Understanding Mental Illness To Cope With Suicide

Last Updated on Friday, 14 October 2011 07:21 Written by Natural Health Team Friday, 14 October 2011 07:21

Health Information about Understanding Mental Illness To Cope With Suicide

Without seeming vague, suicide will always be with us just like diabetes, heart illnesses and broken legs. The effect of a deeper understanding by the accompanying friends and family will assist in alleviating the stigma of mental health and when we close doors, we are giving our permission to seek an alternative that works. Two friends died because family closed their doors and were unable to bridge the gap of tolerance and acceptance.

Frankly, I believe that to understand mental illness and treat it effectively one has to be in possession of a true vocation because mental health commands a mindset that is set apart from general medicine. To empathize with the victim and form a connection will help them to ease their feelings that never abate behind the smiling eyes and laughing voices. The essence of the illness is deep within and because the tremors of mental illness are difficult to explain the patient requires unconditional love, especially from mental health practitioners and family.

John’s suicide was at the end of a rope. Mary ran charging towards the enemy line with the chamber in her gun empty. Louise jumped out of a 20-story window and Alex crashed headlong into an oncoming truck. In other parts of the world the list of suicides is growing as families address the ashes of a life that expired by their own volition.

John’s sister, Jill, becomes quiet, feels this is a crime against her, and wishes for an interaction where John apologizes to her for his actions. The thing of it is John has nothing to apologize about and if Jill gets out of her own head she will realize that John did everything he possibly could to address his illness but the situation was worse than anyone realized.

As the population increases likewise incidences of all acts and with statistics, there is always a question or a zillion that remain unanswered. The prevalent question asked is ‘why was he / she so selfish and what did we do to deserve this action?’ Suicide is not normally a selfish act because it is the only system that offers immediate freedom and respite from the torments of the mind. Secondly, refrain from interpreting mental illness as a sign of stupidity because that is far from the truth.

As addressed in a previous article ‘Suicide Letters’ there is a relief attained that was previously out of reach and many do not commit this fatal action without seeking alternative solutions. Loneliness is a constant companion and if surrounded by friends or family with genuine caring attitudes then loneliness may abate. It is very easy to judge and say the person is not trying but no two people are alike and as difficult it may be for friends or family imagine how difficult it is for the patient.

The bottom line is, we all may have a certain amount of empathy, but if one does not have a healthy mind then you have not an iota of an idea what it is like to be in the domain of person who does not have the thing they desire the most. Every person desires the ability to be able to live and conquer this world, living through all its vagaries of joy and successes with the typical failures that accompany life and with the benefit of a healthy mind. If you do not have a healthy mind then magical bliss is forever evasive and receiving judgmental responses or feedback is counter productive.

This is a difficult illness, there are no magic buttons to press or pills to take but absolute honesty, and directness has to replace a nondirective approach, unfortunately, there are always limitations of endurance and so it is. Become as knowledgeable as possible about the illness and read books by intuitive authors like Dr. Kay Jamison. Night Falls Fast and the Unquiet Mind are two excellent books by Dr. Jamison because of her closeness to the illness.

As we know there are successful relationships, so be sure there are those who do all that is possible but still could not prevent the suicide of a loved one. Cancer treatment is not 100% successful either because radiation does not guarantee a cure and all we can do is the best that we can and pray for success. Any doctor will tell you that medications only do so much and the rest is up to a grouping of other sequences and influences.

Caution has to be a constant and all families and friends have to be ever so vigilant because within two years of a suicide there is a large possibility that another of the group may also follow with a suicidal action. It is with sincerity that I believe mental illness should be addressed as a family therapy. However, all petty trivialities have to be put aside in order to assist the learning curve and produce optimal beneficial results.

Which is easier? Living with the illness or the ashes? Closed doors or open? Living in peace is a goal sometimes far out of reach even for the healthy! However, with a united effort the journey towards the destination will be smoother. After all every car comes with suspensions to soften the ride and by working together the family is the smooth suspension carrying each other on a bumpy ride.

The greatest asset towards coping with mental illness and suicide is faith and similar to diabetes, heart disease or cancer, mental illness has its fair share of casualties. Faith is about strength, the ability to cope with whatever life throws at us, and if a successful conclusion comes about then we express our gratitude with vigour. If death occurs then we pray for the strength to pass through it and not dwell within despair.

Faith will surmount all difficulties and I know without a shadow of doubt that faith shall assist in the treatment and management of mental illness. Truth and honesty have to be present especially by the patient because only knowledge truth and faith will create a healing atmosphere. God bless.

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