Hi All,

My daughter attempted suicide yesterday by taking a bottle full of Benadryl. Fortunately, her roommate found her and called 911, so she's going to be okay physically in a few days. Being okay mentally.

My daughter has struggled with serious GAD and some OCD for years, and with the depression that often accompanies these disorders, but we had no idea that she was in despair deep enough to try to kill herself. She has always been somewhat secretive...we just don't know what to do next.

Your suggestions and support will be greatly appreciated.

KathyPT

I'm so sorry to read of her attempt and so glad she failed. There are many good books out there both for her and for you. Many are stickied at the top of this forum. Suicide, The Forever Decision is an excellent choice.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread238.html

It is important that you talk to her about her attempt and what she is feeling, and what you are feeling. Is she taking any meds for her depression? Would she go for counseling?
click on my signature line...http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/

We lost our only son to suicide many years ago and it forever changed our family. Please know that you are not alone, please keep talking to us.

Hi Kathy

By your posting here I can tell that you love your daughter very much....please tell her but don't smother her with this. I say this because I walk in similar shoes as your daughter. She needs to know and feel loved but a little goes a long way.

I live with constant suicidal thoughts and numerous attempts! Why I don't live in an institution, I don't know. But, I believe it's because I have a wonderful team of doctors.

My primary care, my Psychiatrist, and my Therapist. I can tell any of them anything! Plus, they work with me on my medications to keep me stable.

I hope you can find a team of doctors for your daughter such as I have.
I wish you the best.
Abbie

Dear Kathy,

I cannot imagine how you feel but I should think you are desperate for immediate answers.
One thing you may like to know is a suicide attempt of this sort has probably not been researched - in other words it was probably a spur of the moment decision.

In that is hope because, hopefully this means that your daughters problems have not been building for long but rather that they suddenly seemed impossible to accept.

This in turn hopefully means these seemingly insurmountable issues she suddenly has can be dismantled just as quickly as she built them.

Depression is simply a result ( if not caused by chemical imbalance ), of compacted issues. ie one problem arrived in your daughters life that she did not talk about or deal with. This was on her mind and affecting her, then another problem came along that compacted on the first and so on until one day a bottle of Benedryl seemed like the only option.

GAD is obviously affecting your daughters present ability to deal with her new set of issues. OCD is a coping mechanism that will escalate at a time like this.

What your daughter needs is :

A trusted person to sit and listen and to encourage her to dissect her mind. A professional councillor is the best person for this. But for your daughter to trust will take time.
This is an uphill struggle that is possible to get over.

Love to you at this time, you are being thought about.