Anyone ever call a suicide line?

[LordranBound]

What's it like? Do they just try to convince you not to do it? Say things like "Think of your family" etc? I think that would make me want to do it more :/

When I dream of committing suicide (I think it's different than people actually planning it, but maybe not) I just wish I had someone to go to a bar with who I could swap stories with and get stupidly drunk and wake up together (not romantically) and laugh at how sloppy we got. I don't think they have lines to call for that.

They have escorts, yes, I realize that, but I doubt they'd be good conversationalists.

[anonymouslyadd]

I have. I just remember talking to a couple people. One person seemed to be really busy and wasn't able to speak with me for long. She offered me some advice to keep me going, but I guess my case didn't seem as serious. I don't miss those days...

[Fuzzy12]

I've never called a suicide hotline but i don't think that they'll try to guilttrip you out of committing suicide by asking you to consider your family. Maybe they'll tell you where you can get actual help. You know give you hope. Let you know that you aren't alone. I really don't know though. If you are feeling suicidal please call them and also please tell someone else like your wife.

i think a lot abt suicide though i know that it's not something I'd ever seriously consider. It's called suicide ideation as opposed to being suicidal. I CAN relate to wanting to be around someone with whom can just chew the fat when you are down. Sometimes i consider telling random strangers about my **** cos i can't really talk to anyone in real life

The forums aren't a bad substitute actually. It's a safe environment where you can post abt anything troubling you. People here listen. Mostly without judgement and with a genuine desire to help. If you should ever feel suicidal please get some real instant help. if you are feeling down or upset about something you can always vent on here. If nothing else i guess most of us are always happy to listen.

[TygerSan]

I have on someone else's behalf (someone who I knew somewhat threatened b/c I wouldn't drop everything and go see them *now* . . . person had exhibited manipulative behavior before, but I was 14 and had no clue what to do).

They were very nice, and tried their best to evaluate the situation, but because they were hearing things second hand, advised me to call the cops instead

[dshel34]

A few points on your comment.

First, they do try to be helpful, but are not the best conversationalists, and like has been stated, do try to guilt trip you out in some situations. I never called for reasons concerning wanted to kill myself. I've called twice. One because I was still dealing emotionally with a young female friend of mine who just hung herself (because she found out she failed a class her senior year of high school, lied to her parents about it, and discovered they were going to find out because she was going to have to repeat a course and then panicked--- an unfortunate loss of life that would not have occurred if she took the time to process and evaluate the situation), but i was clicking random links on the internet without looking at what i was clicking, just as i often do when i get bored, and up pops a picture of a girl who was her age who hanged herself. i am an adult male and never cry, but due to the situation and the fact i was still dealing with the loss, i started bawling and literally freaking out. i was not thinking of killing or hurting myself but needed someone to talk to about it so i called a hotline. they assumed i was just not wanting to admit that i wanted to end it, so they tried to guilt trip me out of it. the second time i called was when i found someone's suicide note, did not know how to prevent it, so i called them. they continued to believe that when i said "someone" i meant me, but after finally realizing i did not mean me, i literally meant "someone", they let me go and hung up.

a second point is that often our dreams have meaning as they are a result of our subconscious. so i suggest that, even though you do not believe you want to hurt yourself, you seek some sort of counseling and discuss this. if that is not enough to convince you that there may be an issue, consider that after these messages from your subconscious, you respond to the dreams with self-destructive actions (e.g. your excessive drinking and "getting sloppy").

last point i want to make, is that possibly an escort could be helpful. there are plenty of legal females (or males) that will provide a "girlfriend experience" and often will engage in meaningful conversation, and are not just there for sexual acts. talk to the escort, or their service provider, and see if they will provide that sort of service for you. if you so choose, you may try this legal route, and if you do not find this fulfilling and helpful, try a counselor or psychologist. most psychiatrists are more about prescriptions, but counselors, LCSW's, and psychologists will be more about talking, therapy (beit cognitive behavioral therapy, or various other means) and being helpful through non-pharmaceutical methods. most people do not think of suicide often, have reoccuring dreams, or linger on it--although this does not mean that you are not normal, lack the ability to cope, lack any morals or are in any other way unequal to anyone else...there is nothing that is absolutely "normal" about anyone and there is nothing that applies to everyone nor nothing that does not apply to anyone, but speaking to someone else, especially a professional (not necessarily a "pro"), can help one to find a sense of equilibrium. By the way, IT WON'T HURT ANYTHING BY GIVING IT A SHOT BY SPEAKING WITH A PROFESSIONAL!

