Suicide is a major issue in our country. Many look at it as a cowardly act but don’t realize the depths of despair associated with it. When one is in a whirlpool of hopelessness, anxiety, and loneliness, the world feels cold and uncaring even though you may be surrounded by love. You are so blinded in the darkness of no hope that you cannot see the sunshine of caring around you.
When I was 17, I attempted suicide and was saved by a friend. I can only call it divine intervention. Since then, I finished college, became a nurse, and have been privileged to help innumerable people in my private and professional life. I am glad to be alive and be useful to the world! The suicide I planned was not spur of the moment but was well planned and thought out. All throughout the planning, I never felt that I could reach out for help. Here is my story. I hope it helps anyone contemplating suicide and dissuades them from trying it as their life is precious and irreplaceable.
I was glad to see a close relative.
She reminded me of my mother who had died two years earlier when I was 15. My dad died three years before mom and I was an orphan. I was lucky though, being the youngest of five sisters and five brothers.
Now in the 11th grade, I had taken the option of studying in college than school. College was so much fun and I even won the election to be the 11th-grade representative. Along with the fun came responsibility, and I was holding $500 of college money that the principal (dean) had entrusted me to hold for one month. I kept it safely in my purse at home. After chitchatting with my relative, I went to my friend’s to study for an upcoming exam. When I came back, the money was missing from my purse at home.
I panicked and looked everywhere but could not find it. Finally, on a whim, I peeked into my relative’s purse and there it was! I was horrified but frightened to question her. I didn’t know then, but later on found out that she liked to steal money. By the time I picked up my courage to ask her about the money, she left for her hometown three hours away. I was sick to my stomach and didn’t know what to do.
Being 17 years of age, I felt at that time I could not confide in anyone even though I was very close to my family. I didn’t think they would believe that about this relative. I barely had money to cover my bus fare to and from college. I did not know what to do, and the anxiety and the fear worsened every day. Since it was a local college, the principal knew my family and I did not want my relative’s name to be dragged through the mud. Very few people visited us after my parents died and this relative was one of them. I was out of options, except one! I could kill myself! I absolutely didn’t want to but did not have any other solution to the problem. I never felt so alone in my life. This was what my 17-year-old self came up with.
Façade
I was very good at keeping up a facade. No one guessed my inner turmoil as I had my happy face on. I ate, drank, spoke freely to my family who did not have a clue. All the while, my mind was in a whirlpool of anger, sadness, and despair. I knew my family would be incredibly hurt that I had never shared and would reel from the next death in the family. We were just beginning to piece our lives together after our parents' death. The last thing they needed was shame over missing money! Paying my fees was a struggle and there was no extra money. I did not know what else to do.
Planning
Type of Death
Looking back, I laugh at myself and my immaturity, but then, I was dead serious about finding a way to die.
I went through many different scenarios to die. Initially I thought, I could shoot myself but dad’s air gun that he used to hunt rabbits was rusty and out of bullets! I could barely lift it up and aim, let alone turn it on myself! The next scenario was to slit my throat or stab myself with a kitchen knife, but just thinking of the pain put me off! I thought about jumping from a local bridge over a fast-flowing river but was afraid of heights and drowning. I was not a swimmer! There was a nearby bridge over train tracks but knowing my luck and clumsiness, I would probably miss the train or break my legs! Ah! How about rat poison? Painful death with spasms. How about hanging myself with a rope? I couldn’t tie a decent knot, let alone one to hang myself. Finally, I hit on the perfect solution, painless, and with a good chance that I could pull it off without major mishaps! I would overdose on drugs. Seemed doable to me.
Supplies
I really lucked out on this as my brother was an asthmatic and also suffered from seizures and had tons of meds around with refills. I took around a cocktail of 50 pills and kept it ready for Suicide Day(S-Day).
Place
This one took a lot of thinking. I lived in a house with 6 rooms and my sister was always home. So home was not an option. College classrooms were always full of students and so were the college grounds. I was a pretty straight arrow and did not have any “hangouts” except going to church being raised in a catholic home. An idea crept into my head. Why not end it all in church? I was hoping Mother Mary would put in a good word for me!
There was a church just opposite my college, and I actually did a stakeout for a week! I discovered that from 2-3 pm, there was rarely anyone there. Since I am a big believer in the blessed Mother Mary, I decided to die in front of her statue. It was behind an enormous pillar and not easily visible as this was a huge cathedral church. The huge college library had a dusty corner with two chairs far inside. I would sit there, take the pills, and then walk across to the church at 2 pm.
Time
I decided that I would sleep over my decision, pray throughout the weekend for guidance, and if nothing changed, would kill myself on Monday at 2 pm.
Last Weekend On Earth
That passed in the blur. I remember crying a lot in my room, stifling my sobs and washing my eyes with cold water. My sister Tessa noticed that my mood was off and teased me gently about my teenage blues! I mumbled that I was cramping and in pain. She bought the excuse and got me hot chocolate! I remember weeping, my salty tears falling into the hot milk! When the weekend was done, nothing had changed. S-Day was on.
