Tag: Suicide Awareness

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AFSP: Out of the Darkness Community Walk 2022

Cherry and the Hoot

This past weekend I had the pleasure of participating in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Community Walk. The Out of the Darkness event is a journey of remembrance, hope, and support for all affected by suicide. Numerous families were there to walk for the loved ones they’ve lost, while others were there to walk for themselves and those suffering from various mental health illnesses. Overall, the event was fun, and I was happy my mother and a close family friend were there to support me. It was my second time walking in the event, and I look forward to walking again next year. I encourage all to look into their local AFSP state chapter to participate when the event is in your community. It’ll help you realize that you are not alone, you are beyond loved by many, and you matter!

Much Love Hooters,
Cherry and the Hoot

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A Post of Transparency: Why I Recently Tried To Commit Suicide

Cherry and the Hoot

As Cherry and the Hoot is a creative mental health blog with an author who experiences severe major depression and anxiety, please be mindful that there will be moments I share some of my darkest moments of life. It is my decision to share these moments to assure others they are not alone when it comes to any darkness in life. I also share because I am not ashamed of any choices I’ve ever made that some may frown upon or don’t understand. Today I have decided to share that my latest suicide attempt occurred on August 7th, 2022. Yes, just last month. Since then, I have been and am currently being treated professionally; I am also on a healing journey to recovery. Although I will not intensely go into detail about what exactly led (the “icing on the cake”) to the attempt, I will briefly share why I felt it was necessary for me at that very moment. I also share in honor of September being Suicide Prevention Awareness month.

So there is no confusion or weird assumptions that some like to make- please know I didn’t do it for attention. It wasn’t for attention because, sadly, I wasn’t supposed to fail at it. I didn’t do it because I hated myself or anyone else. I didn’t do it because of what I was going through at that moment. I didn’t do it for the satisfaction of anyone else. I didn’t do it for sympathy. I didn’t do it as a “cry for help.” I didn’t do it because I didn’t want to face my troubles. I didn’t do it to hurt any of my loved ones. I didn’t do it to “take the easy way out.” I most certainly didn’t do it because I was selfish. 

I did it because I was simply tired. I was tired of everything. I was tired of my ever-lasting mental health battle. I was tired of feeling the way I was feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally. I was tired of not feeling like myself. I was tired of the hurt and all the pain I had ever endured. I was tired of all of the mixed emotions I had. I was tired of struggling with the things I could not repair, control, or understand. I was tired of the unnecessary treatment I didn’t deserve. I was tired of crying every day- at my workplace, in my car, on my way to sleep. I was tired of having no appetite. I was tired of sleeping my life away or not getting enough sleep from the endless negative thoughts scattering around in my brain. I was tired of feeling like I wasn’t living and was simply existing. I didn’t feel I could be helped, nor could I help myself. I no longer wanted to feel like a burden to anyone else in life. 

I felt like it was my last option: to feel free of all my troubles finally. It was my last option to no more prolonged pain. My last option to stop the sleepless nights and oversleeping days- to prevent my depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. It was my last option to refrain from losing my job for calling out multiple days in a row due to my mental health illnesses. It was my last option to no longer be lost- to find my way. Finally, it was my last option to be free and at peace forever. I felt like I was losing my battle with the one thing I had worked so hard to maintain over the years- my struggle with depression. I lost every drip of strength I had left in me. I was drained and done, and I was okay with that.

The decision was merely what I thought was best for me at that moment. As I continue to work on improving myself and my mental health, I hope for strength for anyone who feels as though they are completely drained of life. I hope you overcome your battles and weaknesses. I hope you achieve your full potential while seeing and knowing your worth. I hope you know that you are stronger than you think, and you, my friend, will make it through this darkness!

If you or someone you know are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

You matter—your life matters. 

#YouAreNotAlone

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Ways to Observe National Suicide Prevention Week

Cherry and the Hoot

If you aren’t sure how to observe National Suicide Prevention Week (9/4-9/10), I have listed a few ways from the National Today site below:

  1. Raise Awareness

One of the most helpful and effective ways we can observe Suicide Prevention Week is by raising awareness of it. The goal is to reduce the stigma around it and raise awareness so that more people can reach out for help.

2. Educate Yourself

The best thing we can do is to learn more about it. We need to educate ourselves and facilitate proactive prevention in our communities so that we can shatter the silence around our mental health.

3. Look out for others

Most people suffering from poor mental health do not reach out for help for fear of being judged or misunderstood. So we need to look out for others and check for warning signs. We need to help people feel heard and understood.

Source: National Today

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Warning Signs of Suicide and How To Help

Cherry and the Hoot

For those unaware, September is the month of many things, but Suicide Prevention Awareness is the main focus of the Cherry and the Hoot blog. As many find suicide to be a challenging topic of discussion, I believe more people should talk about it to help save the life of others potentially. In addition, bringing awareness allows us to possibly identify warning signs and know what to do during a time of crisis for ourselves or someone else. 

