HOMOEOPATHY FOR SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR

Suicide is not a mental illness in itself, but a serious potential consequence of many mental disorders, particularly major depression.

Suicide is a type of deliberate self –harm ( DSH ) and is defined as a human act of self-intentioned and self- inflicted cessation ( death ). It ends with a fatal out come. DSH is an act of intentionally injuring oneself, irrespective of the actual outcome.

An attempted suicide is an unsuccessful suicidal act with a non fatal outcome. It is believed that 2-10 % of all persons who attempt suicide, eventually complete suicide in the next 10 days.

A suicide gesture , on the other hand, is an attempted suicide were the person performing the action never intends to die by the act. However some of these persons may accidently die during the act. Attempted suicide is more common in women, while completed suicide is 2-4 times common in men.

Causes

Some of the common causes of suicide include :

Psychiatric disorders

Psychatric disorders are a major cause of suicide; for example

·         Depression

·         Alcoholism and drug dependence

·         Schizophrenia

·         Genetic factors ( a concordance rate of 18 % in monozygotic twins ) and biochemical factors ( low levels of  5-HIAA ) are important in some cases of suicide.

Physical disorders

Patient with incurable or painful physical disorders such as cancer and AIDS, often commit suicide.

Psychological factors

Psychological factors are a very important cause of suicide. Some of the examples include :

·         Failure in examination

·         Love affairs

·         Dowry difficulties

·         Marital difficulties

·         Illegitimate pregnancy

·         Family problems

·         Loss of a loved object by death or otherwise

·         Financial difficulties

·         Social isolation

Symptoms

Suicide warning signs or suicidal thoughts include:

·         Talking about suicide — for example, making statements such as "I'm going to kill myself," "I wish I were dead" or "I wish I hadn't been born"

·         Getting the means to take your own life, such as buying a gun or stockpiling pills

·         Withdrawing from social contact and wanting to be left alone

·         Having mood swings, such as being emotionally high one day and deeply discouraged the next

·         Being preoccupied with death, dying or violence

·         Feeling trapped or hopeless about a situation

·         Increasing use of alcohol or drugs

·         Changing normal routine, including eating or sleeping patterns

·         Doing risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving recklessly

·         Giving away belongings or getting affairs in order when there's no other logical explanation for doing this

·         Saying goodbye to people as if they won't be seen again

·         Developing personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated, particularly when experiencing some of the warning signs listed above

Risk factors

Although attempted suicide is more frequent for women, men are more likely than women to complete suicide because they typically use more-lethal methods, such as a firearm.

You may be at risk of suicide if you:

·         Attempted suicide before

·         Feel hopeless, worthless, agitated, socially isolated or lonely

·         Experience a stressful life event, such as the loss of a loved one, military service, a breakup, or financial or legal problems

·         Have a substance abuse problem — alcohol and drug abuse can worsen thoughts of suicide and make you feel reckless or impulsive enough to act on your thoughts

·         Have suicidal thoughts and have access to firearms in your home

·         Have an underlying psychiatric disorder, such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or bipolar disorder

·         Have a family history of mental disorders, substance abuse, suicide, or violence, including physical or sexual abuse

·         Have a medical condition that can be linked to depression and suicidal thinking, such as chronic disease, chronic pain or terminal illness

·         Are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender with an unsupportive family or in a hostile environment

Complications

Suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide take an emotional toll. For instance, you may be so consumed by suicidal thoughts that you can't function in your daily life. And while many attempted suicides are impulsive acts during a moment of crisis, they can leave you with permanent serious or severe injuries, such as organ failure or brain damage.

For those left behind after a suicide — people known as survivors of suicide — grief, anger, depression and guilt are common.

Prevention

To help keep yourself from feeling suicidal:

·         Get the treatment you need. If you don't treat the underlying cause, your suicidal thoughts are likely to return. You may feel embarrassed to seek treatment for mental health problems, but getting the right treatment for depression, substance misuse or another underlying problem will make you feel better about life — and help keep you safe.

·         Establish your support network. It may be hard to talk about suicidal feelings, and your friends and family may not fully understand why you feel the way you do. Reach out anyway, and make sure the people who care about you know what's going on and are there when you need them. You may also want to get help from your place of worship, support groups or other community resources. Feeling connected and supported can help reduce suicide risk.

·         Remember, suicidal feelings are temporary. If you feel hopeless or that life's not worth living anymore, remember that treatment can help you regain your perspective — and life will get better. Take one step at a time and don't act impulsively.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance  at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When suicidal behavior   is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms.

AURUM METALLICUM - Aurum met. is one of the best remedies for depression, which leads to suicide.  Aurummetallicum patients  are very serious people, strongly focused on work and achievement, who become depressed if they feel they have failed in some way. Nervous breakdown. Thinks of committing suicide but fears death greatly. Disgusted of life and thoughts. Profound despondency.Peevish.Rapid and constant questioning without waiting for answers. Oversensitive to noise. Discouragement, self – reproach, humiliation and anger can lead to feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. The person may feel worse at night with nightmares or insomnia.

NATRUM SULPHURICUM—Suicidal impulses , has to use self control to prevent shooting himself. Mental troubles arising from injury to head or ill effects of falls. Depression worse music or subdued light, sitting near a stained glass window. Natrum sulph. patients are sensitive and suspicious. Dislikes to speak or to be spoken to.

ALUMINA-Suicidal tendency or impulses when seeing a knife or blood. Alumina patients are sad , apprehensive, wants to get away, everything is viewed in   sad light.

NUX VOMICA –Suicidal tendencies in alcoholics. Very irritable. Nervous and excitable. Suicidal , homicidal impulses. Fear of knives, lest she should kill herself or others. Impulses to shoot himself with a gun or jumping from a height.

SEPIA- Wants to commit suicide. Nobody knows what she will do next. Sepia patients are irritable , angry and sensitive, easily offended and miserable. Indifference to those love ones, aversion to occupation and family.

SILICEA- Mood changes due to hormonal imbalance. Loss of self confidence, dreads failures. Fixed ideas. Sad, hopeless. Disgust for life, whishes to drown herself. Cries when telling her symptoms. Disgust of life. Anxious towards evening. Bearing down sensation in pelvic region.

THUJA OCCIDENTALIS—Dullness of mind. Fixed ideas. Thinks his blood is dirty or poisoned. Emotional sensitiveness, music makes weeping and trembling. Mental depression after childbirth.  Over-excited, she is tempted to kill herself, till she bleeds.