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Suicidal thoughts in loved one? Please help.


lovinglife
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I am here tonight asking for advice- my usual hive activity (;

I am worried sick tonight, sitting in bed, because my dh, who has been depressed for a long period of time, made suicidal comments tonight. He says they weren't "threats" and therefore he doesn't need any help urgently.

 

We are going out of town on Thursday morning and he is working 12 hour days Monday and Tuesday and he's insisting there is no time to take care of anything. I feel strongly that he needs to get in to see a mental health or medical professional urgently. He is actually lying here next to me unable to sleep and is supposed to get up for work in six hours. What in the world can I do to help him out? I feel like my family is slowly falling apart- my oldest son is getting professional help for anxiety and a possible ADHD/asd diagnosis, one of my daughters is getting therapy for odd, and now dh has crossed the line from a depressed state I can live with to showing signs of needing help NOW. Sigh. He says there is no time to be taken care of. Help.

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I agree that the ER may be necessary, but you may not be able to get him there.  My second suggestion is to try to get him and appointment during none-work hours tomorrow or Tuesday if at all possible.  Finally, if neither of those options is workable, keep an eye on him as best you can, and seek an appointment for Wednesday and then get him there any way that you can.  

 

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

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That, and suicide hotlines.

 

The good thing about depression is that it's really, really treatable. Even if you need to force him into care. He can get help with this, and in 2014, that help can be very effective. But he's so deep in the disease right now he can't see any way out.

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That's the thing- he says he didn't actually threaten anything. But it's my understanding that the I'm worthless, you'd be better off without me if I . . . Is still a bad sign.

Yes, it is enough. Where do you live?

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I've been where you are, it is an awful place to be. He needs treatment. Depression is very treatable, but if he is in the midst of it he won't be able to process the situation well enough to know what help he needs.

 

My husband has been receiving treatment for depression for many years, it has saved his life and our marriage. Will he go to an appointment if you make it for him? If there is anything you can do to persuade him, do so. If you can't, I would call 911.

 

Praying for you and him.

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Thanks. I have tears in my eyes. I didn't feel there was anyone I could talk to about this, you know? I'll be making a call in a few minutes, and the virtual hugs mean a lot.

 

We've had a rough couple of years, and what used to be a very minor issue is developing into a big one. My heart aches for him.

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Here is how the military trains people to approach or talk to troubled people:

 

The Department of Defense uses the acronym ACE to help people remember the suicide prevention steps.

 

A stands for Ask. Ask the question, "Are you thinking of harming your self or others?"

 

C stands for Care. If some informs you they do have thoughts of harming them self, calmly take control of the situation. Then, remove any object that could be used by the person to harm them self. Next, show you genuinely care for the person and have an interest in reducing their stress by listening to what they say.

 

E stands for Escort. Escort the person to seek help at the local mental health clinic or chaplain office. Never leave the person alone.

 

Another source anyone can talk to is the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at (800) 273-TALK (8255), if the person is a veteran press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.

 

It is a start.

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I have had two friends commit suicide and one college roommate who tried and failed.  One friend that killed himself I had talked to on the phone just hours before.  His wife found him.  We heard the sirens and didn't know why until she called us.  Please air on the side of caution.  I am glad you are taking this seriously.  As others have said, depression can be treated, but if no one acts...

 

So sorry that this has been such a difficult couple of years.  Perhaps family counseling would also be of benefit, along with possibly consulting with a nutritionist to make certain everyone is consuming a healthy diet designed for their specific needs.  I know when I was depressed I stopped eating right which really made things worse...

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I don't think saying "I'm worthless, you'd be better off without me" is an ER worthy statement in and of itself, even in a depressed person. Is he being treated for his depression? This would be the first step. Meanwhile, try to make him take vitamin D, and a good multivitamin--it won't help by itself, but it is worth having at least some of the contributing factors dealt with.

 

:grouphug:  Try to take good care of yourself as well. Get your own "oxygen mask" first before helping others--you sound overwhelmed (and who wouldn't be!).

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Well- I called the talk line, he is sleeping now and I'll be calling the local resources in the morning. Thanks again- here's hoping I can drag him in ASAP. Still worried about him working on very little sleep, but I guess it's a good sign that he's going to work. He said a few other things tonight that had me a bit worried so I will certainly be calling! Going to bed now- exhausting myself with worry won't help anyone.

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how well it works I don't know - but my daughter is working on a pharmD.  one thing they were taught when dispensing antidepressants to men was to say "this will help you sleep" because so many men see depression as a weakness.  one of its effects is insomnia.

 

just a fyi - extreme chronic stress has the same effect upon the brain as depression - but the person doesn't feel "depressed", just really stressed, so they are even more likely to resist help.

