NOT YOUR DOC

CALL or TEXT 988 for our National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

A HOPELESSNESS that things can be better AND HELPLESSNESS to do anything/ to ask anyone to make things better / to relieve the distress

Many adults send signals regarding their suicidality:

[Very young children will demonstrate almost none of these signs or symptoms.]

TALK about/INCREASED talking about SUICIDE

Talk about how OVERWHELMINGLY SAD they feel

Talk about BEING A BURDEN to OTHERS

TALK ABOUT NOT GOING TO BE MISSED

IDEALIZE SOMEONE ELSE’S SUICIDE

Talk about HOW ALONE (“alone in a room full of people”) and TIRED, or HOW SPENT THEY FEEL….both emotional (can’t get excited about anything) and physical tiredness

Talk about DEATH, or GOING TO SLEEP for a LONG TIME, or GOING AWAY

WONDER how death may feel… RESTFUL, UNTROUBLED

GIVING AWAY some of their TREASURED BELONGINGS

ISOLATE by STOPPING socializing, responding to emails or texts

DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING that may show up as something called psychomotor slowing which could SHOW AS A DROP IN GRADES/SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND WORK PERFORMANCE

STOP SOCIAL MEDIA (or INCREASE its use for signaling some of topics, above)

ISOLATE by BREAK UP (via letters, emails, social media) with FRIENDS and PARTNERS

STOP SEEING / TALKING TO FAVORITE RELATIVES/GRANDCHILDREN

STOP routine HYGIENE (brush, comb, shave, shower, laundering clothing)

PERSON/PERSONALITY CHANGES: WT LOSS, MORE HAGGARD LOOKING, MORE IRRITABLE/ANGRY, MISSING APPOINTMENTS, CARING LESS IN AREAS WHERE THEY USED TO CARE

One of the final events is that ONCE THE PERSON HAS MADE THE DECISION or PLAN TO COMMIT SUICIDE, this person may suddenly look CALM, PEACEFUL, ALMOST HAPPY.

CALL or TEXT 988 for our National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Charles Tadros, M.D.

November 19, 2022

Saint Louis, Missouri