Comments on: How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me — Book Review

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:03:36 +0000

I’m not in crisis at the moment. I’ve not been at that stage in several years. But that’s because I’m in a relatively comfortable situation right now (more or less).

It’s only comfortable because i take things a day at a time and don’t think about the future.

If I change that, suicidal idation comes into play.

I know someday life will become uncomfortable again and I’ll get serious about suicide.

But so what?

Therefore, I have no interest in any kind of “back up plan” when crisis time arrives.

By: castocreations

castocreations — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:15:25 +0000

Being bipolar, my spirals downward can be severe and quick. I haven’t attempted suicide in a long time but the thoughts have come up and they freak me out every time.

I disagree that suicide/depression is up just because the economy isn’t doing as good – the media makes it SOUND like the economy is in a depression but if you avoid watching the news then life really isn’t that bad economically (I just wrote a blog post about this).

Also, sometimes the “good” times are almost worse … I feel guilty when I get depressed when things are supposed to be so good all around me. Or I get even more depressed because I know I should be enjoying life and I can’t.

Anyway…thanks for mentioning this book. I’m adding it to my wish list on Amazon.

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:50:53 +0000

Wow! Sounds like a powerful book on a difficult subject.
Thanks for adding those important help lines at the bottom.

By: budgets are sexy

budgets are sexy — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:00:11 +0000

OMG yeah that title is SO SEXY!!! I would have picked it up too….probably wouldn’t have gotten through it all (A.D.D issues and all) but i sure would have started it

By: deepali

deepali — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:51:21 +0000

Great post, Mrs. Micah. And an interesting book – I will pass it along to my mom (she’s a shrink).

By: mrsmicah

mrsmicah — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:35:48 +0000

@plonkee, or “you have so much to live for.” If you tell me that you’d like me to be part of your future, that’s a lot more encouraging.

Not as a guilt trip but as an “I love you.”

As you say, bad stuff happens to good people. Just like an apparently healthy person may have undiscovered cancer inside, someone might appear successful but feel empty.

By: plonkee

plonkee — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:31:26 +0000

I’m thinking about all the people that say you know, that you shouldn’t feel depressed/suicidal/etc because you’re young, or you’re clever or.. [insert stupid reason of your choice].

I mean it’s true, but only in the same way that people shouldn’t develop other serious or life-threatening diseases. Bad stuff happens to good people all the time. Depression is just another one, but fortunately it’s treatable (if not always curable).

By: mrsmicah

mrsmicah — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:20:18 +0000

Thanks, Caveman and Nicole.

@Nicole, I agree with you 100% about therapy/medication. Best thing I ever did. When I look at where I was beforehand, I can see that if I hadn’t stopped it I would have kept spiraling down. As it was, I regained my equilibrium and made significant progress. Things aren’t perfect, but it’s like having chronic allergies compared to pneumonia. So much better.

By: Nicole at Breaking Even, Inc.

Nicole at Breaking Even, Inc. — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:58:37 +0000

Way to tackle an important topic… I bet there is a rise in depression due to these economic times.

I’d like to urge people to get help if you need it. Being on medication and/or going to therapy doesn’t make you weak. Remember, you know what you’re feeling better than anyone.

By: That One Caveman

That One Caveman — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:48:33 +0000

Thanks for opening up a difficult topic. I’ve had problems on-and-off throughout my life. A suicidal thought cycle is a difficult thing to break, but you have to focus on stopping feeding the source problem. Thanks for sharing this resource; I hope to find it at my local library soon.