Title: How To Deal With Suicidal Thoughts - 7 Women Share Their Stories
Headings: How To Deal With Suicidal Thoughts—From 7 Women Who’ve Been There
How To Deal With Suicidal Thoughts—From 7 Women Who’ve Been There
“I’d tell myself if I could just survive the next 60 seconds, I’d be all right.”
What are the risk factors for suicidal thoughts?
Devastating life circumstances
Mental illness
Substance abuse
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Hormone swings
Being part of a marginalized group
A history of sexual abuse
A family history of suicidality
Self-harming behaviors
For every person who completes suicide, 25 attempt it, according to the AFSP.
Race
Isolation
How to deal with suicidal thoughts
What it's like to recover from suicidal thoughts
"I realized I deserved love and respect."
"Hypnotherapy cured my depression and PTSD."
"My dog saved my life."
"I realized it's okay not to be perfect."
"I learned my feelings were acceptable."
"I took things minute by minute."
"I accepted that I needed help."

Content: Devastating life circumstances
The most common risk factor is when circumstances in your life take a dramatic turn for the worse. Think: the death of a loved one, a breakup, or the loss of a job, Boynton says. But it doesn't always have to be major—any situation that causes someone to feel demoralized, guilty, or ashamed can increase the risk of these thoughts, Dr. Gandotra adds. Mental illness
The most common medical cause of suicidal thoughts is having a mental illness like depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or anorexia, Dr. Gandotra says. Having a mental illness doesn't mean you will commit suicide but it can increase your risk, especially when you feel that something isn't right in your head but you don't know how to fix it, he adds. Substance abuse
Booze and certain drugs are depressants and are a way to self-medicate when you're depressed, causing a vicious cycle that can end in a suicide attempt, Dr. Gandotra says. " When you're in an intoxicated state, you don't exercise good judgement and you're more impulsive," he explains. It can be even more dangerous when combined with being depressed or suffering a major loss. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.