[DanBC]

Suicidal thinking is always something you need to see a good doctor for. A woman finding a small hard lump in the breast or a man finding a small hard lump on a testicle would see a doctor right away. I know you say you can't afford it but you need to talk to a doctor before you say you can't afford it.

Anxiety and depression respond well to cognitive behaviour therapy. Ideally this is done with an experienced qualified registered therapist but it's possible to do it yourself by book or website.

"Mind over Mood" is a good, recommended, book. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0898621283/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=...

A websearch for the English "books on prescription" scheme will return curated lists of good books.

"Mood Gym" is a recommended website. https://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome

But it is most important that you see a doctor.

[an_tie_hero]

Sorry, I don't live in Silicon Valley where everyone has a six figure salary and the solution for feeling bad is to see a doctor. So many of the reasons why I don't stem from money issues, but also time issues (I'll probably never get days off, vacation time, etc. at my current gig, and that eats up 11-13 hours per day including travel because of the bus system here).

[DanBC]

You asked for advice. Seeking medical attention for a medical condition is good advice. What you do with that advice is up to you. You're free to ignore that advice. But you shouldn't dismiss it for bogus reasons; just be honest and say that you don't want to see a doctor.

[an_tie_hero]

I'm sorry you think the undisclosed circumstances of my life are bogus and that I am a dishonest person. From a throwaway account to hide my identity, there's no possible defense I can mount against an accusation of dishonesty. But my circumstances aren't as simple as "do I want to see a doctor? [y/n]"

[igravious]

I know you're in a bad place at the moment so you may find it a little hard to get some perspective on some of the advice you're being given.

Let's say, for argument's sake, that one of the underlying factors with you is neurochemical or at any rate neurological. This isn't an unwarranted assumption because we know that the hopelessness that you feel is in your mind (I don't mean imagined, I mean that these are mental states) and we know the mind is the brain. Your circumstances (money-related, time-related) notwithstanding it seems like really really good advice to go see someone who does brain-stuff, either a doctor or a counsellor.

DanBC is _not_ saying that the undisclosed circumstances of your life are bogus - he is saying that using the (undisclosed) circumstances of your life as excuses or _reasons_ for not seeking professional help is bogus. And without sounding harsh, I'd have to agree. I'm sure there are at least some kind of charitable organisations out your way that'll see you free of charge (and if these conflict with your hours of work and you can't possibly take a day off) then there are 24-hour (toll-free) helplines, websites, what have you.

If you really feel that you are in a hopeless situation and you're contemplating an irreversible act then don't you owe it to yourself to thoroughly investigate every option?

There are many times that I didn't and many years later I now wish I had; could have spared me a lot of suffering and pain.

[quailman]

I'm not suicial now, but I have seen doctors about this in the past.

I was suicidal because I felt like my life had no control. The way this has was treated is to have me committed, where I have to spend the little energy I have convincing people I'm normal and sane so they'll let me go, and I will regain the control of being at least capable in theory to take my life. I come out of it much worse than how I came in.

I would love a good doctor, or even an understanding person to talk to. It's easy to snap your fingers and prescribe that, but for some people it feels hopeless to realize you may never get it.

It's called a downward spiral for a reason. One of my life goals, if I can get to it, would be to dismantle the terrible mental health infrastructure of the Western world and replace it with science and compassion.

[DanBC]

Good job of scaring someone away from getting actual medical advice rather than the fucking bullshit being spewed in this thread.