Sister attempted to take her life, want to help her in every way possible.

[jetamine]

Hi guys,

So yesterday I woke up from a nap to a suicide note from my sister which I won't type out as it's too disturbing to read again, I walked into her room and she had said she had taken countless pills.. paracetamols, antidepressants.. literally anything that was in sight and was on her second or third bottle of wine and she was rushed to hospital.

Bit of on an understatement that I went into shock, I knew she had issues but I didn't think she'd ever go this far, this hit me hard and I haven't slept since Monday over it.

Let me briefly describe my sisters life/behavioural charactertistics to see if anyone can relate as I don't know how to help her or what's wrong with her.

She's always been a bit of an extrovert, full of energy, almost too much energy.. slightly manic. She's an extremely impulsive person who seeks "highs" in life constantly, she will drop everything at the drop of a hat to follow that idea that's just popped into her head, she never thinks before acting and she's always been like this probably since about 10 years old.

She has also smoked weed for around 8 years every single night without fail as she cannot sleep without it, so I'm sure this is also a big contributor.. she also has a past of consistantly taking speed for around 3 years and been off and on anti-depressant medications and coming off them cold turkey.

She's got extreme anxiety, she runs her own beautician business, which is barely keeping afloat as she has no organisation and is constantly late for appointments and sleeps in late. She hates her job as she has to face people quite intimitely every day and she says she puts on a front and not show her true self.

She can't stand rejection from other people, she's got a massive inferiority problem going on in her head, she thinks everyone is better than her and that she's ugly, which she isn't.

She's currently on pregabilin but says it doesn't do anything to help her and is dieing to get prescribed diazepam on a regular basis and I've told her she won't get it, it's a medication for short term relief due to the horrific addiction tendencies, which coupled with her addictive personality is a recipe for disaster.

I don't know where to go from here or how to provide help to her, she won't listen to what I have to say.. would do anything for her to live a normal life! I sort of feel like the only way forward for her to get some peace in her life is to get some strong anti-psychotic medication but that will then leave her constantly zoned out I assume?

 

[Need4speed]

sounds like youv"e done everything possible..GL man

 

[herbavore]

Medication might be helpful but it is certainly not the only option. I'm in my sixties and I still deal with extreme distraction and impulsivity but I've learned to harmness the good and mitigate the bad in those traits. It sounds like your sister needs hope that she can
1) live with her nature and neurological/psychological leanings
and
2) change both her thoughts and her life to be more at ease

Neither of these happens overnight, with or without medication. Often a sense of hopelessness (Nothing ever works, I always end up at the same place) is what defeats people to the point of suicide. So honesty and encouragement together is the best you can offer. She will have to come up with the hope herself. Is she amenable to counseling? If so, I would suggest something more than simply a place to talk with the clock ticking (though that too can be very helpful). Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness/meditation techniques and other more practical tools may inspire great changes for her.

I can only imagine how terrifying this was for you. I hope that you also get some therapeutic support.

 

[tocooperate]

IME, it's understandable why we turn to things like drugs to make us feel the "missing" things in life, it's also understandable why we turn to them to numb something *out* of our lives.. the grey area between is the hardest to help because often the user doesn't know or can't remember a time where just being *them* worked. there's no doubt or hope that "this" will pass, no frame of reference to pursue happiness..

this is the only thing left that is in your power to change. find her a passion, find her a quick smile, volunteer with her, join a club or classes.. anything as long as she doesn't think your doing this in an intentional therapeutic way.. I don't know how close you two were before this all, but FWIW tell her this experience has made you realize how important she is too YOU, make her feel guilty for also not being *family* for each other in the past.

she can be led out out of a grey area I tthinkb she needs to be tricked into loving just enough to always choose life. Not to make light of the situation but this the basic premise of that movie Inception. gl pm if you need any specific advice.

 

[runninghigh]

It's a tough place to be (for her and the family)...I was like her once. Snapping out of it isn't an option (my opinion, of course)...although plenty of people suggest it. Exercise helped me the most. Everyone is different, but having a person to talk to is definitely helpful too (unless that person is judging)...

Just be there for her.

 

[cj]

The thing that stood out to me is the coming off anti-depressants cold turkey. That may explain the suicidal depression. I won't try to play phychiatrist over the internet but she should seek professional mental health care.

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

The thing that stood out to me is the coming off anti-depressants cold turkey. That may explain the suicidal depression. I won't try to play phychiatrist over the internet but she should seek professional mental health care.

Yes she should see a professional mental health person, good luck to her and you, and your family.

 

[Runtoparadise]

^Yeah.

In summary,-you feel she's manic a lot of the time, needs weed to settle down/sleep.. But then is adding in speed, anti depressants sporadically & suffers anxiety too?

Poor lady sounds like so much is going on! Can't particularly offer advice other then are you close enough to see a mental health professional together? If that'd be possible could be mutually beneficial,- you can help your sister, & she can feel valued & reaffirmed.

Rtp

 

[T. Calderone]

Evidently, your sister didn't get much help after being hospitalized. What happened then, they just sent her home? She could benefit from talking to a therapist. Left to her own devices, she could try this again and might not be so lucky next time.