This time of year brings up A LOT of feelings for people. Situations we avoided for the first eleven months of the year thrust themselves to the forefront. Every relative you don’t want to see you now feel obligated to visit. Those losses you experienced (usually a passing or separation) rear their ugly heads with constant reminders all around us. Our already tight bank accounts scream a bit more as we drain them dry buying gifts. Holiday obligations eat up what little time you already had.
My point? What is meant to be the most joyous time of year also drags along its polar opposite in the form of misery. With such heavy weight weighing us down every year, I notice a huge uptick in suicidal ideation amongst my clients. Just in the last week, I’ve had the conversation at least 6 times, and one client attempted.
Let this be my PSA to you all. Reach out! Ask for help! You are not alone! I can never stress this enough. Listen. I’ve been in that deep, dark place myself. When you’re there, you have no more rational thought. Your thoughts narrow in on the ever-shrinking list of options until you feel like you are left with only one choice.
This is not the case at all. Even if I don’t know you, if I heard that you completed suicide, I’d be sad that something happened to you and that you’re no longer with us. Multiply that exponentially to your loved ones. I’d much rather feel that love in this life than in a spiritual form.
If you’re remotely having suicidal thoughts (“I don’t want to live anymore.”), please don’t hold it in. That only makes it worse as you ruminate. Talk to a loved one or a mental health professional. If the thoughts are more specific (i.e. thinking about how you’d actually do it, have access to means, etc), immediately seek out help or go to your closest crisis center.
If you don’t want to talk to a loved one, there are plenty of resources where you can speak to trained, anonymous professionals who will guide you through the process.
-911 or closest emergency room
-988 crisis hotline/textline
-National Alliance for Mental Illness- nami.org
Remember. You matter.
The Caring Counselor
The Caring Counselor 
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