S-Day
I woke up with a pit in my stomach. I barely made it through breakfast without bursting into tears. I grabbed my sister, hugged her hard, and ran out of the house, tears streaming down my face. I took one long last look at my home. I felt a heavy stone on my chest as I walked to college. I remember sitting in class, my mind numb, in a fog. By the fourth class, I got out and went to the library. The pills lay in a neat packet and I had 1 plastic cup and a bottle of water in my bag. I found the corner table in the far end of the library that nobody ventured into and sat on one of the chairs, staring at the clock on the wall. It was 1:30 pm. The next 20 minutes were agonizing as I imagined the reaction of my family, the agony, hurt, and betrayal they would go through because of me. By 1:50 pm, I pulled out the pills and spread them on a newspaper. Some of the pills I had to tear out of a silver packet. By 1:55 pm, I poured the water into the glass. As I picked up the glass, a hand touched my shoulder and I whirled around to look. It was my friend Sheraine. We were casual friends and walked to and from college daily.
“Annie! I have been looking all over for you! What are you doing here?”
Sheraine suddenly noticed my puffy eyes and red nose and tearstained face.
“What happened? Why are you crying?”
Before I could open my mouth to reply, her eyes fell on the mound of pills on the newspaper and the glass of water.
“What are you doing? Have you gone crazy? Are you trying to kill yourself?”, she asked horrified.
I mutely nodded my head.
She grabbed the chair next to me and sat down with a thud.
She grabbed the newspaper full of pills, crumpled it, and put it in her bag.
“Did you take any of the pills?”
“No”, I whispered, the tears falling freely.
She pushed the glass of water towards me.
“Drink!”
I drowned the water in one gulp.
“Now, tell me! What’s going on?”
The story tumbled out of my lips between sobs.
Sheraine sat quietly, not interrupting, holding one of my hands.
When I was done, She grabbed a clean handkerchief out of her bag and gave it to me.
“Blow”, she said kindly.
I wiped my face and blew my nose.
“Feeling better after sharing?”
“A bit!”
“Come with me” she grabbed my hands and stood me up.
“Where are we going?”
“Let’s get out of here!” she said dragging me along.
We got out of the gloomy library and walked down the corridor into the bright sunlight. Halfway down she pulled me into the ladies' restroom.
“Wash your face”.
As I washed my face, she went to the bathroom and flushed down the pills in the toilet. She washed her hands and grabbed my hands again.
"Let’s go. Come with me. I have an idea!”
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see!”
As we left the college and walked down the hill, a little weight had come off my chest. She took me to her house nearby and to her room.
She was from a rich family and she took out $500 and gave it to me.
“I can’t accept this. I have no way of repaying you back ever Sheraine”.
“You don’t have to. Help someone else in need and consider it repaid!”, she smiled.
“Let’s go back to college and give it back to the dean. Don’t hold on it any longer.”
We walked back to college. The weight on my chest was gone and I felt relieved. We gave the money back to the dean. I gave Sheraine a shy hug and whispered, “Thank you for saving my life!”
"You are welcome”, she smiled and we went home as classes were done for the day. On the way, I asked her how she knew to find me and why she was looking for me. She told me that all day she kept hearing a voice in her head asking her to find me as it was important. The voice was insistent and she kept searching for me in the college till she remembered that I loved sitting in the library reading books during my lunch hour and free period. She searched the big library for 20 minutes before she found me. My family never knew what had happened. I came home at my usual time. I was so happy when I saw my family. I never confronted my relative.
Later Life
I left after 12th grade and joined a BSN program in Nursing far away from this college. I never looked back and resolved to help any person in need. Today 32 years later, I can confidently say that I repaid Sheraine every time I helped someone in need. I have 3 folders of patient letters thanking me in my house. I feel, I was given a second lease in life and I am not going to blow it.
Why is Suicide Not an Option
When I look back at my life as an adult, I realized that I chose an option where I didn’t have to share or expose myself to shame or ridicule. The reality was that if I had shared with my family, they would have believed me, got me the money, and confronted our relative. If I had reached out to my friends or a teacher, they might have suggested an alternative. In order to not let the insidious thought of suicide creep into your mind, one has to be strong-willed, willing to share, and not be afraid to ask for help and trust. A strong spiritual base will come in handy.
When I look at the lives I have been able to touch, mold, and change in my personal and professional life, I am forever grateful for the divine intervention that sent Sheraine searching for me. She did all the right things and got me back on track.
Looking For Sheraine
Over the years, I have always searched for her every time I came home back to my country but could never find her. Last year, I went to her house but there was no house standing. Instead, there was a new construction, a huge skyscraper. All the old houses had been pulled down. I remain forever grateful in my heart for a second chance in life and pray for Sheraine every day of my life!
Reader
If you who are reading this have or are contemplating suicide, please know that there is help out there if you are willing to step outside your comfort zone and fight to live. You will always have stressors in life more unfair than fair. We, nurses, know that for a fact. Suicide is not a solution. You can check out the attached reference list to help yourself, a loved one, or even a stranger reaching out for a helping hand. Many employers have Employee Assistance Programs. If you are acutely suicidal, call 911 or emergency services and get admitted for inpatient treatment. You can call the National Suicide Prevention hotline which is 24/7 at 800-273-8255.
Know that YOU are precious, your life irreplaceable, your gifts unique and you are loved by the creator who fashioned you in His own image and likeness!
What YOU can give the world, no one else can as you are uniquely and wonderfully made!
References
