
Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.

Katie12345
I have a pretty serious question and would like other peoples advice if at all possible. I have had suicidal thoughts since January. Although I am not totally sure, my doctors and I believe that it is because of my severe OCD and anxiety which has led me to become depress because all I do all day is worry and perform compulsions; it also has not helped that I started college last year and am living in a dorm (i have a single). This summer was really bad for some reason and when I went back to school it got even worse. I finally told a friend and went to see a counselor at school, even though I already was seeing a psychologist and psychiatrist, I just needed someone to tell about my suicide. To make a long story short, I ended up in the hospital for a week which led my doc to see that it was more OCD than suicide, which I guess is good. It has been two weeks since I have been home (I am currently living at home since I go to school only 20 minutes away) and I am freaking out about going back to school because I still feel a little suicidal. Has anyone else ever been suicidal? I really need someone to talk to about this serious matter and I am scared to tell anyone else because I am afraid that I will end up in the hospital. Please, i need some help. (I want to make clear that I am just having thoughts, I have no plan of killing myself).
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I expect many of us have been there and done that and come through it, so let us be here to help you thorugh it.
In 2001 I read " Brain Lock" by Jeffrey Schwartz, M.D. and implemented "The four R's" : Relabel, Reattribute, Refocus, Revalue".
That got rid of my irrational obsessions. So now I'm just a germophobe (for rational reasons!) who opens public doors with my dirty (left) hand and grabs public restroom door handles with a paper towel!
With the 4 Rs from the book you literally "re-wire" your brain to work correctly.
*Recognize & Relabel: Recognize that you are obsessing over a certain thought over and over and recognize it to be (relabel it) as an OCD thought thought.
*Reattribute: OCD is responsible for the thought- OCD is a miswiring of the brain- it is not your fault. Don't blame yourself for having these irrational thoughts, like they are your fault or something.
It does not come from you but is created by the OCD. "It's not me, it's my OCD"! Reattribute the thought to coming from your OCD.
*Refocus: Concentrate on a different behavior- go do something different for at least 15 minutes!
*Revalue(devalue): After distracting yourself from the thought by doing something else for 15 minutes and the obsession has gone away, notice that deciding to not give in the the OCD thought had no bad consequences- only good.
Each time you use the 4 Rs on an OCD thought you will get better and better. Even if you don't complete all 4 steps- even if you only complete one or two steps and then fail- it is okay because just RECOGNIZING the thought as an OCD thought objectifies OCD and makes you aware of what is going on. It is like taking a break(even if just for a second or minute) from being a slave to OCD and recognizing OCD for what it is- A chemical issue in the brain that CAN be changed by using the 4 Rs. It is like observing yourself from outside.
I don't know the right thing to tell someone considering suicide, but I can tell you that, from this point in time, your life will only get better. I promise.
Taking a break from school is not a bad thing. Especially if you need it. You know, everyone gets overwhelmed and burned out. Everyone.