WOW. I thought your last essay was powerful, but this one really hits home. I have a friend who was suicidal some years back, and hostile to seeking any professional help. I think I helped them as best I could, but I wish I’d had this to read. Thankfully, they’re still here.
It felt like such a crushing responsibility at the time, I can’t imagine having done it multiple times. I’m in awe of your compassion and resilience.
As I say all the following, I cant imagine going through this with 5 different people in the past 50 days. You have remarkable resources.I am worried about someone who has done increasingly destructive things over the past two years and is now drinking daily to incoherence. Woke up this morning to 3 missed calls in the overnight and texted back to no answer. Anxious feeling hoping he is ok. Apparently all his 12-step options are zoom based and he has run out of 2 rehabs in the past 6 months. I've been running out of things to say to help him through. Everything feels tired and exhausted... I also see this person in my life and am alternatively humbled and scared. He is smarter (PhD Physics) and better than I am on many fronts. Whatever accidents that have led him to this place are just that - accidents. Could just as easily be me or anyone else. In some moments feels like not if but when. "Keep breathing" is excellent advice, though. Stay well!
I don't know if anyone will see this but if I could ask a question?
The talk about staying alive to prevent harm amongst the people you care about, how do you let them know? How do you answer their questions when they ask how you are doing, or if you are ok, and you dont want to give them the whole talk about how bad you really are but at the same time want them to know just how valuable they are and that they are part of the reason you can't go through with it? I've had several family members ask questions that make me think they are figuring out how close ive been and I don't know how to answer without feeling like im either burdening them or making it seem like im dependent on them. Any advice would be useful.
And I have to say, despite the warning at the beginning not to take this tone with anyone but oneself, I found the tone of this post rather mild. A little snarky, but mild. Either you sanitized this for public consumption, or you have good control over your inner critic.
WOW. I thought your last essay was powerful, but this one really hits home. I have a friend who was suicidal some years back, and hostile to seeking any professional help. I think I helped them as best I could, but I wish I’d had this to read. Thankfully, they’re still here.
It felt like such a crushing responsibility at the time, I can’t imagine having done it multiple times. I’m in awe of your compassion and resilience.
Loved it. And it was actually helpful for me at the moment.
As I say all the following, I cant imagine going through this with 5 different people in the past 50 days. You have remarkable resources.I am worried about someone who has done increasingly destructive things over the past two years and is now drinking daily to incoherence. Woke up this morning to 3 missed calls in the overnight and texted back to no answer. Anxious feeling hoping he is ok. Apparently all his 12-step options are zoom based and he has run out of 2 rehabs in the past 6 months. I've been running out of things to say to help him through. Everything feels tired and exhausted... I also see this person in my life and am alternatively humbled and scared. He is smarter (PhD Physics) and better than I am on many fronts. Whatever accidents that have led him to this place are just that - accidents. Could just as easily be me or anyone else. In some moments feels like not if but when. "Keep breathing" is excellent advice, though. Stay well!
I don't know if anyone will see this but if I could ask a question?
The talk about staying alive to prevent harm amongst the people you care about, how do you let them know? How do you answer their questions when they ask how you are doing, or if you are ok, and you dont want to give them the whole talk about how bad you really are but at the same time want them to know just how valuable they are and that they are part of the reason you can't go through with it? I've had several family members ask questions that make me think they are figuring out how close ive been and I don't know how to answer without feeling like im either burdening them or making it seem like im dependent on them. Any advice would be useful.
Very nice.
And I have to say, despite the warning at the beginning not to take this tone with anyone but oneself, I found the tone of this post rather mild. A little snarky, but mild. Either you sanitized this for public consumption, or you have good control over your inner critic.