Self Harm, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide Ideation.

 

 

These are some very severe symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

 

Please note, these smptoms, should never be ignored.

 

Please seek professional help, if suffering any of these severe symptoms. If suffering any thoughts if suicide, please seek emergency help and assistance.

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Self Harm/Self Injury

 

These can be overt forms of self injury, such as cutting, burning, pulling out hair, physical harm to self.

 

They can also be less obvious forms, such as eating disorders, alcohol and drug use,  failing to take prescribed medications correctly, self sabotage, perfectionism, setting unrealistic goals and there are many more.

 

Anything with the intent to cause harm to self, whether physically, emotionally, psychologically, are all self harm.

 

Please note, these are common and understandable reactions, to trauma and abuse.

 

There is a lot of shame, surrounding self harm. But, there is no shame in having normal reactions, to very abnormal trauma and abuse.

 

It is not about what is 'wrong with us, but about what happened to us'.

 

It is necessary to seek professional help, to be able to talk about and manage this.

 

 

 

Suicidal Thoughts/Suicide Ideation.

 

These are very real aspects of dealing with severe PTSD and Complex PTSD.

 

Suicide, due to trauma and PTSD, occurs far more often than many realise.

 

It is reported 23 combat veterans, commit suicide per day, in US alone, as a result of having PTSD.

 

And combat, is not the biggest cause of PTSD.

 

Abuse is by far the biggest cause of PTSD and Complex PTSD.

 

There are no figures I have found, for the stats on abuse/violence/child abuse suicides, as a result of PTSD.

 

But, due to the amounts of abuse survivors suffering severe PTSD, the figures, sadly, will be very high.

 

It is vital, sufferers of suicidal thoughts, seek emergency help, and seek professional help to manage suicidal thoughts.

 

 

 

Suicide ideation

 

Suicidal ideation is a medical term for thoughts about or an unusual preoccupation with suicide. The range of suicidal ideation varies greatly from fleeting to detailed planning, role playing, and unsuccessful attempts, which may be deliberately constructed to fail or be discovered, or may be fully intended to result in death.

 

Although most people who undergo suicidal ideation do not go on to make suicide attempts, a significant proportion do.

 

(Via Wikipedia)

 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, are disorders, where suicide ideation, can occur.

 

 

 

Prevention

 

A significant number of mental health problems, such as depression, can be successfully treated with medications and talking therapies, such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) or counseling. Individuals with a mental illness/problem should see their doctor and get treatment.

 

The following may help lower the risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts:

 

• Adherence (compliance) - this means following your treatment plan, going to follow-up appointments, taking medications as instructed, etc.

• Alcohol and illegal drugs - avoid them

• Avoid isolation - try to stay connected to the outside world

• Do exercise

• Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet

• Family - involve your family in treatment, get their support. Ask them to come along to your sessions, health care professionals can help them acquire better coping and supportive skills

• Focus on the good things in life (talking therapies may help you achieve this)

• Get at least 7 to 8 hours continuous sleep every 24-hour period

• Get treatment for a mental illness

• Means of ending one's life - get rid of guns, knives and dangerous drugs.

• Seek out things that give you pleasure, such as being with friends/family you like

• Self help groups - sharing the anguish and anxieties that drive you towards suicidal ideation can be relieving and comforting. You will see how others got through it. If you can support other people you may feel better about yourself and those around you.

 

( This list is via Medical News Today  )