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End of Your Rope?

Are you at the end of your rope? Feeling helpless? Hopeless? Need help for suicidal thoughts?  These resources will help you.

                  

SUICIDE HOT LINES

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TAKE STEPS TO HOPE

  1. Professional counseling: 1-800-383-4673.
  2. A physical exam and medication - .the problem may have an underlying physical cause
  3. Prayer - See your pastor for prayer.
  4. Support from family and friends
  5. Begin an exercise program to decrease stress, anxiety and depression.
  6. Guidance for finances. Contact Crown Financial Ministries for free financial counseling.
  7. Begin to go to church, read the Bible, pray, get involved in a Bible study group.
  8. Work through the anger, depression, bitterness, grief in counseling, by talking with a mature, supportive friend or family member, reading, jounaling, etc.
  9. Look for a job.
  10. Read a book such as The Freedom from Depression Workbook by Les Carter, Frank Minirth or The Search for Significance by Robert McGee or Learning to Tell Myself the Truth by William Backus or Keep Believing: God in the Midst of Our Deepest Struggles by
  11. Other: _________________(fill in the blank)

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BOOKS

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STORIES FROM THE EDGE

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ARTICLES:

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WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE LIFE ANOTHER CHANCE

You are reading this article because you are contemplating killing yourself. Or maybe you know someone who is.

If you are that person who has lost hope for your life, please read on. Let me talk to you personally. I realize that you may have already planned to end your life or even tried to. All you can think about is how hopeless your life is, how you can't go on living like this. The pain is too great. No one understands the burdens you carry or the emotional turmoil you are experiencing.

But, you are here now and because you are, let me share with you some hope, about how your life can be different, about why you should give life another try.

Options: I want to ask you to consider doing something other than trying to end your life. You may have tried counseling or talking to someone to no avail. I'm asking you to try taking some steps again, steps which will help you move in another direction, away from the self-destructive thoughts which have plagued you.

First of all, you need to understand why you are depressed.

You may say, "I do know why. I am a failure. I'm in debt. My wife/husband left me. Someone died. I'm unemployed. I'm lonely. I'm______ (you fill in the blank)." I want to tell you that though you have many problems and struggles, most likely, you are also struggling with a physical deficiency of chemicals in your nervous system. This may be a major reason for the depression you feel.

Many people who are depressed don't know that depression is also caused by a deficiency of neurochemicals. A recent article from the world renowned Mayo Clinic stated that "experts believe a genetic vulnerability combined with environmental factors, such as stress or physical illness, may trigger an imbalance in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, resulting in depression. Imbalances in three neurotransmitters — serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine — seem to be linked to depression."

These chemicals help people concentrate, improve mood and increase energy. Medication can help increase these neurochemicals along with natural methods such as exercise and taking time to grow spiritually. You still need to work through other issues such as the loss of a loved one through death or divorce, low self-esteem, guilt, resentment, anger, or past sexual abuse. Those crises and losses need to be dealt with, processed and grieved.

Have you been going to counseling and been treated for depression? If not, go immediately to your family doctor or a psychiatrist or to the nearest emergency room for help. You can call Rapha's hotline and get a phone assessment and a referal to a counselor at 1-800-383-4673 anywhere in the USA. Please do this immediately!

If you are presently in counseling, you need to contact your therapist and/or psychiatrist to tell them you need help for these suicidal thoughts and self-destructive plans. Ask a family member or friend to go with you.

Understanding Depression and Challenging Your Emotions

Your feelings and your depression cannot be trusted. Feelings are not objective truth. Feelings are indicators of subjective thinking and you need to explore the thoughts you have been dwelling on that have led you to contemplate suicide. Thinking about killing yourself is believing lies about life and about the future. Many people in the past have struggled with depression but, they didn't cave into or trust the feelings. They had the courage to go on, the courage to believe that their future and that their life could be different.

Martin Luther graphically described one of his frequest rock-bottom moods: "for more than a week I was close to the gates of death and hell. I trembled in all my members. Christ was wholly lost. I was shaken by desperation and blasphemy of God." (Here I Stand, Abingdon Press).

Don Baker, pastor and author wrote of his experience with depression: "I seemed to be out of touch with relatity. Life was a blur, often out of focus. My life seemed to be nothing but pretense and fantasy. No really cared, I felt-not even God. The only solution-at times-seemed to be suicide...."

These men did not follow their feelings. They rejected the despairing thoughts and moved forward. They were able to overcome hurdles and their emotions of defeat. You don't need to be led astray by your negative feelings and thoughts either.

It's time to challenge that thinking. Time to see your life from a healthy perspective. You are a person of value. You are important and you can change your thinking and behavior and improve your life! I implore you to also give God a chance to give you hope as well. Turn to God and seek His help and guidance. Why not find out what He can do?! I have witnessed how He has changed lives, lifted the downcast and brought hope to those who feel lost.

Ask yourself:

  1. What feelings are underneath my depression?
  2. Do I suffer from low self-esteem?
  3. Am I having guilt problems?
  4. Am I struggling with relationship problems?
  5. Am I fearful about something?
  6. Am I struggling with some loss?
  7. What types of thoughts rule my mind?
  8. How can I take a step towards seeking God?

Ask God to reveal these things to you. Then, pray and ask Him for help and to change your life from the inside out. Don't give up! Don't be a quitter! Contract with someone close to you right now NOT to take your life.

Moving Beyond Hopelessness

Usually people who are feeling depressed are not doing what would help them feel better. You need to fight the depression and move forward. Talk with someone about your feelings, about your life. Expressing your feelings to someone is very beneficial. Exploring with someone, especially a counselor, what underlies your feelings can help you begin to problem-solve.

Seeing your doctor for a physical exam and telling him or her about your depression can lead to further treatment for the physiological causes. You most likely need to take an anti-depressant. Regular exercise and proper diet is very helpful and can also increase the neurochemicals your body is missing.

Spending quality time with caring people, friends, God, members of your family and church will give you a sense of connection and help you regain meaning in your life.

Where to start: You have read this article. Will you now consider taking a step towards life? A step towards rebuilding your life? A step to reach out for help? Refuse to believe the lies you have been telling yourself. Lies that life is hopeless, you are worthless and you have no future.

I'm here to tell you that your life has a future and a hope. I have seen so many people get help and go on to enjoy a better life!

Call Rapha's hotline now at: 1-800-383-4673 (hope) for help. Write out a list of what will help you start over.
Here are some suggestions:

  1. Professional counseling: 1-800-383-4673.
  2. A physical exam and medication.
  3. Prayer
  4. Support from family and friends
  5. Exercise
  6. Guidance for finances. Contact Crown Financial Ministries for free financial counseling.
  7. Working through grief or loss.
  8. Reading a book such as The Freedom from Depression Workbook by Les Carter, Frank Minirth or The Search for Significance by Robert McGee or Learning to Tell Myself the Truth by William Backus or Keep Believing: God in the Midst of Our Deepest Struggles by Ray Pritchard.
  9. Other: _________________(fill in the blank)

I hope that I have been able to talk you out of harming yourself. Please contact someone for help, email a Women Today mentor. Call your pastor, counselor, a friend, your doctor. Take a step towards life and hope now.

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Article "Give Life Another Choice" written by ~ Lynette J. Hoy, is a Registered Professional Nurse, an online counselor with Women Today, a Marriage and Family counselor, speaker, writer and the Chicagoland Chair of Community and Business Women for Christ . Her newly released book, What's Good About Anger? can be ordered online at: What's Good About Anger?

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