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert

Don’t Kill Yourself — My Daily To-Do List

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Feb 8, 2023

Do the laundry, wash the dishes, and don’t kill yourself — those are on my to-do list. That last one is on my daily to-do list. (Yes, I realize it’s more like a to-don’t item, but allow me some latitude, if you would.) Yes, I have to remind myself every day not to die. I put it on lists. I remind myself of it in blog posts, and I say the words to myself almost as a mantra — “no kill, no die.” Let’s talk about why I need to do that and how I can not kill myself every day in spite of the desire to do so.

For When I’m Suicidal; For When You’re Suicidal

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Sep 5, 2022

Dear Suicidal Friend,

This sucks. Okay, it doesn’t just suck. It’s horrendous. It’s horrific. It’s soul-sucking. It’s suicidality at its finest. It’s lonely, and the pain is unbearable. I know what that feels like. I have been there many times before. I know how impossible just one more moment in the muck and mire feels. I have written about suicide over and over and over, and yet it doesn’t stop me from feeling suicidal again. It doesn’t stop me from wanting to kill myself. No amount of knowledge takes away the suffering.

Thoughts of Suicide Every Day

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jun 23, 2022

Some people live with thoughts of suicide every day. I have lived this way. It’s hell. Persistent suicidality can happen in depression, although it’s not talked about very much. There is a notion that people think about suicide, and they either get help, which rids them of the thoughts, or act on the thoughts. And while I have no doubt some people have had that experience, for many, this just isn’t reality. Even the best treatment can’t always rid a person of constant thoughts of suicide.

How to Help Someone Who Is Suicidal

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Aug 24, 2021

Helping someone who is suicidal is daunting. In fact, even for me, someone who works in mental health, helping someone who is suicidal can be tough. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, however. If you’re here and looking for how to help a suicidal person, you’re already doing the right thing. Thank you for caring for another person so much. Read on for tips on how to help someone who is suicidal.

Why Don’t Doctors Listen to People with Bipolar Disorder?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Apr 14, 2021

Doctors often don’t listen to people with bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses. In fact, most people with bipolar disorder know, the instant a doctor sees “bipolar disorder” on your chart, you’re screwed. Now, don’t get me wrong, not every doctor is the same, and I have had some doctors treat me with the same care I suspect they would offer anyone else. That said, on the whole, doctors don’t listen to people with bipolar disorder. Here’s why, and here’s how to fight it.

When Suicide Is Welcomed By a Website — Pro-Suicide Sites

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Mar 11, 2021

There are websites that welcome suicide. Sure, they say they’re “pro-choice” when it comes to suicide, but, really, they’re welcoming the choice of suicide. And I think that when a site is welcoming of suicide, it is encouraging of suicide as well. When everyone on a site is suicidal and pressing forward towards suicide, it’s hard not to see it as a viable option, especially if you’re depressed or in distress already. I’m not sure I have an answer to the existence of pro-suicide sites, but I do have some information for their visitors.

Too Young to Be Suicidal? Children and Suicidality

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 17, 2020

It’s important that people recognize that a person is never too young to be suicidal. Children can be suicidal at four years old. Really. I know how scary that is to me and I assume it’s even scarier to the parents out there, but it’s still true: you’re never too young to be suicidal and attempt or even die by suicide. Let’s take a look at what that means for parents, families and the rest of us.

Start Suicide Prevention Conversations and Forget the ‘Rules’

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Sep 8, 2020

I firmly believe that suicide prevention starts with a conversation. A conversation that can stop suicide can be initiated by the person feeling suicidal or someone around them; regardless, a conversation is the starting point. But it can be very intimidating to talk about suicide. There are all kinds of “rules” when you talk about suicide and political correctness affects the language you are “allowed” to use. I say forget all that. Suicide prevention starts with a conversation that makes sense to you, not the PC police.

Hopelessness Plus Suffering Equals Suicide

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jun 29, 2020

Today I want to talk about how hopelessness plus suffering often equals suicide. Just suffering or just being hopeless often isn’t enough. It’s when these things come together that a suicide attempt is made. And while these two variables are not the only ones that can lead to suicide, hopelessness and suffering sure are big ones.