[Alffe]

As to the thoughts, I will be the first to say they are exhausting and, as I have said previously, they tire us to a point where we honestly believe suicide is the only solution. It is not. BEFRIEND and TALK. These thoughts are a part of you, for better or worse. I believe strongly in a physiological connection with suicidal thoughts. Our fear of the thought stimulates a negative physiological reaction which appears to give the negative thoughts enhanced power over us. Step back for a moment and place yourself in an imaginary situation. You see a child running into a busy roadway...you run quickly to save this child from oncoming cars...feel the reaction rising in your body. The adrenaline pounding throughout your body and brain. Now the rescue is over, your alone, feel the exhaustion of your body and mind.

You are rescuing yourself daily, hourly, every few minutes. Each thought envokes a physiological reaction with the end result being exhaustion. Befriend this thought. Treat it as you would the child who ran into the pathway of cars. Hold it, talk to it, teach it that there is another way to walk the roads of life. Post it here and allow others to comfort it. Do not be ashamed of it. What is it really but a thought that wants attention. Understand now, I did not say a PERSON who wants attention but a THOUGHT that wants attention from that person. It is the fight against the thought that tires us and makes us vulnerable to enactment of the thought.

I cannot give you a reason to live. I can, however, take away your reason for dying. An untrained unaccepted thought is not justification for death.

[Alffe]

Why am I reposting Pters words? I'm afraid people miss them up in the stickies. I recently got a pm from a member who was offended by my response to their feeling suicidal.

One of the things I said, (as I have often said here) is that if one is hell bent on killing themselves, there isn't anything anyone can do to prevent it. And while this is true, Pter had a much kinder way of saying it.

We have to rescue ourselves from those thoughts...we have to recognize them for what they are and learn to redirect them.

I invited this person to join the forum but I think he went away mad and I am sorry if I came off "unsympathic" to him. I have great empathy for people who are in that black hole....have been there myself.

And always, always, always...the most important thing is to talk about it!
That old elephant in the room....we have to see him....to talk about him.

[~scrabble]

(((Alffe)))

[Doody]

(((Alffe))) Love you tons.

[Chemar]

Alffe

I dont think we could ever thank you enough that you are willing to show your heartache in order to try to help others not to have to endure it

[Addy]

Alffe, I love that you bring these words to our attention again - I get something from them every single time....! to Pter

[jaded2nite]

bump.......because his words never get old!

[Zenda]

I am new here. I remember being offended the first time I heard that I had to help myself. We hear what our filter lets us. At the time I heard "I don't want to help you" but I know now the message was not meant to be that; it was meant to let me know that I am the only one that keeps me safe in the end. It doesn't mean that I don't need help. I stumbled across Pter's words one night recently. It was the first time I realized that others can become exhausted by recurring suicidal ideation and it gave me a new way of relating to it. The beast - yep that is what it is the beast. And again tonight the beast is here.

[Alffe]

Welcome Zenda...I'm sorry you are fighting the beast. Depression is like a black hole that we fall in and then struggle to get out. Please remember that we are on the other side of that hole, wanting to help you out of it.

[jaded2nite]

Zenda

See that open hand at the top of that dark hole?? It is warm and just waiting for you to take ahold of it so it can help you out of the hole!

Glad you are here!! Keep reading!!