Teen Clinical Depression, Is Your Teen on Meds?
Being a teen, I'd like to put in my own two cents about this topic. Have I
thought of suicide at the dark side of the pendulum of life? Yes. But I
never could, and probably never will be able to, carry out the act by any
means, even if I truly wanted to. Early in life, I learned that there's two
kinds of people - Those with strong character who can get through most
anything in the end, and whimps who take the easy way out. I have always
tried to show that I am the former.
Second, suicide can be messy. Failure can leave you in a state of perpetual
hell as a cripple or vegetable. Overdose on meds/drugs of any type is one of
the most risky ways. Succeed, and you go out easily. Fail, and your body
could survive without most of the mind. Not to mention what your family'll
want to do to you after paying for the hospital stay (if you're competent).
Third, suicide leaves sadness in its wake, even where you didn't want to
place it. There's probably family that you didn't want to upset, who didn't
do anything wrong. And certainly, there's your friends. In my case, I have a
best friend who's closer to me than my own brother. In fact, we used to be
known as the "Siamese Twins." I couldn't just abandon him - We've been
together too long and seen and done too much together. I wouldn't be that
mean, cruel, and dispicable.
Lastly is the logical argument - And as I've spurned logic (to be a
Romanticist), I've left this till last. Suicide just doesn't compute.
Problems like breakup, cash flow, grades, and even parents, are all
temporary problems (however hard to handle - I never said they're easy).
Suicide is a permanent solution from which there's no return. Hmm... Let me
see - Eternal damnation as a solution to breakup, which will be solved in a
few days with a new girl (perhaps)? Doesn't sound right.
Adolesence is a pendulum - It swings back and forth, between the extremes of
light and darkness. Keep your eye on the light when in the shadow of
darkness, and the light will live within you until you return.
Being prone to clinical depression and suicidal ideation myself, I must
say that as a general rule, I am no wimp. I have dealt with much, much
pain in my life without "checking out." But when I'm crashing and
burning, I am no longer thinking rationally. The only thing that stops
me is what my actions would do to my husband and kids. If I didn't have
them in my life, probably nothing would stop me *in the midst* of
crashing and burning. It's not about wimpiness, it's about mental
functioning, which is compromised. When someone is suicidal, s/he is not
functional.
Been there, done that (to the point of mentally categorying my pills
while in a semi-catatonic state during a crash and burn--good thing I
forgot about my stash of Darvocet in my dresser drawer. I would have
taken them. The next day, I threw away any pills that could easily harm
me. I knew I was too close to taking them. How's that for strength of
character?).