Below I have included a list of warning signs, what to do, and what to avoid should you encounter one suffering from suicidal ideations or thoughts:

Warning Signs of Suicide

Talk

If a person talks about:

  • Killing themselves
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Having no reason to live
  • Being a burden to others
  • Feeling trapped
  • Unbearable pain

Behavior

If a person displays one or more of the following behaviors:

  • Increased use of alcohol or drugs
  • Looking for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods
  • Withdrawing from activities
  • Isolating from family and friends
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
  • Giving away prized possessions
  • Aggression
  • Fatigue

Mood

If a person displays one or more of the following moods:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of interest
  • Irritability
  • Humiliation/Shame
  • Agitation/Anger
  • Relief/Sudden Improvement

How To Help

  • Talk in private and ask directly if suicidal
  • Remove any weapons such as firearms, alcohol, drugs, or sharp objects that could be used
  • Listen and acknowledge their feelings
  • Tell them you care about them
  • Encourage them to seek treatment or reach out to their doctor
  • Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text 988
  • Escort to mental health services or emergency room for treatment
  • Follow up after the crisis

What Not To Do

  • Avoid debating the value of life
  • Avoid minimizing their problems
  • Avoid giving unwanted advice
  • Avoid leaving someone who is “high risk” alone
  • Avoid being judgemental

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, please get in touch with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by calling 1-800-273-8255 or texting 988. 

Always remember, you are NOT alone!

Much Love Hooters,

Cherry and the Hoot

Sources: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; National Institute for Mental Health

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One of Those Days: A Real Post of Transparency

Cherry and the Hoot

*Disclaimer: As the creator and owner of this blog, I stick to my word of transparency for my viewers. The following content may be triggering to some as I share the reality of my personal experience with depression and anxiety. Those are not my intentions.

If you know me personally, you know that naturally, I am a bubbly and happy-spirited individual. But imagine suffering from mental health complications and being forced to pretend to be okay when in fact, you are not. Imagine being surrounded by your loving family members and friends who all appear to be in good spirits while you are communicating back and forth with them and sharing a few outbursts of laughter here and there- everything seems perfectly normal to them. The sad part is they have absolutely no idea of the chaos going on inside of your scattered brain. They are well aware of your diagnosis but feel they have nothing to worry about due to your outer appearance. You are communicating and smiling; that means you must be doing fine, right? 

This is my daily life. 

I have been suffering from major depression and PTSD since my youth, and anxiety for over five years now, but those who do not know me personally have no idea unless I tell them. Most of the time my immediate family is hardly aware of when I am encountering an extreme low or any low at all for that matter. I mean, I guess they eventually figure it out when it’s almost too late, unfortunately. Things are this way because I am an expert at masking my low feelings. This method is not healthy, and I do not encourage it. Though in my circumstances, it is what it is. 

One might ask why I mask the true feelings of my suffering? Well, it’s simple- I feel as though no one can help me. Not a professional, no family members, no close friends- simply no one. So if I know they can not help me, why bother to express or explain myself to them? It’s already hard enough when I do not understand my mental health. I simply do my best to cope in the most suitable way I can. Seriously, try explaining your mental health to those who have no idea. Try explaining it to those who think you can easily snap out of it. Or even to those who assume antidepressants will help when you know they do not work for you and never did. Oh, I will not forget about those who swear they have been through worse or the same thing. It makes no sense to me, but hey, that is life!

“But CC, you operate a mental health blog that encourages and inspires so many people.” I know, tell me about it.

I try my best to promote positivity even while I am down myself. I can not help but to continuously express to you all how much you are not alone. I am not a professional who has never experienced a severe mental health illness but assume they have it all figured out because of their educational background. No disrespect to any professionals because although I have been seeing them since middle school, I am still grateful for them to an extreme extent. I am an individual who has been suffering like yourself. I am an individual you can relate to well more than you will ever be able to with anyone else who has never felt like us. Just like some severely battling such illnesses, I spend more days wanting to give up on it all than you can imagine (even when I appear happy).  

Yesterday was one of those days for me. Today, I woke up in the same mood- I felt the need to share. And no, I’m not suicidal and hope you aren’t either! These sudden feelings are random and untriggered the majority of the time. I hate it, and I’m sure some of you do as well. But together, we will get through this. I formed this platform for others like myself or those who know others like myself. This platform is for those suffering or feeling as if they have no one in their corner. Nobody to talk to about their crises. I formed this platform to avoid sugarcoating the realness, distress, misconception, and actuality of living with major depression, anxiety, PTSD, and whatever else. I formed this platform for people to know, I get it. 

The point I’m making, all of my posts are not meant to be “happy go lucky,” so please expect reality and transparency throughout this journey. I’m not going to get on here and fib to you about being “okay” when I’m not. Today was just one of those days. If you had one of those days this week, remember tomorrow is a new day plus, you are not alone. I am hoping for the best of luck for the next week. Together, we will get through this and when we do, we will forever be the best versions of ourselves. That is all.

Much Love Hooters,

-Cherry and the Hoot