Suicide: A New Addiction

It may seem hard to believe and for some it is very difficult to discuss. It is however true. There seems to be a new mental health phenomenon. Suicide for the overwhelming thrill it can give to take life to the edge of death and live to tell about it. Many leave behind loved ones to tell their story and struggle to understand the obsession. It is mostly young women who are suffering from this "addiction to suicide".

Most of these young woman suffer from depression, bipolar disorder or some other form of a mood disorder. Some are just attention seeking in the most desperate way possible. Like cutting, which has reached epic proportions among young women, suicide is a way to ease the pain that life often brings. For the parents who may not be familiar with the term "cutting," it is when a person inflects pain on themselves by cutting into their skin with almost anything you can think of. It can also be burning oneself with a cigarette or other ways of torture, that we can't even imagine. Teens tell me that "cutting" relieves their pain or enables them to feel pain. It also puts them in control of the pain they feel. Most say they do it in private and are careful to mark places others won't see. The attention seekers often cut where you can see and want you to take notice.

Unlike males that often seek far more successful means of suicide such as guns, knives, and hanging, these females often choose less drastic forms of suicide. It is not that they are not serious, but that the thrill is getting as close as they can without crossing that limit. Taking just enough pills and then calling 911 for help. Remembering at the last second that they promised to call their therapist before attempting suicide again and making that call. Some do succeed and then the thrill ends their life. It is a very high price to pay for the rush of death.

This is a day and age where everything is "now" and "want." We no longer need things or wait for them. Death is no different. These young people have tried all the risk taking they can think of. The thrill is just no longer achievable. There aren't any more cries for attention that have not been tried, heard, and ignored. Now there is only the rush of suicide.

We can't ignore this desire to die because often they do succeed. We should never, not take a suicide threat seriously because you only get one chance to make a mistake. The price you pay is the life of someone you love. If you know someone who mentions suicide as a thought they have entertained, talk about it and help them to get the professional help they need. It may be an uncomfortable conversation. Discussing it does not make it more likely to happen, but not talking about it can.