Suicide is the act of deliberately killing oneself. This can be active suicide where one actively does something to end their life, like overdosing or shooting themselves. It could also be passive suicide where someone does something indirectly that is likely to cause death. This could be drug abuse, failing to treat a physical illness, and high risk sports.
It is estimated that 1 million people in the world commit suicide each year. 12 to 25 suicides are attempted for every one that succeeds. Suicide rates have apparently increased by 60% in the world in the last 45 years. South Korea recently surpassed Japan in having the highest suicide rate among the industrialized world. Only Guyana, Hungary, Slovenia and countries in the former USSR have higher suicide rates than South Korea.
Death by active suicide was the 10th cause of death in the United Sates of America in 2007. It is the 2nd leading cause of death among 25-34 years, and the 3rd leading cause of death among teenagers. Elderly adults male, 65 and above have for a long time had the highest rate of suicide in the USA although it seems the adolescent rates has surpassed this group.
Theories on why people commit succeed
Different theories offer different explanations as to why people commit suicide. According Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, a person kills themselves in order to murder the image of the love-hated father or mother. A behaviorist theorist believes that a person kills themselves because of inadequate reinforcement.
The humanist and existentialist whose philosophy is based on the meaning of life, believe that people commit suicide when they lose the meaning and purpose of life. Sociologist on the other hand believe that suicide is precipitated by environmental factors such as urbanization, poverty, racism, sexism, corporate exploitation of individuals among such social issues.
The medical view is that suicide is caused by chemical imbalances producing emotional and psychological instability. The Television has also been named as a cause for suicide because studies have shown that suicides, motor accidents and many non fatal accidents occur immediately after the showing of soap opera’s.
Statistical Reasons for Suicide
Research shows that 10% of those who commit suicide do so for no apparent reason. Unfortunately once they are dead they cannot elucidate why they did it. Another 25% commit suicide because they have a preexisting mental instability. In this group will be those with schizophrenia. About 40% commit suicide on impulse. They will most probably be going through a crisis and lack coping skills. This is the group that is most likely to call for help.
Another group commits suicide because they have depressive suicide. This kind of person has a high level of unacceptable rage which eventually becomes repressed and turned in against self in suicide. Not only is this person suicidal, but is also homicidal and may be the person least suspected by anyone.
Another group commits suicide to relieve pain or as a revenge against the offending person. 25% will have premeditated thoughts of suicide and will weigh the pros and cons and then actively decide to commit suicide.
Myths about Suicide
1) One of the myths is that talking about Suicide causes suicide by planting the idea in a person’s head. The fact of the matter is that a person who is suicidal is already thinking about it. Talking about it helps them diffuse the tension that is causing them to be suicidal. It also helps you understand their frame of mind and can thus intervene appropriately.
2) Another myth is that once a person is suicidal , they will forever be suicidal. The fact of the matter is most people are suicidal for a limited period of time when circumstances in their life seem overwhelming. However, suicidal feelings can recur in the future if they do not learn of better coping skills.
3) Another myth is that depression and suicide are synonymous. While people who are depressed may have a death wish, this is only because they are hurting. Depression is manageable and that is why it is important to seek help when depressed.
High risk for suicide
Be alert when someone communicates their intention to die. 80% of those who attempt suicide communicate directly or indirectly of their intention . Some may utter words like “ I want to go to sleep and never wake up” , “I wish I had never been born” or “you’ll be sorry when I am gone”.
Matters that add the risk for suicide
a) A close friend of family member having committed suicide, b) Alcohol and drug abuse increase the risk, c) Experiencing divorce, d) Physical disability, e) Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, f) A specific suicide plan, e) Mental instability
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/385972_the-facts-and-characteristics-of-suicide-among-different-populations#ixzz15CiL1qBl
This is a blog that I educate and express my opinions on some health and mental Health issues. Different therapies used in psychotherapy are also discussed.
Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Grief, Loss, and the Process of Healing
"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die;---A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance;--- A time to keep silence, and a time to speak" Ecclesiastes 3: 1,4,7.
Grief is something that everyone will experience at one time or another during their lifetime. It is the emotional suffering we feel after a loss of some kind. It may be the loss of a loved one through death, the loss of a relationship, like in the case of divorce, the loss of an opportunity, the loss of health, and the loss of youth.
Individuals are unique in how they experience loss and grief. Some people have healthy coping mechanism while others hinder the grieving process. It is important to acknowledge the grief because by so doing you promote the healing process. Grieving takes time and with support and appropriate mourning the individual does experience healing.
Symptoms of Normal Grief
Grief from a loss affects a person physically, emotionally, behaviorally and cognitively. Symptoms for normal grief are numerous and can be serious depending on how they are handled. However different people experience grief and loss differently and the symptoms will differ depending on the person’s coping mechanism.
The Stages of normal grief process
Grief is a healing process from a loss and it is therefore important to ensure that the healing process is allowed to happen. Dr Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her 1969 book, OnDeath and Dying named five stages of grief that people go through following a series of losses as follows;
1) Denial and Isolation- The first thing that most people do after experiencing a loss is to deny the loss. This may cause someone to withdraw from their usual social contacts because they do not want to be confronted about the loss or to talk about it.
2) Anger- The person grieving may become furious at the person inflicting the pain of loss or at the world for letting it to happen. The person may blame themselves and feel guilt for letting it happen even if the situation was beyond their control.
3) Bargaining- The person may start making bargains with God on what they will do to stop the loss from happening. This is common in cases where someone has a loved one who is terminally ill or in the case of a divorce.
4) Depression- the person feels numb and almost has a death wish. By this time the person has accepted the inevitable but is finding it hard to move on. There maybe underlying sadness and anger.
5) Acceptance- In this stage the person has accepted the loss and the anger and sadness have mellowed off.
Dr Kubla-Ross stages of grief have been applied to other forms of personal loss like the loss of a job, or the onset of a disability. In her book, On grief and Grieving: Finding the meaning of Grief through the five stages of loss, Dr Kubler-Ross states that,
“the stages have evolved since their introduction, and they have been very misunderstood over the past three decades. They were never meant to help tuck messy emotions into neat packages. They are responses to loss that many people have, but there is not a typical response to loss, as there is no typical loss. Our grief is as individual as our lives”.
Dr Kubler- Ross further says that the 5 stages “are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. But they are not stops on some linear timeline in grief. Not everyone goes through all of them or goes in a prescribed order”. Some experts suggest that people go through all stages no matter what the loss is. Others suggest that not everyone goes through all the five stages while others add other stages to the five.
The greater the loss the more intense we feel each stage and the longer it may take to go through the stages. It is also important to note that people go backwards and forward through the stages. Healing is a gradual upward climb with peaks and valleys.
Grief and Stress:
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/383038_grief-loss-and-the-process-of-healing#ixzz15CfNUoUv
Grief is something that everyone will experience at one time or another during their lifetime. It is the emotional suffering we feel after a loss of some kind. It may be the loss of a loved one through death, the loss of a relationship, like in the case of divorce, the loss of an opportunity, the loss of health, and the loss of youth.
Individuals are unique in how they experience loss and grief. Some people have healthy coping mechanism while others hinder the grieving process. It is important to acknowledge the grief because by so doing you promote the healing process. Grieving takes time and with support and appropriate mourning the individual does experience healing.
Symptoms of Normal Grief
Grief from a loss affects a person physically, emotionally, behaviorally and cognitively. Symptoms for normal grief are numerous and can be serious depending on how they are handled. However different people experience grief and loss differently and the symptoms will differ depending on the person’s coping mechanism.
