Coping With Suicidal Thoughts and PTSD

Coping With Suicidal Thoughts and PTSD PTSD Coping Print Coping With Suicidal Thoughts With PTSD By Matthew Tull, PhD twitter Matthew Tull, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn about our editorial policy Matthew Tull, PhD Updated on November 27, 2019 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes & Risk Factors Treatment Living With In Children Aleli Dezmen/Cultura/Getty Images Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911 immediately. Each year, more than 44,000 people in the United States commit suicide. Research shows that people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, are more likely to attempt suicide or have suicidal thoughts. The reasons for this are divided into studies on PTSD and suicide. It may be the PTSD itself causes a higher risk for suicidal thoughts or suicide or it may be that other existing psychiatric conditions, such as depression or anxiety, increase the risk. Tips for Dealing With Suicidal Thoughts and PTSD Given this, if youve experienced a traumatic event or have PTSD, its important to be alert for suicidal thoughts and develop ways of coping with them. Catching and addressing these thoughts early on can prevent them from spiraling into a suicide attempt. There are several coping strategies that can help defuse suicidal thoughts, but dont wait for a crisis situation to try them. Look them over now and come up with a plan for the next time you experience suicidal thoughts. Here are some suggestions to cope with suicidal thoughts. Stay Away From Weapons A suicide attempt will be more likely to occur if you have the means readily available to you, such as guns, knives, or other weapons, or unnecessary medications in your home. Remove these from your environment or go somewhere you wont have access to those means. Go Someplace Safe Identify several places you can go where you would be less likely to hurt yourself, such as public places like the mall, a coffee shop or restaurant, a busy park, a community center, or a gym. Once there, immerse yourself in that environment. Pay attention and be mindful  of all the sights and sounds around you. Doing this will help put some distance between you and your suicidal thoughts. Talk to Someone Supportive Social support can be a wonderful way of coping when youre in a crisis. Call a family member or friend. Let them know you need someone to talk to and would like their support. Change your environment by asking them if you can spend some time with them. Talk to Your Therapist Some therapists have ways for their patients to contact them outside of the session if theyre in crisis. If you have a therapist and you have a system like this in place, you should contact your therapist when youre experiencing suicidal thoughts. Your therapist can help you assess the seriousness of the situation, as well as assist you in coming up with ways of coping with those thoughts. Challenge Suicidal Thoughts When people feel down and depressed, its common to have thoughts that are consistent with those moods. As our moods change, so will our thoughts. Therefore, even though things may feel hopeless, this may just be a consequence of your mood and not necessarily how things really are. Use self-monitoring to identify hopeless thoughts and challenge them. Is it not possible that your mood might change? Is there really no hope for the future? Have you felt like this before, and if so, did things eventually get better? Ask yourself questions like these to challenge your thoughts of hopelessness. Be Mindful of Your Thoughts Another way of coping with suicidal thoughts is with mindfulness. Take a step back from your thoughts and watch them. Imagine your thoughts as clouds drifting across the sky. Try not to look at your thoughts as good or bad, but simply as thoughts or objects in your mind. Taking a mindful approach to thoughts of suicide or hopelessness can defuse them, limiting the power they have over your actions and mood. Manage Your Mood A number of coping strategies can be helpful in managing your mood. For example, expressive writing or self-soothing coping strategies may help lessen the intensity of your sadness or anxiety. By improving your mood, you may also improve your thoughts, reducing your risk of suicide. Go to the Emergency Room If these coping strategies aren’t working to lessen suicidal thoughts, call the police or go to your local emergency room. This can be scary, but its most important for you to stay safe and alive. Find a Therapist If You Dont Have One Finally, if you dont have a therapist and are experiencing suicidal thoughts, its important to get a psychiatric evaluation, as well as a therapist. Suicidal thoughts are a sign that you may some immediate need help with your symptoms. You can find PTSD treatment providers in your area through UCompare HealthCare. The 9 Best Online Therapy Programs