• Because you have an illness that makes you want to kill yourself.

• Because you are not just depressed - you have depression.

• Because - just like with any other illness - you must get treatment to get rid of the symptoms & the pain !!

• Because you can treat depression, even cure it.

• Because your life has value and can be saved.

Because you have a biological brain disorder

• that under-produces positive emotions
• that over-produces negative emotions
• poisons your thoughts
• and makes you believe that you must die.

• You are experiencing the pain in your leg, in a part of your body.
• You can sit and look at your leg, your ankle, your foot, where it hurts, down there.
• At a part of your body, and say
  "Ouch, my leg hurts!" - "Ouch, my foot hurts!"
• But you know it - this exterior part of your body will need a doctor's to x-ray or put on a cast, crutches, ointment, or a tetanus shot and antibiotics - but it will get better.
• And you are willing to suffer the pain,
  treat the wound,
  and expect it to heal.

• The very pain & disorder is in your reasoning, happiness, and "will to live" mechanisms - in your heart, in your soul.
• The entire experience of self and life continuum is affected.
• There is no space in your head & heart for objectivity.
• It's as though the pain is you.
• Lost in and disabled by the pain, often we are not able to objectively seek the proper treatment as we would for our injured leg, or to persevere when a treatment fails to help.

• you would accept the pain
• apply a treatment
• fight for life
• wait for healing
• and expect to get well.

• You may have to suffer for a while longer before you get better.

• whether from a physical injury, or an internal disease like cancer
• from a life circumstance - loss of a job or home
• or from losing a loved one through death or divorce.

• Often, normal people in constant pain for an extended length of time will begin to think of suicide even though they never thought of it before.

• Our malfunctioning biochemistry creates a constantly descending altered mental and physical state.
• We are immersed in a biochemistry of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, pain & sorrow.
• Our hearts are physically aching as though something horrible and terrible has happened to us.
• Our negative emotions are on high and our positive, balancing emotions are very low or absent.
• We may be physically incapable of creating positive thought.

Just like when we are upset & angry with someone

• Reasoning power is impaired.
• We feel, think, say, and do things we often "don't mean" and are sorry for later.
• In depression we are biochemically upset all the time.

• The pain is making you think and believe that you have to die.
• You feel that your life is over and that depression is a terminal illness.

• Depression, Just like Cancer
  • If you don't discover it,
  • If you don't treat it -
  • It will get worse and maybe kill you.
• With Depression - The longer you go untreated the more likely a suicide attempt could be.

• And new information & treatment options are coming out all the time.
• Staying alive and not trying to kill yourself until your treatment works is what matters.

• Depression is a physical illness.
• And it has physical, biochemical treatments
• A physical, biological illness is not a character flaw or personal weakness
• Somewhere in the darkness of your terrible suffering, can you know that this is only a small and temporary space in a long life and better future to come ?
• If you die, you will never know the renewed and wonderful life you could have lived after your depression was over.

It holds you back from attempting suicide

• It causes painful conflict when suicidal thoughts compel you.
• Hold onto that something; it does not want you to die.
• If suicide were the right thing to do, why would it be so painful to contemplate ? Why so difficult to do it ?
• The pain says STOP - turn around - go back to life - try to make it work - try to make it right.
• Your life force wants you to go on, find treatment, and make a meaningful life for yourself and those you love or will love.

How do we make life meaningful ?

By correcting, changing, improving our faulty brain chemistry.

• Depression is a Treatable Illness.
• You have the power to stop the hurting if you reach for the help you need.

• Grief

Suicide.com

Suicidal.com

SuicideCrisisCenter

SuicideHotlines.com

SuicidalTeens

Suicide Is Not Justified | Suicidal Brain Repair

I Feel Cured Every Day | About My Treatment 

The Right to Commit Suicide | Author's Treatment Page

Suicide Prevention In Your Area - What You Can Do

DepressionFAQ

DepressionBookstore

DepressionLife.com

Depression&Suicide

Solemn Poetry