The Stages of normal grief process
Grief is a healing process from a loss and it is therefore important to ensure that the healing process is allowed to happen. Dr Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her 1969 book, OnDeath and Dying named five stages of grief that people go through following a series of losses as follows;
1) Denial and Isolation- The first thing that most people do after experiencing a loss is to deny the loss. This may cause someone to withdraw from their usual social contacts because they do not want to be confronted about the loss or to talk about it.
2) Anger- The person grieving may become furious at the person inflicting the pain of loss or at the world for letting it to happen. The person may blame themselves and feel guilt for letting it happen even if the situation was beyond their control.
3) Bargaining- The person may start making bargains with God on what they will do to stop the loss from happening. This is common in cases where someone has a loved one who is terminally ill or in the case of a divorce.
4) Depression- the person feels numb and almost has a death wish. By this time the person has accepted the inevitable but is finding it hard to move on. There maybe underlying sadness and anger.
5) Acceptance- In this stage the person has accepted the loss and the anger and sadness have mellowed off.
Dr Kubla-Ross stages of grief have been applied to other forms of personal loss like the loss of a job, or the onset of a disability. In her book, On grief and Grieving: Finding the meaning of Grief through the five stages of loss, Dr Kubler-Ross states that,
“the stages have evolved since their introduction, and they have been very misunderstood over the past three decades. They were never meant to help tuck messy emotions into neat packages. They are responses to loss that many people have, but there is not a typical response to loss, as there is no typical loss. Our grief is as individual as our lives”.
Dr Kubler- Ross further says that the 5 stages “are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. But they are not stops on some linear timeline in grief. Not everyone goes through all of them or goes in a prescribed order”. Some experts suggest that people go through all stages no matter what the loss is. Others suggest that not everyone goes through all the five stages while others add other stages to the five.
The greater the loss the more intense we feel each stage and the longer it may take to go through the stages. It is also important to note that people go backwards and forward through the stages. Healing is a gradual upward climb with peaks and valleys.
Grief and Stress:
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/383038_grief-loss-and-the-process-of-healing#ixzz15CfNUoUv
Saturday, October 9, 2010
8 Simple Ways to manage depression
Depression is a mental illness that is experienced by most people if not all at one time or another in their lifetime. This is because we all go through some life changes be they physical, emotional or psychological which cause us to depress
Depression can manifest as feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, hopelessness, weariness, sleeping problems and physical pains. It is important to consult a doctor if the symptoms are affecting your daily functioning and for a proper diagnosis. There are many other illness that may manifest as depression or cause depression and it is therefore important to rule out other medical conditions that maybe the cause of your symptoms.
The doctor may prescribe antidepressant but it is also important to seek a mental health therapist who will assist you to process your thoughts and feelings that maybe causing the depression. Depression is caused by feelings that are internalized which may cause chemical imbalance and the way to deal with them is to externalize.
Ways to help yourself Recover
1) Depression will cause you to want to isolate and feed on your negative emotions that are in the first place causing you to depress. The first thing to try and do is to avoid isolation. This in the beginning can be done by taking walks near where you are. Even though you are not talking to people, you will find observing your surrounding or people around you will help you take the focus out of you. If you can, take walks in the park because there is always some activity going and it is also serene.
2) Connected with this, is when you are outside you enjoy the sun. People who depress have been found to be short of Vitamin D. The sun is the greatest supplier of vitamin D which is absorbed through the skin. Most depression happen during the gloomy season and indeed the cases of depression in Africa are very low perhaps because the sun is up most days of the year.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/366241_8-simple-ways-to-manage-depression#ixzz11ueGQGT1
Depression can manifest as feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, hopelessness, weariness, sleeping problems and physical pains. It is important to consult a doctor if the symptoms are affecting your daily functioning and for a proper diagnosis. There are many other illness that may manifest as depression or cause depression and it is therefore important to rule out other medical conditions that maybe the cause of your symptoms.