 

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I am confused. Did he say he was going to kill or harm himself or did he just say you would be better off without him? The first comment is an automatic trip to the ER for evaluation. The second comment is more difficult to prioritize. It could mean anything from needing a few affectionate mental strokes to a call for help.

 

It sounds like your DH is overly stressed with his schedule, lack of sleep, etc. and he has been successfully living with depression for a long time. Therefore, if all he said was, "you would be better off without me" try to narrow down his meaning. If he told you he is not thinking of harming himself, then he may have just needed you to acknowledge his pain and reassure him that you still need him.

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You are correct to be concerned. Tell him that you and your family love him and will do anything possible to help him. Suggest, gently, that he seek some kind of professional help. Working 12 hour days is the pits. He must be exhausted... There may be a "Suicide Prevention" hotline he can call, if he wants to talk with someone outside of your family. 

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:grouphug: Is there any counseling offered through his job? My husband works shift work as well and that can take a toll on you both physically and emotionally. His job offers access to counseling, upto 3 sessions at no cost. Maybe your husband's job offers something similar?

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<<Lovinglife>>  I will pray for you to get through this.  You need to let him know in no uncertain terms that he is valuable to you and you will do everything in your power to help him.  Insist that he get help and take him there.  

 

I disagree with the people who say that his comments are not worthy of an ER trip.  We can't know that through the internet.  If the OP thinks he is suicidal - then he needs an evaluation ASAP.  Many depressed people are not likely to admit directly to suicidal ideation or how bad it actually is, so it is very likely that his thought process is actually deeper than what he is admitting to her.  If she takes him to the ER or emergency mental health provider, they will ask the appropriate questions to determine his actual risk. 

 

I just went through much of this with my 17yos.  He was really understated in how he expressed his depression to us, even in therapy.  His therapist had to practically hit me over the head to make me take him to the ER since I wasn't hearing the scary enough stuff.  Through the ER personnel, we learned that not only did he have a plan, had gone through a "rehearsal."  We had to go through the steps to remove items from our home that he could use to harm himself.  BTW, ds is doing much better.  He spent some time in an intensive partial inpatient program for adolescents where he had therapy daily (where many issues came out), stepped down to a shorter program, and is now getting weekly therapy with his private therapist and weekly group therapy as well.  His meds have evened out his moods and he is hopeful about the future.  He is even surviving a full college load plus an AP class right now - the pressure eases this week as it is finals for his college class term.

 

 

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To those who are curious the actual words were "maybe I should just drive off a cliff (our town is by a large canyon with roads around that will lead straight off a cliff) you would all be better off without me". He also asked my six year old, who he has been struggling with, "wouldn't you be happier if I just drove off a cliff and died?" Of course, this morning he made it out like I was overreacting to insist that I am calling for some help today. Ugh.

 

And then this morning he said, why don't you save the help for when I really need it, like if this other job, or this board application falls through- indicating that one more rejection will do him in ): I believe he needs to be in a better place BEFORE anything else happens. He also admitted to some other thoughts late last night that I found disturbing- taking unnecessary risks while hiking with two of our boys in a canyon last weekend and imagining stray gunshots (he was out in the middle of nowhere and a bunch of rednecks were out shooting) hitting him.

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((Hugs)) You're not overreacting by calling to get him help. DH is an emergency psych therapist and gets calls from family and friends of people in crisis often. You should (hopefully) be able to get him for an emergency appt this morning and hopefully into a regular therapy session. I've got you and your DH in my thoughts and prayers this morning. 

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You are not overreacting. The things he is saying are a sure sign of suicidal thinking and an indication of serious depression beyond his ability to cope. He needs help, urgently.

 

Has he been particularly irritable lately? That is a common manifestation of depression in men and can be particularly difficult for family members to cope with.

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To those who are curious the actual words were "maybe I should just drive off a cliff (our town is by a large canyon with roads around that will lead straight off a cliff) you would all be better off without me". He also asked my six year old, who he has been struggling with, "wouldn't you be happier if I just drove off a cliff and died?" Of course, this morning he made it out like I was overreacting to insist that I am calling for some help today. Ugh.

 

And then this morning he said, why don't you save the help for when I really need it, like if this other job, or this board application falls through- indicating that one more rejection will do him in ): I believe he needs to be in a better place BEFORE anything else happens. He also admitted to some other thoughts late last night that I found disturbing- taking unnecessary risks while hiking with two of our boys in a canyon last weekend and imagining stray gunshots (he was out in the middle of nowhere and a bunch of rednecks were out shooting) hitting him.

 

I agree with the others; this is an emergency mental health situation. Expressing extreme frustration to a spouse is one thing, but he appears to be seriously discussing the idea of harming himself with his six year old. He can't see the emergency because he is so deep in the depression and isn't thinking clearly. Best wishes as you seek help.

