Treating depression, ending suicidal thoughts

Kinston Free Press (NC) - 8/14/2014

Aug. 14--Jane, whose name has been changed, got drunk, stole her mother's car and planned to drive off a cliff.

But she smoked some marijuana, which calmed her down, and she drove back home.

She was just 15 years old.

Now 50, Jane grew up in Lenoir County amid physical and verbal abuse, which led to alcohol and drug abuse starting at the age of 11.

By age 15, she drank alcohol every day and was a heavy drug user.

Jane's second suicide attempt was at the age of 20 when she overdosed on alcohol and drugs.

"I thought it would be better for (others) that I not be here," she said, "because I wouldn't be a burden. I couldn't see a way out."

Her roommate found her unconscious and called for help.

But why did Jane feel so hopeless?

"I couldn't live using (drugs and alcohol) anymore," she said, "but I couldn't live without it."

Comedian Robin Williams committed suicide this week. He also fought substance abuse and severe depression.

In Jane's case, everyone around her knew she had a problem, except her.

"I thought I was too young to be an alcoholic," she said.

After the overdose, she went through detox for three weeks. It was not long enough to quit the bad habits for good or to rid the negative and suicidal thoughts.

"It's not easy to know if somebody's having those thoughts because I never told anybody," Jane said. "... I didn't want anyone to know because I wanted out."

Elizabeth Saylors, a psychologist with ENC Psychological Services in Kinston, says to look for changes in people, such as their eating, sleeping and behavioral habits that would indicate they are suffering from depression.

"Are they they not enjoying things they used to enjoy? Are they withdrawing from others?" she said. "Did they used to perform great at work and now they're letting deadlines pass?"

Day-to-day functioning, not getting up out of bed in the morning, problems with work relationships and grades dropping are also signs.

"An any kind of threat of suicide or anything like that should always be taken seriously," Saylors said.

Depression is treatable, and professional help is available, she said.

It can be hereditary or can be brought about through circumstances in life, as in Jane's home life.

Depression can affect anyone, but is more likely to affect women. But depression resulting in suicide is more likely to happen to men.

"The rate of successful suicides, completed suicides ... that do result in death," Saylors said, "the highest demographic for that: Caucasian males over the age of 49. And Robin Williams was 63."

The stigma on depression often prevents people from seeking help, she said. Willams' suicide shows that even wealthy and seemingly happy people can suffer from depression.

"You never know," Saylors said. "Behind that mask of humor and how social he was, that there was somebody inside struggling with both depression and addiction."

About one-third of depression cases are also involved in substance abuse, she said. It could be the addiction is used to cope with the depression, but addiction could also lead to depression. Addiction can also be hereditary, she said.

Hiding depression is common, even when a person is seeking help from a professional.

Gifted children and adults can be highly sensitive and, in particular to what is "fair and just," Saylors said. That may lead to frustration and depression, she added.

"You can call a mental health office for children or adults or talk to your primary doctor," she said.

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people with negative thoughts change the way they think, Saylors said.

"I like to tell people that seeking mental health treatment is no different from seeking treatment for diabetes or high blood pressure," she said.

The latter stages of life, which begin around age 60, are a time when people look back at and analyze their life. Williams was in that stage of life.

"You never know what goes on in somebody's mind," she said. "And we dont' know, was he satisfied? Was he not satisfied? But he's at that age where he would step back and take a look."

Jane made several attempts over the years to quit her addiction. But it wasn't until 1994 that she finally quit for good.

Through counseling, she came to see the many professionals who got her in touch with her own feelings and let her know how valuable a person she is.

Jane encourages others to get help from a professional, not to get discouraged about how long it might take to get well and realize suicide is not the answer.

"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem," Jane said. "But there is help out there."

Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.

By the numbers:

One in three suicides are related to substance abuse

There are about 40,000 suicides a year in the U.S., an average of more than 100 each day

Men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women

Women are two times more likely to be depressed than men

About 7 percent of the population meets the criteria for major depression

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

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