In the News...Depression, Suicide, and Seau

Nothing...
by RGG

She was there

And what a place to be

The world so great

So perfect, no flaws

Except her

She feels like a crazed freak

Her parents hate her

She has lost all her friends

And her boyfriend just said goodbye

She doesn’t belong there anymore

The world is too good for her

Things are spinning around her

Her mind is so cluttered

She doesn’t know what to do anymore

She’s not sure she feels anything

She feels like there’s nothing

Nothing

No one cares

She’s not even sure why she cares anymore

She doesn’t think she wants to die

She just isn’t sure she wants to live anymore

-RGG

A person dies from suicide every 15 minutes in the U.S., and an attempt is estimated to be made every 40 seconds. (That’s almost 100 deaths a day due to suicide.) Over 90% of those who have died from suicide had at least one psychiatric illness that was diagnosable and treatable at the time. The most common is depression. Sadly, the rate of suicide is increasing. (American Foundation on Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org)

We are reminded today of how prevalent suicide is in our community by the news of former NFL player Junior Seau’s recent death. Reports state that he was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. He is the third NFL player to have committed suicide in the last year. Reports are saying he more than likely suffered from depression due to an imbalance of brain chemicals.

Suicide is a desperate attempt to get rid of all the pain and suffering. Isolation, despair, and helplessness are over consuming. Death feels like the only way out. They don’t want to die- they just want all the pain to end…

Suicide is hard to talk about. Even as I write this, I find myself struggling for the correct words to say, how to explain the feelings, what to even bring up. Fearful to talk about such a tough topic is normal- but talking about it may stop someone from taking their own life. Just because a suicidal person doesn’t ask for help doesn’t mean that they don’t want it. Please learn and understand the signs and symptoms, and if someone you know is showing signs of depression and suicide, please help them get help. Remember over 90% of those who committed suicide suffered from a diagnosable psychiatric disorder.

Depression is treatable.

For more information- www.afsp.org

A great article shared by the afsp-  http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/may/02/seau-suicide-raises-question-why/

Never Give Up!

Anything is possible!

At least that's what I want to believe.  But as I continue to muddle through all the information on the internet, I find myself even more lost.

I love to write. I have a book that I'd love to publish. And most of all, I want to raise awareness.

But right now? I need to build that ever-needed platform. I've been told it's one the most important tools for any writer in today's online media world.

I missed the challenge that Robert Brewer (http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com) had throughout the month of April- so I'm starting to do it on my own...(which is very challenging in itself by the way!) He started it on April 1st and posted a task for writer's to accomplish each day of the month. By the end of April, writers following his challenge should now have a stronger platform. (Did it work? Since I didn't find out about it until the last week of April, I have no idea, but my guess is it helped and thus why I am trying on my own by reading his back logs.)

I've set up all those needed social networking accounts- but then what? Who to follow? How to get followers? What to comment on? What to even say? And why in the world would anyone want to follow me?

So, that brings me to this moment- lost...confused...ready to just give up...

I know at one point or another we have all been here. It doesn't matter who we are or what we're trying to achieve, we've all been to a place where we're ready to just give up. But when we are in that moment, it feels like we are the only ones, that we are all alone...am I right? "No one has ever been here before- I am surely the only one who has ever gone through this before!"

I know I need to step back and take a break- things aren't always as bad as they seem...really! I need to continue to do my research and consult an expert on the things I'm struggling with...who are the experts though? Once I figure out what needs to happen, I need to re-evaluate and change my course of action, or just keep pushing forward with the things I'm doing correctly...what those things are, now that's a good question. Finally, I must push through the toughness...and we all know that's the tough part.

I don't have the answers- when I figure them out, I'll let you know!!!  I will blog about it! (Maybe even write a book! :) ) Until then, I will keep pushing forward...and forward...and take a few steps back before I push forward again!

Believe in dreams, inspire others, and never, never, never give up!

I know- sometimes that's easier said than done!