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In all states, there is a law that allows for an emergency psychiatric evaluation, against the person's wishes if necessary. It doesn't sound like things are quite at that point yet, but you *can* compel him to get help if you think his life oro someone else's is in danger. Start by just calling 911-they will know how to help you get what you need.

 

In my state, this is called an emergency petition. The police escort the sick person to the emergency room and ensure that they are evaluated by a psychiatric professional before they are permitted to leave.

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Involving the kids is an entirely different level of scary IMO. Please do not leave them alone with him. Do you have any weapons at your house? Can you have a relative lock them up?

 

If at all possible, drag him to the ER or do whatever the crisis line says. :grouphug:

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No matter what he says, do not stop until you have:

 

--Obtained a psych evaluation

 

--A firm plan implemented and in place for therapy and any other care deemed necessary (meds, for example)

 

--A thorough physical with an MD. If he has an undiagnosed sleep or metabolic disorder, that could be impacting his depression.

 

--Help for YOU. Therapy? A suicide support group? You will not be able to walk through this without support. Consider it just as urgent as getting him help.

 

Do not stop. Do not let him persuade you that he is "fine." Cling to those awful moments last night when you *knew* without a doubt that something is wrong and he needs help. Use the truth from those moments to keep you strong to get him the help he needs.

 

:grouphug:

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i am so sorry he is going thru this, and you, too!

 

he has made more than one statement about thoughts he has had more than one time using more than one method.  

clinically, this is important, and it is important that he see someone.  

 

follow what the suicide line people tell you.  ask them for specific help.  (with some people, it may work if you make an appointment, and then get someone else to help you get him there.  (eg. his mom, his best friend, the children).  some interventions work better with some people than with others.

 

meanwhile, there are things you can do even without his help.  what we think about suicide can stop us from doing the things we can do.  an old wives' tale is that it is always highly planned.  the truth is that it is wildly impulsive.  

 

almost 1/4 of all suicide attempts happen approx. 5 MINUTES after the person decided to try it. 70 % have thought about the plan for less than an hour.  so one way of dealing with it is to make the most likely plans take longer.  (here's a link that isn't overwhelming http://www.wbur.org/npr/92319314). 

 

the rate of successful suicide is much lower in homes without guns, so If you have a gun in the house, please make sure it is locked away without ammo.

(or that it visits a relative for a while.)

 

clean out the medicine cabinet.  make sure there aren't old narcotic prescriptions.  replace large bottles of pain killers with small bottles. 

 

if you don't have alcohol in the house, don't bring some in.  if you do, reduce the amounts as much as you can.

plan meals that are as even on blood sugar as you can.  ie.  include protein, and don't do heavy starch meals.

if you can, take walks after dinner or in the mornings.  outside is better than inside.

 

and for you and the children and him, at dinner each night if you write three good things about the day in a book.  you can write and they can tell you what to write.  in the short term, this may help, but in the long run it will provide the children with a resilience that can only help.  (and you two, too!)

 

if it is possible, work on the frame you put around things.  avoid "always, never" etc.  something doesn't work not because you/he/they are awful/cursed/incompetent, but because of very specific things that can be dealt with.

 

these are all little things to approach a big thing, but it will help while you work at getting him in to see someone.

(just having a plan of action can help!)

 

many, many hugs.

ann

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New here but I am that depressed suicidal person...i suffer bipolar 2.

His statements while scary and worthy of attention are attention seeking statements.

I do believe he needs help but these arent typical suicide statements. Suicidal people tend to close down and not seek affirmation for their actions, especially from their children.

 

I hope he gets help.

 

Message me if you need to.

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:grouphug:  :grouphug:

 

just a fyi - extreme chronic stress has the same effect upon the brain as depression - but the person doesn't feel "depressed", just really stressed, so they are even more likely to resist help.

 

I don't want to derail the original thread, but I am curious about this. What would be the likely treatment if the person has extreme chronic stress? Would it be the same as treating depression? You can PM me if you want so we don't take up too much on this thread.  

 

 

 

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Just another quick thought: don't put too much trust in suicide hotlines. They exist mostly to counsel suicidal people and are staffed by volunteers, some of whom are more knowledgeable and conscientious than others. I won't get into the details of my own negative experience here but just suffice it to say that they are NOT the best nor the most reliable source of help in a crisis.

 

911 or an emergency room will tell you what you need to know.

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I have no experience with this, but my very first instinct is to tell you that, above everything else, do not leave your children alone with him -- and if you go places as a family, you do the driving.

 

Additionally, if he starts acting irrationally or threatening any kind of violence to himself or others, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY and get the police involved. If he's not behaving rationally, he's not your usual loving husband at that moment, and could be a very real threat to you and your kids. Don't take any chances with your safety or with your children's safety. I know you're very worried about your dh, but if he is making the kinds of statements you've described, be very alert and careful.

 

Your situation sounds scary to me.

