Depressives and the Warning Signs of Suicide

Dealing with the daily efforts of trying to lead a semi-normal life when depression rules your every waking moment can be more difficult than many think. Those who do not live with depression, either as sufferers themselves or because they are close to a person who is a depressive, truly have no idea how hard it can be. A really bad depressive episode can cause a person to contemplate suicide since it is the one thing that can put an end to their feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and sadness.

If you are concerned there are symptoms that you should watch for. If you spot a few of these there are things that you should do. First try to talk to the person and see if you can help by being supportive, listening to their issues and trying to make them feel important and wanted. As well, it is imperative to see if you can get them to go to their health care provider for some help. Sometimes an adjustment in medication, an addition of an augmentor, or renewed efforts at counseling can be helpful.

There are signs to look for that go beyond a person talking about committing suicide that should be watched for. If during a really bad depressive episode you notice that your friend or family member begins to have changes in their normal behaviors this is to be watched. You should be aware of their behaviors during an episode and so notice if they are acting differently then they usually do during a depressive period.

If they have talked about suicide and then begin to give away favorite possessions this is a sign that they are seriously contemplating doing something. If they pull away from you and others who they are very close to this is bad. Someone ending their most cherished connections is likely pulling away because they are preparing to kill themselves and are pulling away to make it less difficult on those they care about. If you notice that the depressive starts to miss school or work this can be another sign. Some people just assume it's the person's inability to cope with the pressures and the stresses of a situation but often it is one more step in preparing for the task they have decided to undertake.

Other symptoms that should be watched include excessive anger, guilt over imagined slights they think they have committed, change in sleep patterns particularly the inability to sleep, changes in eating habits, promiscuity and a desire to be alone all the time. If these symptoms are coupled with an obsession with death they are likely on the road to a suicide attempt. Never treat their desire to kill themselves with horror, with amused banter to by trying to pretend they are not thinking in that direction. Deal with it head on and sometimes that can help more than expected. Most importantly do your best to get them help before they pull away from you otherwise it could be too late.