Suicide...The other side
Hi Everyone.
I had a profound experience yesterday that I thought appropriate to share in this forum.
A bit of a background. I have attempted suicide 9 times in my lifetime, 2 near fatal. I have Bipolar Disorder and my depressions get so bad I get hospitalized. Thankfully I haven't been that bad in over 3 years now.
I put my family through hell with my attempts. Like a lot of suicidal people I just wanted it all to stop. I wanted to escape. There were times the pain was just so bad I felt it was my only option.
The last time I attempted, it was very difficult on my 2 grown daughters. They never understood why I never felt they were worth living for. That sobered me up real quick and decided to put my 11% into recovery. I'm not there yet and I do get ideation but haven't acted on it.
I have found that our minds like to play tricks on us. It tells you everything you want to hear but here's the problem, our mind is also trying to kill us. It gives us every reason in the world to think we are not worthy of a life. I've been down this road many times before.
The other day I got a call from a very old friend. She called to tell me her brother passed away. He committed suicide...
I've tried to be as supportive as I possibly can to his family but struggling with my own feelings toward it all.
I see a family in such pain and disbelief. His kids are 24, 21 and 14. They are absolutely devastated and is very painful to watch.
This really has triggered me. I have always felt terrible about what I put my family through but now I see it in a completely different light. I now see the other side of it. Something I never gave a second thought to.
My friends brother coped the best way he knew how but in the process has unloaded such a burden onto his family. His children will forever be haunted by their father's actions. There will never be closure. I never got it until now and just beside myself with grief for him, his family, my kids, my family and myself.
I've already talked to one of my daughters this morning and apologized for everything I put her through. Next I will speak to my other daughter.
Again, this has been a profound experience for me. One that I certainly will never forget and on those really bad days when I've had all I can take, I'll take a little bit more because my daughters deserve better than that.