SUICIDE: IT IS NOT THE END

The eerie reality is that it is constantly being revealed to us that every day, more and more people are succumbing to the pressures of psychological distress, extreme mental exertions, stress caused by numerous stressors and psychologically damaging life experiences so much so, they adequately convince themselves that the only way to cope and escape from these thoughts and feelings is by taking their own lives.

This clearly seems to be a theme common in both men and women but what is strikingly alarming is the frequency with which suicide cases are occurring in the country; a fact supported by the number of heartbreaking stories we read every other day of our brothers and sisters taking their own lives.

The truth is, the mind has the unfortunate potential to become a really ‘dark place’ when the room for positive, flourishing thought and feeling are constantly shrouded in mental processes that facilitate the opposite. The case of someone eventually arriving at the point of making the decision to terminate their own existence is usually preceded by the occurrence of either: one significantly demoralising event or experience whose psychological impact (on the individual) stretches beyond their ability to comprehend, make sense of and continue life with the fact that such and such has happened.

Alternatively, one may contemplate suicide as a result of a prolonged occurrence of a sequence of events and experiences, which, over time, wear the individual down psychologically, in the process weakening his or her ability to cope with what those experiences cumulatively become.

Overwhelmed

The overriding core theme common in both instances is characterised by a feeling of being mentally overwhelmed and being in constant search for ways to buffer the effects of whatever the negative event and/or experience that may have preceded.

Suicidal thoughts weigh heavily on the psyche of the individual bearing them, something that is exacerbated by their root cause. For instance, having to end a long-term relationship comes not only with the emotional pain of suddenly ruptured emotional bonds but also some psychological scars such as feeling worthless, unwanted and devoid of any self-confidence or esteem. The decision to end one’s life becomes more and more of a viable option when the individual struggles to find these buffers or ways to counteract the already existing negative thoughts and in their eyes, the notion that their situation will improve becomes non-existent and they, therefore, feel they can no longer sustain a thorough will to live.

I find it rather unnecessary and heavily inconsiderate for someone to pass a ‘I would never kill myself over that’ comment in the wake of an incident as such. It is important to note that we are individuals, therefore, we are different and this difference is especially stark in the ways we process, accept or move on from a hurtfully detrimental experience. This also speaks further to how much as a society we need to improve in our empathy and our displays of concern, emotional warmth and affectionate caring.

Although we all do get slightly overwhelmed and feel as if we are unable to cope fittingly with all the travails that life flings at us, may deciding to end your own life be the least viable option of all. The purpose of all negative experiences is to propel you toward a lesson that will be useful for experiences in the horizon. Speak to someone about it. Write your thoughts and feelings in a journal; find a way to express yourself in the case you may feel slightly ‘head underwater’. Find ways to restore your confidence, bring back your esteem and keep with you the reassurance of your loving loved ones. And finally, it is NOT the end of the world.

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