[Slo-mo a-go-go]

hey LordranBound I found New Orleans to be my home cause I could find those some ones who are interesting in town (met one from a neurology convention to boot!) to have those conversations with and have 2 drinks and laugh and forget our woes and then I really would stop and notice how beautiful the sunrise was riding the trolley home at dawn.

sure a fleeting joy, but it got me thru the dark periods in my life.

I think that such moments rekindle your attachment to life. Certainly those nights eased my mind because I could see that fighting for my life was worth it, I still really wanted to taste more of what could be.

[purpleToes]

If you've never called one before, but think you might someday, I recommend calling a suicide hotline sometime when you are not in crisis, so you can find out for yourself what they do and what it might be like. I did this and told them I was just curious about it, in case I needed it in the future; they were very nice and explained all about the service.

That made it much easier to go ahead and call when a time came that I was in crisis. It was helpful. I wasn't really suicidal but I was very depressed and distraught. They didn't try to talk me into or out of anything, but rather mostly just wanted to listen and make me feel normal and human.

[mctavish23]

I can only tell you what's it's like to be on the other end of the phone; answering it.

It's extremely stressful, but it's a valuable service.

However, one size doesn't fit all in terms of 24 hour crisis, on call services.

My impression though is that most of them are very professional.

tc

mctavish23

(Robert)

[starrykitten]

I've called many suicide hotlines, many times, and had many different experiences. The volunteers on those hotlines are trained to show empathy, not to really fix your problems. A lot of times they'll ask what's gotten you through other times when you felt this way and suggest that, or they'll help you come up with a plan of other things to do. Mostly they just listen and respond with empathy, echoing things you've said and things like that. They're very hard to shock and not judgmental. I'm speaking in general here--it all depends on the person you talk to. Good luck.

[keliza]

I've never called one personally, but I have several friends who have worked as volunteers at suicide hotlines. What I understand, at least from their work, is that their job is primarily to listen. They are trained not to voice opinions to the clients on the phone or tell them what to do in any way. They can encourage certain courses of action (like not killing yourself, getting help, contacting family, going to the hospital, things like that) but they are taught not to give explicit advice of any kind. Whether or not they actually do what their told in practice, I'm sure that varies depending on the person and the situation.

Have you ever sought out a depression support group in your area? There may be mental health related organizations in your area that have monthly meetings where you could meet other people who have struggled with depression, and maybe understand what it's like to want to end your own life. I have been suicidal at many points in my life and I do understand how that feels, and it's awful.

Sometimes you really do just want to talk about it to someone who understands and has been there before, not just somebody who is going to make you feel guilty about wanting to kill yourself (which you already do) or tell you that it's going to get better (when it feels like it never will). Sometimes it almost feels invalidating, to have someone tell you things like that when you're suffering so much in the moment. There have been times in my life where I was getting that kind of input from friends and I just wanted to say, "Yeah, I am sure it will get better EVENTUALLY, but right now it's awful and you're not even acknowledging that it's awful for me right now."

Hang in there. Look for support groups in your area. Talk to someone who understands the difference between suicidal ideation (just thinking about it with no plans to do it) versus suicidal intent (planning on it). Just because you think about it doesn't mean you're going to do it, and someone who understands that and understands how it feels could be really helpful to talk to.

[Danteloogi]

Somebody else had suggested this but I strongly recommend seeing a psychologist. I went to one by mistake (thought it was a normal doctor) and when I got there I told myself that after this session I would not come back. Well, I was wrong. That session was very helpful. Being able to talk to a professional about my life and problems to get feedback on ways I can help make a difference.

Today was my second session and it too was very helpful. Its kind of weird paying somebody to listen to your problems, but in my case I don't really have anybody else to go to who understands ADHD

[known_guy]

I hate phones so I never called any of the many available suicide hotlines. BUT! I did sent an e-mail message to a suicide help network (I forgot the website) but the person who responded to my message was very unhelpful. Asked me irrelevant questions ("Why do you think you let things get this far?") and repeatedly told me they're not supposed to "give advice". I don't know. I imagine calling and actually speaking to someone could be more helpful though. My experience was negative. Oh, I did also post on some suicide forums, detailing my situation and asking for help, and the people over there are very helpful, supportive. Perhaps you could look into that?

[mad83]

I emailed one once. Their pathetic attempt to try to talk me out of it made me laugh so hard I felt better. Honest. I'm not saying all hotlines are that bad, but it made me think "Wow, I can do a better job at talking myself out of suicide. I guess I'm not so bad."

[tudorose]

I rang them once when my son went missing and I thought he wasn't coming home to get some advice on what to do. I was sitting on the phone forever listening to the most depressing music I ever heard and thinking thank God I'm not actually depressed!