More on Mental Health

I've seen this quote floating around Facebook recently. I think people mean well by it and are trying to spread hope and positivity, but that isn't how I read it at all. So this is what has been floating around:

You know, I have been doing REALLY well. I have had quite a few people that are close to me mention how much happier I have been recently. The ECT is helping a lot and I have felt happier the last few weeks than I ever remember being. But I read this little thing posted by some well meaning friends, and I fell pretty low. 

So there are 2 things that come to my mind when I read this:

1) If I am suicidal, it is because of the choices I am making with my life. 

Not necessarily. It is a lot more complicated than that. It is because of the messed up chemicals in my brain. This quote makes it seem like all I need to do is make better decisions. I'm not suicidal because I sit around smoking and drinking my life away or because I have decided to just sit and mope all day. You know, this morning I said my prayers, read my scriptures, went to the temple, then we went to a science museum and read books watching the sunset on the beach. Yet here I am, feeling suicidal. What do you want me to do? How should I have lived my life differently today so that my life could "take a different path" and so I wouldn't feel this way? What do you want from me?

2) If I am suicidal, it is because my life isn't worth living. 

This quote makes it seem like it would make sense for someone to not want to live anymore because of the way they were living and the choices they were making. EVERY person is a child of God and because of that fact alone, EVERY life is worth living. 

Please be careful sharing quotes about very complicated topics. Maybe it was true for this person that they just needed to make some better decisions. I don't know because I don't know that person. But it can't be generalized to all people that have felt suicidal. This well-meaning quote, meant to bring optimism, brought on guilt, shame, and intense suicidal ideation for me. Please just be careful sharing things you may not totally understand. And if you are feeling anxious, depressed, or suicidal, feel free to reach out to me. I know what it's like and I would love to join your fight against this monster. 

And here are some pictures from my day that could have "take[n] a different path and direction."