When a person feels suicidal it may be hard to respond to his or her loved ones who are trying to reach out to them. In what seems to be a moment of desensitization, a person who feels suicidal may have no emotions to respond to anything that is important to them. Suicidal ideation, if not properly equipped to fight, could contribute to a person not feeling any type of emotion, thus they may lack the proper judgment and emotions to prevent them from actually taking their own life. Understanding suicide and mental health is like understanding any other subject: The more we educate ourselves, the better the treatment we are able to offer the client,” said James Atkison, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks in Lubbock, Texas, who specializes in trauma, PTSD, suicidal and non-suicidal self-injury, depression and anxiety.
The article that is linked to this blog post discusses the changes that happen to a person's body when they are feeling suicidal, such as hormone sensitivity in the brain, serotonin abnormalities, mental and physical fatigue. Neurochemical changes can lessen impulse control, which can lead to tunnel vision. Since suicidal ideation and tunnel vision are considered closely linked, individuals considering suicide often cannot visualize any other solutions to their problems outside of their tunnel. To further understand this, “Rethinking Suicide” by Dr. Craig Bryan, is helpful in teaching people who suffer from suicidal ideation to see that suicide is the last option for people when they feel overwhelmed by life and can see no other options that will help them. Suicide, however, should never be an option for anyone who can be helped or is willing to accept help.
Lastly, it is always important to remember and consider that suicidal ideation, for many, is a disease, like diabetes. If not treated properly the consequences for neglecting your mental (and physical) health can be fatal. So, remember to love yourself by always taking care of your mental health.
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