15 year old, Female, VA

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
My best guy friend in the whole entire world is thinking about suicide. I dont kno if hes serious or not. Shud i bring his parents into this ? Or wait until i know for sure if he means it ?

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Dear G_____,
Thank you for emailing TEEN LINE. That must be so frightening knowing that your friend has been having these thoughts and confusing about what to do to help. Even if you don’t know how seriously your friend is considering suicide it’s so important that you be safe and tell someone about it. If you’re worried about telling his parents then could you possibly talk to a school counselor or another adult that you trust? If you’re concerned that friend might get mad at you I completely understand but it’s so much better to have him mad at you than to risk something worse happening. I’d really like you to give these numbers to your friend to call, the first is the National Suicide Hotline, it’s open 24 hours a day and the number is 877-727-4747. The second is our number here at TEEN LINE, we’re open 6 to 10 pm pst and our number is 310-855-4673. I really hope that things get better with your friend and it’s wonderful that he has someone like you there to support him.
Best wishes,

a TEEN LINE teen

15 year old, Female, US

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
Am i just being a regular teenager or do i need help? Everything is just tooo overwhelming these days. Life is being so repetitive and routine, school-sleep-eat-movies-school etc..I cant take it anymore, i have super strict parents so trying to do something spontaneous or rebellious is out of the question if i want to have a home. I cry practically every time i come back from somewhere with my friends just because it was soooo..normal, like deja vu. Sometimes i want to overdose on some pills, cut myself’, run away, anything!!, just to make my life more interesting. Am i just being a regular teenager or is there something i can do about it. im sick of feeling so lost and drowned in my thoughts. Im 15 and a girl if it makes any difference

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hi M____,
I’m so glad that you contacted us here at TEEN LINE. It sounds like you’re feeling frustrated because your life is feeling like a routine, as well as anxious about your parents limiting your options. It also sounds like you’re feeling depressed and lost by the sadness you’re feeling in your life. It can be hard to deal with depression, but it can be even harder to deal with it alone. I’m wondering if there’s anyone you could talk to about your situation, such as a trusted teacher, relative, family friend, or school counselor. Sometimes talking to someone can help you put your situation into perspective, as well as help you weigh your options and come to terms with your emotions. You mentioned wanting to do things to make your life more interesting. It seems like you really want a relief from the overwhelm you’ve been feeling lately. Self-harming might bring temporary relief, but it doesn’t solve the problem and can evolve into a very dangerous habit. http://self-injury.net/ would be a good website to visit if you’re thinking about self-harming, as well as alternatives you can use. You also mentioned feeling like you want to overdose. Sometimes, when life gets too boring and overwhelming, it can be hard to carry on. I just want to let you know that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It seems to me that you really want to feel more alive and get through your depression, but suicide only takes away your life and makes it impossible to better. I want to give you a number that might help if you’re ever feeling smothered by thoughts of suicide. The number is to the Suicide Prevention Hotline, a hotline set up to help prevent suicides around the country. The number is (877)-727-4747. In your email, you talk about how you really want to feel alive and that you’re sick of the dejavu you’ve been feeling. I’m wondering if there’s anything you did before that made you feel happy. Sometimes when you’re feeling in a better mood, it may be easier to do some activities you used to do, or even pick up some new hobbies. I really hope things get better for you. If you want to talk to a fellow teen some more about your situation, TEEN LINE is open seven days a week from 6 to 10 PM PST. Our number is (310) 855-4673. We also have a live chat option on our website: www.teenlineonline.org. We are here to listen.

a TEEN LINE teen

17 year old, Female, PA

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
Hi my name is N____ and I lost a good friend of mine in April of this year and I have been dealing with it without any help but now with me soon starting college in July 2011 I’m finding the stress of starting college and the dreams and thoughts that I have about losing my friend have driven me into a little bit of insanity what should I do so that when I start getting ready for college so I don’t get overwhelmed with the pain of thinking about my dead friend