The doctor may prescribe antidepressant but it is also important to seek a mental health therapist who will assist you to process your thoughts and feelings that maybe causing the depression. Depression is caused by feelings that are internalized which may cause chemical imbalance and the way to deal with them is to externalize.
Ways to help yourself Recover
1) Depression will cause you to want to isolate and feed on your negative emotions that are in the first place causing you to depress. The first thing to try and do is to avoid isolation. This in the beginning can be done by taking walks near where you are. Even though you are not talking to people, you will find observing your surrounding or people around you will help you take the focus out of you. If you can, take walks in the park because there is always some activity going and it is also serene.
2) Connected with this, is when you are outside you enjoy the sun. People who depress have been found to be short of Vitamin D. The sun is the greatest supplier of vitamin D which is absorbed through the skin. Most depression happen during the gloomy season and indeed the cases of depression in Africa are very low perhaps because the sun is up most days of the year.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/366241_8-simple-ways-to-manage-depression#ixzz11ueGQGT1
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Understanding the Causes of Depression
Major depression is the interaction between physiological factors and psychological factors. The criterion for major depressive episodes as prescribed by the DSM-IV-TR includes depressed mood, diminished interest or pleasure in most daily activities, weight loss or gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, agitation, fatigue, feeling of worthlessness, inability to think or concentrate and recurrent thoughts of death.
In my opinion all human beings at one time or another suffer from depression. This is because depression is caused by both pyhsiological and psychological factors. Depression if not allowed to take a person captive can be viewed as a sign that we need a change or growth needs to take place in us. There are many causes of depression and if we listened to our mind and body we may fair better in a bout of depression.
Physiological Causes of Depression:
One's sleep pattern can have negative effect on how a person views the world and themselves. Three nights in a row without dreaming, even with plenty of sleep will cause most people to get depressed and somewhat paranoid. The brain manufactures neurotransmitters and replenishes them while you are sleeping. Thus a good, continuous night’s sleep is very important both in curing depression and preventing a relapse. Recent studies have proven that norepinephrine and serotonin initiate and maintain dreaming.
Eating patterns can also affect the physiology of a client. If one’s diet is lacking in certain nutrients and essential vitamins the body may express this deficiency through depression. It is suggested that sugar intensifies the cyclical highs and lows of our emotions with its artificial highs and subsequent lows. Research has also shown that most depressed people tend to have low levels of folic acid, a vitamin found most abundantly in leafy green vegetables. Alcohol often times is used as an escape from depression, but in actuality, alcohol can lead to vitamin deficiencies which can contribute to depression.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/335307_understanding-the-causes-of-depression#ixzz0xeGYzw1N
In my opinion all human beings at one time or another suffer from depression. This is because depression is caused by both pyhsiological and psychological factors. Depression if not allowed to take a person captive can be viewed as a sign that we need a change or growth needs to take place in us. There are many causes of depression and if we listened to our mind and body we may fair better in a bout of depression.
Physiological Causes of Depression:
One's sleep pattern can have negative effect on how a person views the world and themselves. Three nights in a row without dreaming, even with plenty of sleep will cause most people to get depressed and somewhat paranoid. The brain manufactures neurotransmitters and replenishes them while you are sleeping. Thus a good, continuous night’s sleep is very important both in curing depression and preventing a relapse. Recent studies have proven that norepinephrine and serotonin initiate and maintain dreaming.
Eating patterns can also affect the physiology of a client. If one’s diet is lacking in certain nutrients and essential vitamins the body may express this deficiency through depression. It is suggested that sugar intensifies the cyclical highs and lows of our emotions with its artificial highs and subsequent lows. Research has also shown that most depressed people tend to have low levels of folic acid, a vitamin found most abundantly in leafy green vegetables. Alcohol often times is used as an escape from depression, but in actuality, alcohol can lead to vitamin deficiencies which can contribute to depression.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/335307_understanding-the-causes-of-depression#ixzz0xeGYzw1N
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