FORUMS

Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

  • 47,612Members
  • 1,358,869Posts
  • 1,400,000Visitors
Something’s not right

Living on after an attempt

Living on after an attempt

I'm new here. I've been searching online and I don't really find much that helps with how I feel.

TL:DR How do you find the desire to live again after making an attempt and not expecting to still be here?

About 2.5 years ago I made a genuine attempt. By that I mean, it wasn't a cry for help or attention. I really believed that it was my time to go. I had given up. I'm 45, and had been fighting with depression, anxiety, ptsd and undiagnosed ADHD since the age of 6. And it all became too much.

The problem was, I didn't research it much - and information about methods can be hard to find, especially if you're having a perfect storm of emotions and not really thinking terribly clearly. I thought it would be relatively quick, and final.

Well, obviously, I'm still here. And apparently had a strong constitution because physically I came out of it with next to no damage. Which is good, I guess.

The problem is, I feel like at that point, something in me broke. Before that, I had thought (ideated) and done some self harm. But I had never acted. And I'd managed to keep the facade up that things were OK- not great, but not that bad - even to myself.

But the thing about that point in my life was that, I really never expected to be here afterward. And honestly, I just feel lost. I spent months straight afterward walking around feeling like a ghost. Numb. Like i wasnt really there. Like I didn't exist.

I lost most of my friends. In some cases, what went down afterward was not helpful to me (and I think to them as well). There are a couple of friends I'm still in touch with that I feel for various reasons I can talk to. But many more that feel I can't talk to any more, or who have cut me out of their lives because I'm "too much hard work", "too exhausting", or "not trying hard enough to recover"....

Now I feel broken. I'm not working. I'm fortunate to be on disability. Now I realise how much effort it cost me to pretend to be normal and functional all those years, and I just feel burned out and exhausted most of the time. And like I've realised that I didn't really understand how to do life. i was just copying what others did.

I'm struggling with sleep. Can rarely sleep at night, can barely stay awake during the day.

The only thing that actually gets me out of bed and keeps me going is my animals, my pets. They are pretty much the sole reason I hang on these days.

So I guess my question is: how do you move on after this? When you feel like your existence has a net negative impact on the world. When you are literally hanging on by a thread? How do you recover, and possibly even start wanting to exist? When maybe that's something that you never even wanted to begin with? How do you begin to want to live, when 90% of your time on earth has been sadness, abuse, trauma, and the resulting negative feelings of self worth.

If you have read this far, thank you. Yes, I am safe. I have beloved cheeky little pets that need my care. I hang on for them. They are my reason for being.

12 replies

11 - 12 of 12

In response to: Living on after an attempt

Re: Living on after an attempt

Hi @Ravenblue

I’m not going to say it’s easy, because it’s hard, as you have found, especially early on.

It is very much an individual thing, as is the reason for the initial attempt.
Each person has to find their own reason for continuing, their own meaning. Don’t worry about other people or perceived societal expectations.

Many people try many different things to keep going and that’s ok. If something is not working out don’t see it as a “failure” but a part of the journey. You can possibly use your experience to help or support other people.
I have cPTSD from childhood abuse and that also includes suicidal ideation. I have it for decades (although it’s been diagnosed as other things in the past). I have worked all of my life, well from age 14yo (I’ve worked longer than your life time).
I agree that the energy expended “wearing a mask” that is trying to act normal is enormous. I often felt tired, but I didn’t pay attention to it and kept going. I find relationships (even friendships) difficult so didn’t have any close friends to lose. At times having my dogs has definitely stopped me from ending things, so there is one reason for going on.

Things change and things can get better. For most people it’s not a sudden change you don’t wake up one day and know exactly what will keep you going forever and most likely there will be ups and downs that will go on at least for a while.

You are definitely not broken.

I hope you find support on the forums. I have found then to be a supportive and friendly place.

In response to: Living on after an attempt

Re: Living on after an attempt

Hey @Ravenblue

Like you I felt broken after my attempt. I felt overwhelmed - I found joy in almost nothing - and I wondered how I was going to live my life like this. The first thing I did that brought me an hour a week of relief after my attempt was to watch an episode of Game of Thrones (this was 8 years ago now). It was the one hour of my life per week that I didn't feel hopeless. Slowly I added more stuff in, like going for coffee. Doing some art (even though I'm terrible at art, lol). My local area has groups for people with mental health struggles, so I went to some of these. I played computer games, I made some friends there. Just lots of little things that added up to a bigger thing. I should say this was over an extended period of time, some years. Now I do things like sit as a consumer representative for my local mental health district at meetings, stuff like that. And I'm studying to try and be a peer worker (although my study is on hold for a couple of months). I have a furbaby too, I can relate getting up sometimes for your pet. She is the light of my life.

11 - 12 of 12