There are moments in life when pain becomes so overwhelming that the future appears completely dark. Financial struggles, broken relationships, family problems, disappointment, loneliness, failure, shame or emotional exhaustion can make a person feel as though there is no way out.
But even in the darkest moments, suicide is not the answer. Taking one’s own life may appear to be an escape from unbearable pain, but it permanently ends the possibility of things getting better. Problems that feel impossible today can change with time, support, patience and the right intervention.
Life does not always move according to plan. People lose jobs, businesses collapse, relationships end, dreams are delayed and mistakes are made. Sometimes, people face problems they never imagined they would have to endure. Yet none of these circumstances should convince someone that their life has lost its value.
One of the most dangerous things about a crisis is that it can make a temporary situation feel permanent. A person may believe that because they cannot see a solution today, no solution exists at all. That is often the pain speaking—not reality.
Asking for help is not weakness. When life becomes unbearable, the answer should be to reach out. Talk to a trusted friend, family member, religious leader, counsellor, mental-health professional or anyone who can provide a listening ear.
Sometimes, simply telling someone, “I am not okay,” can be the beginning of finding a way forward.
We must also learn to take other people’s pain seriously. Instead of telling someone to “be strong” or dismissing their struggles, we should listen without judgment. A person who appears happy may be fighting a battle that nobody knows about.
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There is no shame in admitting that you are struggling. There is no shame in seeking professional help. And there is no shame in starting again.
Your current situation is not the entire story of your life. The debt can be addressed. The failed business can be rebuilt. The broken relationship can be mourned and eventually overcome. The embarrassment can fade. The lost opportunity may be replaced by another. Even when circumstances cannot be changed, support can help a person find a way to live through them.
So, before making an irreversible decision during a painful moment, pause. Step away from anything you could use to hurt yourself. Find another person and tell them exactly what you are experiencing. Give yourself time.
Tomorrow may not solve everything, but tomorrow gives you another opportunity to find a solution.
Never allow a temporary crisis to make a permanent decision for you. Your life is worth fighting for, and asking for help can be the first step toward finding hope again.