The samaritans

[username]

I've contacted them three times already, with suicide in mind.

What did they offer me? Nothing!

I am an agnostic, and I know that they are not a religious group, but when I asked the guys what their religious beliefs were, - in order to have a philisophical debate, they refused.

I told them that I wet my finger and stuck it in an electrical socket with nothing but a tiny shock at the end.

Their response? "You must not have wanted to kill yourself then".

I told them that I had a razor blade and was going to slit my jugular vein. Their response? "We can't stop you from doing that".

You know, I truly believe that suicide is unethical, but sometimes I don't know why I bother.

I doubt I'll survive the next week.

PS. I'm sorry if I'm being hard on them. I really am. So, bear that in mind before you attack me.

[Unregistered]

I doubt I'll survive the next week.

Think of the others, before you make that commitment. There was some prick standing on the outside of the railing of a bridge over the M3 yesterday, looking ready to jump. Pity the poor bastard he jumped in front of: would you inflict the nightmare of a mangled body coming through your windscreen at 70mph? Pity the poor bastards who have to clean up the scene. Pity the poor bastards who have to turn up and identify the remains of a loved one.

I can't comment on the Samaritans, but I can tell you how it feels when a close friend tells you that unless you can sort out their problems for them they'll kill themselves. And then goes ahead and suicides.

[Guest]

What did you want the Samaritans to do for you, exactly?

They are a non faith organisation so won't get into religious or philosophical debate with you, they won't intervene in a suicide attempt either because to do so they'd have to break confidentiality, which is the main idea of the organisation; that anyone can call in confidence and be listened to in a non judgemental way.

[AirMarshall]

So you called them in order to pick a fight? Huh?

They exist to provide immediate crisis counseling. Just enough to help people hang on long enough to get over the immediate urge and get real help at an ER or with their own Pdoc or therapist.

I find the Samaritins website a bit thin, personally. For low points I prefer http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/ as more helpful. It only takes 5 minutes to read.

Hope you feel better.

a.m.

[Loon-A-TiK]

Those people weren't helpful to my sister, who ended up ODing on her meds and in the nut house for 8 months. maybe had they been able to helop her and not antagonize, she would have come to me or something (i was her guardian) and we could have worked on it.

if they would not have antagonized, it could have given me the 5 minutes i needed, and I would have been there to stop her or calm her down. i don't know how many times i calmed her down. but they were dorks. the mo'fo's!

[username]

I doubt I'll survive the next week.

Think of the others, before you make that commitment.

I do nothing but think of others!

Maybe if some others thought about me for once, I wouldn't be in this situation.

I have to educate my pdoc, and tell him what drugs to give me to help me survive.

After monotherapy with an SSRI failed, he was lost!

And he has the reputation of being one of the best in the UK!

And no, I can't get another pdoc, I am stuck with the NHS.

I am a man in great pain, pain that lasts for every nanosecond (sp).

I'm a damn good person. I have gone out of my way to help others. I have bent over backwards.

But nobody will help me in my hour of need.

And yeah, I probably come across as an angry prick in this post, but it IS NOT MY FAULT!

If you think that I am a prick, just don't respond. Because another human being giving me grieve will put me over the edge.

I am an evolutionary misfit.

Sorry mother nature!

[username]

So you called them in order to pick a fight? Huh?

a.m.

You have never liked me since my benzo overdose post.

Well the prof of psychiatry has given me permission to use Xanax recreationally!

No, I did not call them to start a fight. I called them because I wanted a discussion? A sin? Hardly!

[CheshireCat]

Hi username

I'm sorry no one seems to be able to say what you need to hear right now. I'm not even going to say the dreaded words...well, yes I am...I know how that feels. I get that way, too. I get suicidal and I get so damned edgy and combative. I want...no, need someone to HELP ME. It is frustrating and it hurts. Because the more I hurt, the more I end up pushing people away. I know I'm doing it but I do it anyway.

I have no idea if it is even helpful to hear that you are not alone in feeling that way. But there it is.

