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DEPRESSION
AND SUICIDE
Thinking About Suicide
Q: Hi, I am
13 and live in Covina Ca. I have been really depressed lately
and often thought about suicide. I don't think that I could
ever actually do it because I now how much it could hurt my
friends, family, teachers and such. It's weird because I am
a good student, always getting a 3.5 GPA or above, am pretty
popular, am also on good terms with my teachers and love school,
yet through all the good stuff I am always unhappy. Why do
you think this is? Also how should I cope with this?
A: It sounds
like you are doing a good job so far of talking yourself
out of suicide. It does sound like you are depressed though
from your letter it is not clear why. Sometimes there are
no specific reasons for depression, and teenagers often
feel low for no reason at all. If this feeling of depression
hangs around for awhile, it is probably a good idea to get
some help with getting a handle on it.
Adolescents often feel that they
are in a bad situation and have no way out. This feeling
of helplessness and thinking that there are no solutions
to a problem are what lead them to suicidal feelings. Talking
with a counselor at school or at a mental health center
may help you understand better what is going on with you,
and how you can deal with your feeling. It is important
to share with your parents how you are feeling so that they
can help you get the help you need.
It is important to realize that while
right now things feel hopeless, these situations are usually
temporary, and not permanent. Suicide, on the other hand,
is a permanent solution to these temporary problems.
There are some things you might try
on your own that kids find helpful. Writing a journal about
your feelings is sometimes a good way of figuring out how
you feel, and relieving some of the pressure you may be
experiencing. Writing is often a very good outlet. Buy yourself
a notebook, keep it by your bed, and write in it every day,
or every night before you go to sleep. Write about the things
that are happening to you and what you are feeling about
them.
Another thing to try is exercise.
You might laugh, but exercise has been proven to be very
good for a person's state of mind. Walk, run, bike, swim
or play basketball for 30 minutes every day. See what this
does for you.
Good Luck.
Naomi L. Baum, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Also see: Crisis
Center/ Suicide
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