 

I hope your dh will get the help he needs, but if he refuses, I really think your priority should be the safety of yourself and your children.

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I'm curious too jgpuppy. The past two+ years have been crazy here (unemployment, unexpected baby, fathers death, moving cross country, short sale of home, working a factory job here despite his higher education) and I'm sure stress and situational depression is a factor! The suicide line was helpful, but not as much as I'd hoped they would be. I was hoping to get an appt., but it seems my only option around here is the er :(

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Praying your dh is willing to seek out appropriate help and soon.  My only bit to add that I haven't seen mentioned is from my experience with many friends who have gone to the ER typically end up in a psych hold- and stay in the psych ward while they determine the mental state of the patient and if indeed they feel he is safe.  It's possible it wont happen but could.   I don't want to scare you at all with that, just letting you know it's a possibility that they would want to detain him.   I do believe you must be an advocate for him during this difficult time and if he is truly uncooperative given the difficulty he is having than you'll have to step in as you see fit.    Sometimes it helps to reverse the problem and think if that was me saying those things and caught in despair what would I want my husband to do for me?   Praying that you will have strength and wisdom as you navigate the days ahead!

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I'm curious too jgpuppy. The past two+ years have been crazy here (unemployment, unexpected baby, fathers death, moving cross country, short sale of home, working a factory job here despite his higher education) and I'm sure stress and situational depression is a factor! The suicide line was helpful, but not as much as I'd hoped they would be. I was hoping to get an appt., but it seems my only option around here is the er :(

Call your insurance or use their online search tool and find a psychiatrist or at least a therapist, call there office and tell them you need an urgent appointment. A therapist cannot prescribe meds but may be helpful in getting your children to take the situation seriously and can help you navigate the next steps. The most effective treatment is usually a combination of therapy and meds.

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Call your insurance or use their online search tool and find a psychiatrist or at least a therapist, call there office and tell them you need an urgent appointment. A therapist cannot prescribe meds but may be helpful in getting your children to take the situation seriously and can help you navigate the next steps. The most effective treatment is usually a combination of therapy and meds.

 

In our area you cannot get an urgent visit as a new patient, and often not as an existing patient. The offices are too busy already. You are directed to the ER if it is serious. There they will call a crisis team who will, along with the ER doc, evaluate what steps to take next.  This process gets you in to a counselor and/or psychiatrist within a few days as well.

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stress uses up b-vitamins, which are not really stored by the body.  so the first rec is get a really good b-complex.  I like emerald labs b-healthy because it's very bioavailabe.  (there are many out there that aren't and you're wasting your money.)  the cheapest for me has been amazon.  it's not cheap, but it is very worth it.  even after taking a middle of the road drug store quality b-complex for years (which was definitely helping, it was more noticeable by its absence.), I could feel an improvement within 10 days. like someone had flipped a lightswitch.

 

also, d3 has more effect on mental well-being than it is generally given credit for.

 

good vitamin support will help meds work more effectively

 

get him on an appropriate anti-depressant, because the brain chemistry turns out similarly.  I have a genetic disorder that affects my b-levels on top of the brutal stress we were under for several years.  I did an anti-depressant for 1 1/2 years, then didn't need it anymore. 

 

I'm pm'ing you with additional information

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With your further posts I would take him to the ER or call a hotline. Honestly, ER. Does your state have the right to detain people who have made threats of self-harm? Seriously, I would consider that option, they might not give him an option. 

 

BTDT, please take his comment seriously, please realize it may be embarrassing to him, but taking a few days to check out and take care of himself is better than the alternative. He may be mad at you, again better than the alternative. Don't feel alone or embarrassed yourself. Stress is a powerful weapon, it can degrade the strongest person. 

 

It's okay to ask for help, really, but get it from the professionals, please. 

 

I've seen way too many men get into these situations in the last few years. So many carry a heavy burden (I know others do too, but I've seen the stress in men a lot). He is not alone, it's okay to get help. 

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I'm curious too jgpuppy. The past two+ years have been crazy here (unemployment, unexpected baby, fathers death, moving cross country, short sale of home, working a factory job here despite his higher education) and I'm sure stress and situational depression is a factor! The suicide line was helpful, but not as much as I'd hoped they would be. I was hoping to get an appt., but it seems my only option around here is the er :(

 

Don't stop trying.

 

Call your medical doctor and beg for a referral. Call your insurance and try to get a referral or a list of approved drs and then call every last one of them. Consider the ER as an option that leads more directly to a doctor who can help.

 

When you call, please emphasize the following:

 

--He has mentioned this option more than once.

--He has a specific plan.

--He has spoken of this to his small child.

 

Those are red flags that professionals are trained to respond to. Please do not stop trying to find someone who can evaluate him.

 

I have hardly ever said this about anything, ever, but I say it now to you: Finding your husband help right now is more important than doing school.

 

:grouphug:

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