Best friend tried committing suicide last night

Clarice

Ledbetterman10 wrote:

It more of a psychological disorder than a stupid decision.

No doubts.

libragirl

I'm sorry about your friend and I'm glad he's okay.

Collin

Sorry to hear about your friend, but glad to hear he didn't succeed. Just be there for him.

Ledbetterman10 wrote:

I dunno, people don't really understand suicide. It more of a psychological disorder than a stupid decision.

"he's talking and acting like everything is okay and has already said how much of a dumbass he is"

I know it's sort of rude to say it was a stupid decision, but sometimes it's just that.

sponger

I think this girl whoever she is owes him a BJ.

meistereder

sponger wrote:

I think this girl whoever she is owes him a BJ.

Haha.

Yeah, I have to say this reminds me of those news stories about the 17 year old kids from good homes who kill themselves because they got a D on a math test. It's so unimportant in the grand scheme of things, but they have no idea about life yet at that age.

comebackwoman

Collin wrote:

Sorry to hear about your friend, but glad to hear he didn't succeed. Just be there for him.




"he's talking and acting like everything is okay and has already said how much of a dumbass he is"

I know it's sort of rude to say it was a stupid decision, but sometimes it's just that.

There are a few disorders that are marked by impulsivity and rapidly shifting moods...so it may be difficult for some people to cope with overwhelming feelings to be able to get through to the next moment where they can view their problems with more perspective. Drugs and alcohol will impact this...as can his age. I don't know if any of these issues are at play here, but what looks like attention seeking may actually be a much deeper issue.

Anyway...the hospital is unlikely to release your friend without first arranging some follow-up care. Hopefully he'll follow through on it. It sounds like at the very least he could use some support and coping skills. I'm glad he didn't succeed in his attempt and sorry that you have been impacted by something like this.

Collin

comebackgirl wrote:

There are a few disorders that are marked by impulsivity and rapidly shifting moods...so it may be difficult for some people to cope with overwhelming feelings to be able to get through to the next moment where they can view their problems with more perspective. Drugs and alcohol will impact this...as can his age. I don't know if any of these issues are at play here, but what looks like attention seeking may actually be a much deeper issue.

I don't disagree with that. I'm just saying that sometimes it's not a mental disorder. Sometimes it's just kids being stupid or looking for attention.

comebackwoman

Collin wrote:

I don't disagree with that. I'm just saying that sometimes it's not a mental disorder. Sometimes it's just kids being stupid or looking for attention.

I agree - as some people have said - sometimes it's just the inability to see beyond today. Just hoping he gets whatever kind of support is going to be most helpful for him.

Collin

comebackgirl wrote:

I agree - as some people have said - sometimes it's just the inability to see beyond today. Just hoping he gets whatever kind of support is going to be most helpful for him.

Indeed.

Many of my friends had suicidal thoughts when they were 15-18, including my girlfriend at the time, which was quite hard for me. And now they're all past that but sometimes I think about how we all felt and how dark our world seemed at the time. What's worse is I have a few friends now that are 16-17 who have these same thought (I'm 20 by the way). We talk about it a lot and I tell them what we went through and how we felt and how it does get better and they want to believe me and they do believe me, but they still feel as miserable and trapped. I think they're kind of glad they can talk to someone about it who's older, even though I'm only three or four years older.

stylo17

thank you all for your comments/concern.

I just got back from the hospital. the psychiatrists were going to come today but because of insurance difficulties (what else is new?) another group had to be called. they'll be at the hospital tomorrow, hopefully.

I hope he goes to a psych. ward because I really don't believe that he understands what really happened to him and his family agrees with me. this isn't something that just HAPPENS and he needs to understand that he now has an opportunity to talk to someone about his feelings and difficulties. even if it means going to a shrink once a week for the rest of his life then so be it, we just want him happy and ready to live life.

pearljammin41

stylo17 wrote:

thank you all for your comments/concern.

I just got back from the hospital. the psychiatrists were going to come today but because of insurance difficulties (what else is new?) another group had to be called. they'll be at the hospital tomorrow, hopefully.

I hope he goes to a psych. ward because I really don't believe that he understands what really happened to him and his family agrees with me. this isn't something that just HAPPENS and he needs to understand that he now has an opportunity to talk to someone about his feelings and difficulties. even if it means going to a shrink once a week for the rest of his life then so be it, we just want him happy and ready to live life.

the ward would be very beneficial. i graduate med school in less than a yr and plan a career in psychiatry.

i hope your friend receives the care that he needs

sponger

I think it has a lot to do with the divorce.

He most likely grew up without being able to witness what it's like when two people are truly in love. Such a scenario teaches him the beauty of devotion.

Had he been raised in such an environment, he would've viewed his ex-g/f's lack of devotion as an indication that she's better off as an ex-g/f.

Instead, the experience probably triggered the feelings of emptiness that have been with him all along as a result of being the child of a broken marriage.

He thought, "It's my fault that she does not love me just as it's my fault that my parents don't love each other."

So, he became overwhelmed by the combined effects of experiencing the pain of heartbreak, the sting of rejection, and the resurfacing of his feelings of guilt surrounding his parents' divorce. This is what led to his 80 pills of excedrine.

