It’s a tough time to be human. We each have our own pressures we have to deal with. Today with this pandemic, there’s even more than ever.
It’s a tough time to be human. We each have our own pressures we have to deal with. Today with this pandemic, there’s even more than ever.
If you’re in a good place right now, great. But what about your friends? What about your family?
Please check in on them. Often. Especially if you haven’t talked with someone you used to talk with all the time. With everyone working from home and social distancing and all the other things we have to do right now to stay safe, we don’t see people or talk with them near as much.
One of the most obvious warning signs of depression and possible suicide is for people to withdraw and stop associating with others. So please reach out. A phone call, quick visit or meeting for coffee can be the lifeline someone needs.
And with the ability to Facetime, Duo or Zoom to see someone, that’s even better. Sometimes people can hide what they’re going through over the phone. But their face may tell a different story. Are they taking care of themselves? Have they been losing a lot of weight (and not in a good way)? It’s better to have your eyes on someone when possible.
Be aware of any of these warning signs – these are just some of the most common:
Talking about feeling hopeless, feeling trapped or having no purpose
Talking about dying or killing yourself
Talking about being a burden to others (“My family/friends would be better off without me”)
Isolating or withdrawing from others
Increased use of alcohol or drugs
Acting increasingly anxious, fearful or reckless
Having extreme mood swings
Not acting “like themselves”
But…What if you see some of these warning signs in your own life? What should you do?
If you are having suicidal thoughts, please tell someone. Anyone you trust and can talk to.
The best thing is to reach out to a professional who can help. This is not the time to try to figure things out on your own, and please don’t be embarrassed. This is literally why we are here - whether for you or someone you know.
We also offer Teletherapy so we can meet via the internet. Just reach out to us to schedule an appointment. Feel free to leave us a written message on the contact page or call us at 234-466-6274.
So please keep your eyes and ears open. You may never know who needs you right now.