Suicide And Love Languages

Alright, I don’t know about the rest of the population but I need this suicide thing to stop.

If only it were that easy. I’ve spent the weekend consumed in this topic and I  know I’ve already said that it spreads and that everyone is worth more than that, and so on. However, it was not until this weekend that I realized how big a threat it is to me personally.

I Just did a quick Google search of the word love and the definition I found first was: an intense of deep feeling of affection. If that could sum up how much the person I could have lost means to me, I’d be in better shape.

As one who has been to that dark place before, I never found the idea of ending my life that scary but it’s been a long time since someone who means so very much to me was in danger similarly.

Jodi Picoult wrote, “and he suddenly knew that if she killed herself, he would die. Maybe not immediately, maybe not with the same blinding rush of pain, but it would happen. You couldn't live for very long without a heart,” and that is the truth of it. Nothing is as scary as realizing that the people, who make up and hold together your heart, could go; and not just go as in opting out of your life but go as in letting themselves fall from a building.

I’ve written about how it’s not ok to be dependant on one person for your happiness or stability, and that remains true but most people, by nature, have a support network of fundamental people around them.

            -Imagine Dragons, On Top Of The World

I’m only just realizing/ remembering the importance of letting the people you love know how much they mean.

When a friend is suicidal it’s hard to know what to do or how to help. I’m sure as hell not the expert but if I’ve learned anything it’s that love is actually the answer (yes, I’m aware of how clique that sounds).  Honestly though, what everyone really needs is to be loved and to be able to love/ care for someone else.

The place where I see people get in trouble most is when they think this means they have to be in a romantic relationship. I am 110% guilty of this and every single time someone gets hurt, badly. There are lots of people I love, people I’m in-friendship-love with but do not have romantic feelings for nor do they have those feelings for me; but that doesn’t mean we don’t love each other.

Everyone receives and gives love differently, it may seem silly but I do believe in the 5 love languages (this is the link). These are the 5:

       1.     Physical touch/ affection

       2.     Words of affirmation

       3.     Acts of service

       4.     Gifts

       5.     Quality time

I would recommend (especially if you’re worried that a friend may be in danger of hurting his or herself) that you learn how the people you care for, receive love best. That is the best way to help someone who may be in a rough place mentally.