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hi, I’m glad that you contacted us here at TEEN LINE. Understandably so, losing your friend has greatly affected you, and I give you my condolences. It sounds like starting college has also been very stressful to you, and this is a very common experience. Grief and loss is a very hard thing to deal with, and it can become unbearably hard if you have to go through it alone. I am wondering if you have someone to talk to, such as a trusted friend, relative, or school counselor. Sometimes talking to someone can help get those emotions out and can keep the stress of dealing with the situation from getting worse. It might also help to do something relaxing, such as exercising, drawing, taking a walk, writing, or listening to music. Often times, doing something relaxing and/or expressive can help manage your emotions and keep them from bubbling up later. This might also ease the overwhelm you’re feeling about college. If you ever want to talk more about this situation, TEEN LINE is open seven days a week from 6 to 10 PM PST. Our number is (310)-855-4673. We are here to listen. a TEEN LINE teen

a TEEN LINE listener

14 year old, Female

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
I think I have depression, all my friends seem to get tired of me being quiet and sad a lot. So my friends are just ignoring all my signs because there incinsiderate btchs I really just want to end it all and I dont know how to stop this feeling.

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hey E____, Thanks for reaching out to us here at TEEN LINE. It was really brave of you. Dealing with depression without support would be difficult for anyone to go through alone. I’m sorry to hear that your friends aren’t noticing your signs the way you want them to as well. I’m really worried about your safety though because you mentioned that you wanted to “end it all”. At TEEN LINE we say that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. As low as you’re feeling right now, there are people who want to help and support you through everything you’re going through. Whether it be relative, trusted adult, school counselor or therapist, things can change and talking to someone is a great way to release all of your emotions and not feel so alone. I’m wondering whether you’ve considered telling your friends about how you’re really feeling as well. Sometimes people don’t notice things the way we want them to, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t care. A great place to call if your suicidal thoughts ever become too overwhelming is The Suicide Prevention Hotline, open 24hrs a day at 877-727-4747. They are there to talk to you about how your feeling and offer any support that they can give to you. TEEN LINE’s here for you as well between 6 and 10 PM PST at 310-855-4673 so please don’t ever hesitate to call if you need another teen to talk to.

a TEEN LINE teen

16 year old, Female, OH

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
Hey Teen Line, I had a few guys i kinda knew die in a car crash back on October 3, 2010. Since then I’ve been so sad I can’t even do anything without thinking about them. I talked to their dad before Christmas and it was so sad to see him again. How do I get over this or even put it back in my mind that only a few things make me remember them

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hi, thanks for reaching out to us at TEEN LINE. I’m so sorry for your loss. I want you to know that it’s really difficult to get over the death of a friend or loved one, and it is normal for you to be feeling sad right now. There are many stages of grief that we pass through until we come to acceptance of the loss. Often times we see somebody that triggers the memory of that person, and all the sad feelings come back to us, and it is really hard. It can often be helpful to talk to someone you trust about your feelings and write in a journal as a constructive way to express these emotions. If you want to talk to someone about your feelings, we at TEEN LINE, are available at (310) 855-4673 between the hours of 6-10 PM PST to support you. a TEEN LINE teen.

a TEEN LINE listener

15 year old, Female, CA

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
I have a friend she been one of my closest friends since middle school we went to different high schools after we graduated a few weeks after we started school she would cal me saying that she felt like no one cared how it would be better if she were dead i would listen to her so she would have someone to talk to eventually it got so bad i told her she should talk to her mom or a teacher i even suggested teenline but she wont talk to anyone but me shes one of my closest friends and i dont want her to hurt herself but i dont know what to do

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hey, thank you so much for contacting TEEN LINE. It sounds like you’re friend is in a really dangerous spot right now, and it’s great that you’re so actively seeking out help for her. She’s lucky to have you as a friend and as someone who can support her through a tough time. If she doesn’t want to talk to the sources you mentioned, she might want to consider calling the Suicide Prevention Hotline, and their number is 877-727-4747. Also, she could be struggling with depression, and if so, another option is a school counselor, or a therapist. If she’s still adamant about not talking to someone, you could think about talking to her mom by yourself. If you’re friend is in danger, it’s important that she get help, and even though she might think that her trust was betrayed, the most important thing is keeping her safe. If you want to talk more about this, you can call us at TEEN LINE from 6-10 pm at 800-852-8336.