I admire the fact that you made the call to the Samaritans, actually. I never made any calls. I would plague my best friend with cries and would lash out and just basically be in a lot of pain. I don't know how I got through, to be honest.

But I guess I'm wondering...because you seem to feel not just depressed feelings, but you seem to feel some hostility (maybe?), it sounds like it could be a mixed episode kind of thing, not just depression...which might be a good time to give a call not to the Samaritans, but to a pdoc or whatever psychiatric place of help...

I know when I'm in that mixed episode place, no talk therapy, no friend's help will do it...I need medical attention...it's chemistry amuck...and it's not good...suicide is not the answer...there's a way out of the mess here...

end of little lecture...i'm no doctor of course...just some thoughts...hoping you feel better...

~Cat

[AirMarshall]

Username,

I don't dislike you at all. And frankly don't recall animosity over a benzo overdose, though obviously you do.

I am quite aware that you are having a very rough patch right now.

Here is the statement on religion for Samaritans.org

We are completely non-religious. Our name is an historical accident. When The Daily Mirror first found out about our service, they described it as "Good Samaritans", and the name stuck. Individual Samaritan volunteers do not impose their own political, philosophical or religious beliefs on people who contact us.

Samaritans.org is a UK based group, so we don't really have reports on the range or quality of their services.

Is there a local crisis hotline sponsored by your community? They are more common here in the US. Some larger communities have mental health drop-in centers where you can walk in and talk to other people, play games or watch tv in a less stressful environment.

Make the medicos earn their money. If you aren't getting better get on the phone or go to their office. If you feel like you are going to hurtself to to the hospital. They WILL help you. If you can't get to the hospital call an ambulance.

Don't give up. Things will get better.

a.m.

[username]

I've contacted them three times already, with suicide in mind.

What did they offer me? Nothing!

I am an agnostic, and I know that they are not a religious group, but when I asked the guys what their religious beliefs were, - in order to have a philisophical debate, they refused.

I told them that I wet my finger and stuck it in an electrical socket with nothing but a tiny shock at the end.

Their response? "You must not have wanted to kill yourself then".

I told them that I had a razor blade and was going to slit my jugular vein. Their response? "We can't stop you from doing that".

You know, I truly believe that suicide is unethical, but sometimes I don't know why I bother.

I doubt I'll survive the next week.

PS. I'm sorry if I'm being hard on them. I really am. So, bear that in mind before you attack me.

Well, it's pretty obvious that they are of no help to you, you need to find another way to get help. Don't contact them again, i see no point in doing that. You'll survive next week, just stick around here. I've been where you are and there IS hope. I haven't responded to any medication in any useful way, maybe except clonazepam (prevents the panick attacks but doesn't stop all anxiety). And i am still looking ahead, there will be something that works. What do you do for living if you don't mind me asking? You NEED to stay busy to be distracted from these kinds of intrusive thoughts. When you just sit at home all day worrying about everything, it's not good for your head. I'm out of work right now so i have tons of time to worry about things, not good. Lost the job due to my mental health issues. So i'm in a fucked up situation right now, i wanna work although i don't feel 100% stable. I'm stopping most of my meds cause they're doing nothing but making me into a fat pig. But no matter how shitty the situation seems at the time there IS hope ahead. Just trust me. Stay here with us and you'll be safe.

Tom

Since you asked, I'm a law student, taking a year out.

[~nestling~]

how're you feeling this morning?

[ldo]

Hey username,

Hope you're feeling a little better today.

The Samaritans can only help a little. It's possible that the person fielding your call had just talked to two or three sexually harrassing nuts who weren't really anything near suicide. Happens all the time. They try not to be nasty because those people have big problems too, but I'm sure it's hard to take. And Samaritan volunteers are just ordinary people with a little bit of training. I knew one.

I think some people are helped just by having someone else on the line who they can speak with and admit things to.

Have to admit that I was somewhat amused to see the Samaritans sign at a large bridge a couple of days ago. Like, officially approved site to do the deed. Not sure that's productive.

Wish I knew what to say to help you. I certainly don't want you to hurt yourself.