Before You End Your Life, Stop And Think Just For Another Moment

By Okechukwu Okugo

In today's world, everyone is afflicted. It doesn't matter one's background, social status, educational attainment or whatsoever great accomplishment one has made in this world.

Each and everyone of us; every single face you encounter in the street, in the TV, in the books, magazines etc., all can recount one or two things that can stir up a negative or bitter feelings in their hearts.

People's problems are diverse: emotional, psychological, financial, spiritual; in fact there are uncountable number of traumatic experiences.

A lot of people are undergoing pains as a result of various kinds of sicknesses, family problems: problems with the spouse or the children and even both. There are other numerous kinds of relationship travails.
Others are in a deep financial quagmire as a result of job loss, unemployment, effects of natural disasters or even war.

In the midst of all these distresses, many have committed suicide, or going the extent of terminating their lives alongside that of someone else or others.

Life is sweet. But why give up?

Studies and researches have shown that many have killed themselves not simply because of the pains they are passing through or undergoing, but because they are seeing no hope for the future.

They think there is no more reason to live. Because they see no evidence that life will get any better, they would now think they simply cannot  carry on.

In other hand, it can be said people commit suicide when what they are facing, surpass their limit of endurance. Then it would seem that they are invariably saying:

"I can't take this anymore."

But before you end it all, just pause and think for another moment.

The following points might be helpful:

1. Remember you are not alone in this school of challenges and pains. Since everyone in life is battling with one thing or the other, then everyone in life needs to cope with something.

Who in this life can raise up his or her hand and say, he or she is without any form of challenges or problems?

It does not matter one's social status: whether a king or queen, princes or princesses, billionaires, commoners and paupers etc.

Since everyone is coping with something, and many successfully, there is definitely a way you, yourself can cope with yours.

Just go a step further, you will figure out the way you can cope.

The way is out there, already waiting for you to find and act on it.

2. Remember you are not a burden. No matter what the situation may be, never you get disappointed with yourself and think you have become a burden to the society or to your loved ones. Those who truly love you cannot easily give up on you.

Never you attune your mind to start seeing yourself as a burden that needed to be shed off. Thereby committing suicide to end it all.

You are definitely precious and most valued by someone. Your absence would cause your loved ones more pains than anything else.

The anguish and trauma suffered today by loved ones who had lost someone in suicide can tell more to show that killing oneself is not a solution. Rather it creates a more complicated painful situation.

Neither are you a burden to the society. The world is very large to contain you; and there is more you can contribute when you live.

3. Remember there are genuine reasons to live. Begin to meditate on the past glorious and happy moments. Ponder strongly on the numerous past positive experiences.

Remember past goals you had set and actualized. The joy they had brought to you and how it had brightened up your life.

Ponder on any future goal(s) you had set, and had not yet actualized and rekindle the hope why you wanted to achieve that and the joy it would bring you to succeed.

Right there and then give yourself another chance to pursue worthwhile things ahead.

Never allow your mind dwell on negative things or on those feelings that bring you pains.

For the moment, shut yourself off from all sorts of bad and horrendous news, from the media, books, entertainment industries etc.

Never fuel your mind with negative things. Try as much as you can to be bright and positive and you would see there are, genuinely, reasons to live.

4. Remember nothing lasts forever. Not even your pains and the travails you are passing through right now. Time is a healer. If you can hang on there, and allow time to pass, you would definitely find out that every negative thing would always change in the end to bring you a form of promotion, to move you to the next level.

There is always light at the end of the dark tunnel. After rain, comes shine, no matter what. No matter how long it takes. Nothing is permanent. Situation changes. If you are patient enough, you would see brighter days.

5. Remember, there is no problem without a solution. In fact, solutions have always existed before the problems. But sometimes, the solution might simply be to endure.

It has always been said that what cannot be cured must be endured.

In endurance, one elusive thing is that in most difficult situations, some may start thinking, it is not possible to endure.

But when you seek the solution, you would be amazed to know, it is always easier than one may have thought, to cope with the problems and still maintain your genuine sense of humor and good cheer.

 No matter how unique you may think your problem is, remember that someone, somewhere had experienced a similar, if not a more difficult situation than yours, and had gone through it successfully.

Thinking: how have others solved the problem? Is definitely a helpful way to cope.

6. Be realistic in life. If good days can come your way, bad days can also equally come. So prepare yourself to face any kind of situation in life.

Note that one of the things you need to work very hard to maintain in this life is your sense of humor and good cheer.
No matter the situation you face, don't lose it. Therein lies your happiness.

7. Seek help. Problem shared is problem half solved. Someone out there truly cares for you.



Do not let them pass through the pains, trauma and anguish of losing you to suicide. If you truly love them, hang on there for them because they truly need you.

When you are depressed seek help.

Open your mouth and share your problem.

Since you now know that no matter what you are facing, someone might have been through your exact situation or something similar, talking to someone with experience is helpful.

When you notice you have developed the tendency of inflicting grievous harm upon yourself: by cutting yourself up, burning etc., seek medical help. It is one of the signs that one is becoming capable of suicide.

Also a range of mental health conditions need urgent attention before it can lead one to become or act suicidal.
There are therapists, professionals etc., who can offer practical help and turn things around.

And please when someone comes to you in distress, lend him a listening ear and try to be as helpful as you can because you might be helping save someone from dying by suicide.

In case, one has noticed, he or she is having suicidal thoughts; or may think he or she is prone to committing suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, if you are in the United States at +1 800-273-8255. It is available 24 hrs, 7 days a week, offering their services in English Language and Spanish.
You can also visit their website at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

In all, never forget, life is precious and there are many reasons to live.