How I Saved Myself From Suicide

I hope it can help you.

By D'Vaughn McCrae — Written on Mar 23, 2021

Photo: KieferPix / Shutterstock

For years, the idea of killing myself had niggled at the back of my mind.

It started as a simple thought — just being aware that people do that, but I never thought I would seriously consider something so extreme.

But as I got older, was more irregular with my antidepressants, and impending adulthood reared its ugly head, it became an actual desire.

So here's what I did that saved my life:

In a moment of clarity, I sought out therapy.

I finally took action, as soon as my mind was clear enough to do so. And thank goodness for that.

I bawled my eyes out to a therapist.

It all just came spilling out. I didn’t expect or mean for it to, but it just happened.

After I opened up about one thing, it all just came pouring out.

Like word vomit. Pretty sure that the therapist was pretty taken aback by how much and how quickly I cried, but she accepted it.

If you can't find a therapist, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline. Seriously. Call: 1-800-273-8255

I told someone.

I needed someone to hold me accountable. This was a huge part of what got me through.

Somehow just admitting that this had become not only a thought but a desire was a relief.

I wasn’t alone. I didn’t have to hide it anymore. I could breathe.

I took a day off.

It was the first “mental day” I had ever taken. And it was needed.

I drove to the beach early in the morning and just sat and watched the waves for a long time.

It was nice to go there when it was nearly empty. I treated myself to some well-made fancy healthy food, window shopped (and shopped), and pretty much did whatever I felt like for the day.

And it was amazing.

I took my antidepressants (again).

Not gonna lie, pretty sure that at least part of the reason I was having such huge problems with this round of depression was because of how inconsistent I had been with them.

I think every person that needs antidepressants knows the cycle. In depression: I’m horrible, nothing will ever be good again.

With antidepressants: Oh, I feel fine! I’m totally fine! So fine there’s no way I don’t need antidepressants anymore!

And so the cycle goes.

I found a place I could calm down.

I realized I needed to find a place where I could be alone, undisturbed, and calm.

I didn’t have one of those places, and when I talked to my therapist about wanting to find a place like this, she mentioned the Self Realization Fellowship. I went there and fell in love.

I meditated. Almost religiously.

I treated the fellowship almost like a church. I drove there every Sunday morning, found my special spot, and meditated in silence until I was satisfied.

I had a profound realization.

The meditation was just peaceful at first, and at some point, my mind really started working, and it seemed to be epiphany after epiphany.

I felt so enlightened on the deepest of levels, and I got my hope back.