Elizabeth’s parents sent her to therapy, after she attempted suicide. She lied to get out of it. Now, she’s still struggling with suicidal thoughts. She wants to know, where does she go from here? 

She Didn't Give Therapy a Chance

ELIZABETH (SHREVEPORT, LA) QUESTION:

Dawson: Elizabeth, what’s going on with you? I hear you attempted suicide 3 years ago, after your aunt died. Is that true?  

Elizabeth (Shreveport, LA): Yes, sir. My aunt had been into a lot of drugs, and she was murdered 3 years ago. I don’t think I could handle the fact of knowing that someone could do something like that to someone. It made me really depressed, and I tried killing myself. I seriously would have succeeded if my sister hadn’t walked in as I was bleeding to death on the floor.  

Dawson: Wow, there is a God, and He does love you! 

Elizabeth: After that, my mom and dad got worried. They sent me to a counselor and a therapist. I think it helped a bit, but I didn’t like it.  It made me feel weird and psychotic, so I lied my way out of it. 

Dawson: That’s too bad. What do you want? What are you going to do? What’s the bottom line here? Are you going to kill yourself? 

Elizabeth: I don’t know. 

Dawson: You of all people have suffered immense double pain. Often when people commit suicide, they really don’t take into account, because of their own pain, what it’s going to do to the ones left behind. But you know, the ones left behind are devastated.  

Also, you lied out of your therapy. So, before you give suicide a try…you haven’t been back into therapy, you keep most of your feelings inside…is it any wonder that you are going back into depression again? I suppose you can let yourself slip back into that situation…think of all the tragedy…the children you could have had, would have had, husband you would have had, could have had. It’s not only a bad idea, but also a deadly idea.  

Elizabeth: So, what do I do?  

DAWSON MCALLISTER'S ANSWER:

Dawson: Go back to your parents and tell them the truth. This time you’re going to go into therapy with an open mind and an open heart, and not just try to figure out ways to get out of it.  

If you or a friend need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, for free confidential, 24/7 help. For a list of crisis centers around the world and additional help, please visit the suicide prevention resource page. 

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