And, of course, with the dismal state of psychiatry in existence today, he'll probably be given a psychoactive prescription with minimal counseling.

patrickredeyes

stylo17 wrote:

saw his ex-gf with another guy at night, but she didn't want to talk to him. when he got home his mind was racing and he was going nuts and not thinking. he took 80 pills of Excedrin.... at the hospital he was throwing up for hours straight, drinking this liquid charcoal thing to make him vomit all the crap out of his insides. he's doing much better now, they moved him to ICU because he's still a suicide risk. but he's talking and acting like everything is okay and has already said how much of a dumbass he is. seeing his little 9 year old sister frustrated and crying because she couldn't be with him made a big impression on him.

but 18 years old doing something like this, it's not right. very sad to see. his parents are handling it well, unfortunately they're divorced so it's awkward for him. I have no emotions right now, when I see him he's laughing and talking, but when I step back and see the big picture, I see that he should be dead, and at the very least be on dialysis for his liver for the rest of his life. he's perfectly healthy right now.

the only song that's soothing me is Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah." I'm so blown away by everything right now and life has never seemed so beautiful :(

This is the first time I've clicked and read this thread. After reading this it brings back memories of a very good friend of mine. After getting depressed over a girl he took over 30 extra strength Tylenol pills. I remember going to see him and him telling me about the liquid charcoal stuff they made him drink to throw up. He does have to take meds because of that for the rest of his life now. But he got threw it and he's alive. He was in a locked down unit and it was very uneasy to be there. Something that I haven't forget and neither has he.

I do hope all goes well for your friend. He gets better and makes the most of his life. Take care

vital5

Stylo Make sure you guide your mate to get the Counselling. It is offered or available, and i've seen that the system does offer the help... but if the individual doesn't accept it, then that's a bad choice.
There is some sort of mental issue.. not problem, but just issue here. By the way.. telling depressed people that "you'll get over it" doesn't help.... the professionals know what to say. Generally family and friends who haven't dealt with the situation before are not saying the right thing to help. Not always though.

Also... let them realise that time out in a psych clinic or whatever might be a break they need. To get away from what they've just been through. To escape the big bad world outside.. just to sort stuff out.

sponger wrote:

And, of course, with the dismal state of psychiatry in existence today, he'll probably be given a psychoactive prescription with minimal counseling.

This can be true too.

vital5

patrickredeyes wrote:

This is the first time I've clicked and read this thread. After reading this it brings back memories of a very good friend of mine. After getting depressed over a girl he took over 30 extra strength Tylenol pills. I remember going to see him and him telling me about the liquid charcoal stuff they made him drink to throw up. He does have to take meds because of that for the rest of his life now. But he got threw it and he's alive. He was in a locked down unit and it was very uneasy to be there. Something that I haven't forget and neither has he.

I do hope all goes well for your friend. He gets better and makes the most of his life. Take care

Yeah a lock down unit is scary for family and friends to visit... but at the end of the day it's best for the person in the main picture until they are assessed. Yes if they stay there too long they may get edgy or whatever, and it depends who they are in with at the time.

But for a short period of time it gives the person some time to get away from the real world and reflect on what's happened.

I've seen someone drink the charcoal... not a pretty sight! and I've kinda avoided this thread until I popped in just now.

patrickredeyes

vital5 wrote:

Yeah a lock down unit is scary for family and friends to visit... but at the end of the day it's best for the person in the main picture until they are assessed. Yes if they stay there too long they may get edgy or whatever, and it depends who they are in with at the time.

But for a short period of time it gives the person some time to get away from the real world and reflect on what's happened.

I've seen someone drink the charcoal... not a pretty sight! and I've kinda avoided this thread until I popped in just now.

The first time I went to see him it was with his folks. It was sad and scary indeed to be there. Just getting inside where is he was you were searched and just a odd feeling. He actually had to go to court cause he committed a crime against himself. Sounds weird but it's true and he had to go threw a bunch of stuff.

The charcoal stuff looked nasty and I was told tasted like shit. lol

Heineken Helen

Jeremy1012 wrote:

Most people are probably more likely to want to die over a girl at 18 than as a middle-aged person. At 18 it really can feel like life doesn't go on because, let's face it, if it's the first time you've felt that shitty, you haven't had proof that life does go on yet.

It was a rash, foolish decision but one that should be met with sympathy and understanding, not cynicism.

I agree completely... much as I'd love to shake some sense into this guy... he almost took his own fucking life and destroyed the lives of those closest to him... it's pretty serious and not something you can just knock with a little dose of cynicism. Everything seems exaggerated when you're a teenager.

sponger

It sort of reminds me of that teenager who tried to kill himself while listening to Judas Priest back in the 1980's. You might recall it being all over the news. He and a friend decided to off themselves with a double-barred shotty one night while listening to the mournful howls of Rob Halford & Co.

His friend succeeded.

Unfortunately, even the explosive, destructive power of two simultaneous discharges of shotgun shells at point blank range with the business end of the barrel situated in his own mouth did not produce his intended outcome of the taking of his own life.

It worked for Kurt with only a single-barreled shotty, but not in the case of this JP fan with twice the firepower.

Yes he indeed survived, but his face and most of his head was so severely disfigured that one wonders if it was an actual miracle so much as it was a horrible turn of events. It was a little of both I guess.

I suppose there are people who have gone through similar if not worse ordeals, yet not of their own will and doing. And my heart truly goes out to them as I can more easily find myself relating to being the victim of chance.

Byrnzie

long red wrote:

he wants attention.

looks like he got it.

I suppose that could be said of all attempted suicides.

Still, I'm not sure when, or how, wanting attention became a human anomaly or aberration. I.e, we're posting on a rock bands message board. Doesn't wanting attention have something to do with being in a rock band?

sponger

I have yet to hear someone accuse Kurt of wanting attention. It seems like if someone is successful at it they are "desperately sad", but when they fail, it's that they needed attention.

I'd say 80 pills sounds like an authentic desire to end one's own suffering. It's not like he was scratching his wrists with a dull steak knife.