Morning Dawn Photography
Suicide Awareness Day
Today is national suicide awareness day. I have posted a few other times about suicide and its relevance to my life but today is a great way for many other people who have been in my shoes to get help and for people in their lives to help them and get information.
I spent 4 years of my life cutting based on many factors. However, you should know that cutting is not a bunch of failed suicide attempts. Cutting is a way for people to take pain they can't explain and put it into a way that they can i.e the physical pain cutting offers. Cutting can lead to other things though. Like ideas of ending your life because it would just be easier. Cutting is also frowned upon in society so it becomes something that is shameful. In my life, I attempted suicide 3 times. Once, trying to overdose on pills and 2 other times by cutting so deep you could see the vein. That is the darkest cut on this photo and I have a similar, yet cleaner, cut on my right arm as well. I stunned doctors when I survived both times. Had I cut any deeper either time I would have died. The first time, I passed out because of all the blood loss. The second time I called my best friend at the time and he drove to my house immediately. A few days later I went to the emergency room to have it looked at. I could have used 6 stitches. (This scar is not pictured)
What I have learned since that time in my life is that I will always struggle with cutting and depression but it can be beat. I haven't cut in over 3 years. All you need is support. It can be from one person or many people. There is a lot of stuff I have done since then that I would not have been able to do if I were dead. Don't take yourself out of the equation before it is your time because you have so much more to do. You might cure cancer or end bullying. You may be the next Albert Einstein or the best mom to a child you haven't birthed yet. There are so many unknowns.
Suicide is a long term answer to a short term problem. When I was continually told this in my suicidal state I felt like it was a bunch of crap that doctors said to make you feel bad about yourself. It isn't crap. It is the truth. It may seem like the worst is happening and that it will never get better, but I promise it will.
If you know someone who you think is having issues please don't hesitate to get them help. They may not seem happy about it at the time and you may hurt your friendship temporarily but it is better to hurt it for a few days, months, or longer than it would be to let your friend do something drastic and possibly kill themselves. There are so many factors that go into suicide and cutting that we cannot stress enough the effects that getting them help might be able to do. I am a survivor because of some really strong people who helped me realize I had a problem. You might save a life.
Suicide Awareness Day
Today is national suicide awareness day. I have posted a few other times about suicide and its relevance to my life but today is a great way for many other people who have been in my shoes to get help and for people in their lives to help them and get information.
I spent 4 years of my life cutting based on many factors. However, you should know that cutting is not a bunch of failed suicide attempts. Cutting is a way for people to take pain they can't explain and put it into a way that they can i.e the physical pain cutting offers. Cutting can lead to other things though. Like ideas of ending your life because it would just be easier. Cutting is also frowned upon in society so it becomes something that is shameful. In my life, I attempted suicide 3 times. Once, trying to overdose on pills and 2 other times by cutting so deep you could see the vein. That is the darkest cut on this photo and I have a similar, yet cleaner, cut on my right arm as well. I stunned doctors when I survived both times. Had I cut any deeper either time I would have died. The first time, I passed out because of all the blood loss. The second time I called my best friend at the time and he drove to my house immediately. A few days later I went to the emergency room to have it looked at. I could have used 6 stitches. (This scar is not pictured)
What I have learned since that time in my life is that I will always struggle with cutting and depression but it can be beat. I haven't cut in over 3 years. All you need is support. It can be from one person or many people. There is a lot of stuff I have done since then that I would not have been able to do if I were dead. Don't take yourself out of the equation before it is your time because you have so much more to do. You might cure cancer or end bullying. You may be the next Albert Einstein or the best mom to a child you haven't birthed yet. There are so many unknowns.
Suicide is a long term answer to a short term problem. When I was continually told this in my suicidal state I felt like it was a bunch of crap that doctors said to make you feel bad about yourself. It isn't crap. It is the truth. It may seem like the worst is happening and that it will never get better, but I promise it will.
If you know someone who you think is having issues please don't hesitate to get them help. They may not seem happy about it at the time and you may hurt your friendship temporarily but it is better to hurt it for a few days, months, or longer than it would be to let your friend do something drastic and possibly kill themselves. There are so many factors that go into suicide and cutting that we cannot stress enough the effects that getting them help might be able to do. I am a survivor because of some really strong people who helped me realize I had a problem. You might save a life.