Bipolar Support Group

You know, I just read the other day that suicide is a common cause of death for those who suffer with bipolar disorder. Scary.

My cousin is bipolar and we are pretty close, so maybe there is something I can do to help. I want to keep an eye on him as he has been in the hospital for a while now, got home just a month ago.

Are there any specific signs that will tell me that suicide is a danger?

Dear 21bob,

I have always appreciated having someone in my life to whom I can tell things--someone whom I can trust with my darkest secrets. In my case, I have two such people--my best friend and sponsor and my therapist. I often have told my therapist when I had suicidal thoughts, and by "telling on myself" I diffused (weakened) any obsession I had over actually DOING it.

I can say that I never acted on the mere thought, but that my attempts and more often my plans to kill myself resulted when the thought became an obsession with me.

Thanks for that post. Maybe others can help you more than I can, so keep coming back. Okay?

I often had suicidal thoughts and acted out on them, I no longer act out because I have a son and he keeps me centered. If you're looking for physical signs, look for scratches, I was partial to knives and I have lots of wounds from where I have stabbed myself or carved into my skin, I once tried to overdose on pain pills but my husband took them away from me. I only got suicidal when i felt lonely and argued with someone i cared about. Sometimes I would say that I no longer had any desire to live, those are some of things I did, sometimes i did them to get attention. Everyone is different he could express himself in different ways through writings, drawings, etc. I hope I was able to help you a little.