Choosing to Live contains stories about people who tried to commit suicide, told in their own words, based on the author’s interviews with them. Each story serves as a source of encouragement and speaks with a clear voice to all those who struggle with suicide to assure them that they are not alone. Choosing to Live is a must-read for individuals with suicidal feelings and for their relatives and friends who have suffered with them. Caregivers will gain new insights into the mental anguish that taunts individuals who battle the inner turmoil of facing each new day. The author believes that people crave to tell the story of their lives, even if it involves wanting to die. The names of the people involved have been changed, including identifying details, to preserve anonymity. Specific topics include: rejection, overwhelming stress, bullying, painful memories, teenage stresses, ups and downs, parental abuse, depression and anxiety, breakup of a significant relationship, lack of support, shame and addiction, dysfunctional relationships, and suicide of a parent. Choosing to Live provides a voice to those who have attempted suicide. It will serve as a valuable resource for psychiatrists, social workers, crisis counselors, clergy, medical practitioners, social welfare personnel, human service workers, and primary care providers. Contents: Foreword by David T. George, M.D. Introduction 1. REJECTION Harmony: “I Am a Mistake” 2. OVERWHELMING STRESS Aleema: Raped, Sick, Fired Drake: Alone in the Woods Garrett: College Pressure, Gender Identity 3. BULLIED Orlando: Raped by Classmates Luke: Taunted and Everything Else Hannah: Teased and Beat Up 4. NOT GOOD ENOUGH Cara: Lost Identity Dakota: Working on Self-Esteem 5. PAINFUL MEMORIES Nolan: Haunted by the Death of a Child in War Penny: A Slow Death Louise: Trying Life in a Different Way 6. TEENAGE STRESSES Pixie: Black Cloud of the Family Nathan: “No, You Are Not Depressed!” Rose: An Inner Strength 7. UPS AND DOWNS Randy: Crashing Again and Again Eva: In and Out of Hospitals 8. A STRANGE IMPULSE Emilee: Eight Years Old 9. PARENTAL ABUSE Robyn:?Like a Pack of Hyenas Catherine:?Looking for a Normal Life 10. DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY Bryan: Lonely and Miserable Aaron: Dreading Every Little Thing 11. BREAKUP OF A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP Theresa: “I Deserved to Die” Mark: Losing Everyone 12. WANTING TO DIE, WANTING TO LOVE Logan: Ambivalence 13. LACK OF SUPPORT William: Estranged from Family Marissa:?Feeling Abandoned 14. SHAME AND ADDICTION Joseph: Using Drugs and Alcohol to Escape Shame 15. A DYSFUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP Dese’Rae: Feeling Trapped 16. SUICIDE OF A PARENT Anne: Searching for Herself 17. MEDICAL CONDITIONS Kyle: Brain Injury Edward: Emotional Disability Olivia: Winter Gloom 18. IN HOSPICE AND DYING ANYWAY Margarita: “Why Should I Keep Living” 19. FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE: TWELVE NEW VOICES 20. “WHEN I?WAS SUICIDAL”: TWENTY-ONE RESPONSES 21. HOW TO DEAL WITH SOMEONE WHO IS SUICIDAL Resources
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