a TEEN LINE listener

17 year old, Female, IN

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
Here I am, dealing with similar issues that I first approached you guys about. My cutting issue has increased. It seems that every little thing that upsets me sparks the need to cut or even sparks the suicidal thoughts. My ex-boyfriend told me today that I would never make it through college, that I would never get accepted all because I told him I planned on leaving our city for college. His talking down to me constantly reminds me of the emotional abuse I suffered from my step-father when I was younger. Those words will never leave my mind. And my parents feel that I won’t succeed as well, telling me that they expect me back in their house within two hours of leaving because I won’t make it out in the real world. Their words hurt. It tears down my self-esteem. It makes me feel like I have no reason to even attempt to try. I just.. I want to end the pain and the cutting seems to be my answer. Sometimes, I just want to take it to the next level..

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hi,
Thank you so much for reaching out to use here at TEEN LINE! It takes a lot of courage to reach out and ask for help. I am really worried about you and sad to hear that your cutting has increased. It sounds like you are being put under a lot of pressure by people like your ex-boyfriend and your parents to succeed in the “real world”. It is understandable that the constant put downs from your ex and your parents would be harming your self-esteem. It is evident that you are in a lot of pain and are looking for a way to relieve it. I am wondering if you have ever had the urge to cut and not gone through with it…if so, what helped you to not cut? Was there something that you did that helped you? Some other coping skills you might find useful when you want to cut are ripping paper, going for a walk/run, talking to a friend, screaming into a pillow, holding an ice cube until it melts, playing a musical instrument, or playing with a pet. A good website for you to visit might be www.self-injury.net which provides support to those who self-injure. There are a variety of resources on the site, including blogs where you can talk to others who can relate to what you are going through. You also mentioned that you have had suicidal thoughts and at the end of your e-mail you said sometimes you want to just take it to the “next level”. I am really concerned about your safety and I want you to know that although things may seem really hopeless and overwhelming right now, they CAN get better. I think it would be really good for you to call the Suicide Prevention Hotline, which is open 24 hours a day, at (877) 727-4747. You can also always call TEEN LINE from 6-10pm (PST) at (310) 855-4673 and talk to one of our teens. We would love to hear from you! You can also live chat with one of our teens during the same hours at www.teenlineonline.org.

a TEEN LINE listener

16 year old, Female, CA

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
my dad died last ear, y mom is stressed about about work and shes divorcing my step-dad. i take care of my little brothers almost everyday, all i ever hear in my house is yelling and fighting. my mom and i have a really bad relationship, so i have nooone to talk to now that my daddy is gone, i feel like im no good and sometimes i think of killing myself, maybe that would be the best solution out of this.

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hi thank you for contacting us at TEEN LINE. I imagine that it must have been really difficult to deal with your Dad’s death, and overwhelming to live with the fighting that has been going on between your mom and your step dad. It sounds like you don’t have anyone that you feel comfortable talking to, which can feel very lonely and isolating. Also, with so much going on, it sounds like you’ve had to take on a big responsibility with your brothers, which can lead to a lot of stress. Finding someone to talk to, whether it be a relative, a close friend, a trusted adult, or a school counselor, could be really helpful in getting a support system, and in allowing you to find a way in releasing your stress. It could also be really helpful to focus more on other things in your life, whether it be school, or some type of activity or hobby that you enjoy. You said that you’ve had thoughts of killing yourself, but I want to let you know that although you are going through a really tough time, there are other people that can help, and give you the type of support that you need to get through this. If you ever do have suicidal thoughts, please call the suicide prevention hot line, which is open 24 hours a day, and whose number is 877-727-4747. I strongly encourage you to call or chat with us at TEEN LINE too. Our number is 1-800-852-8336, and we are open every day from 6-10 PM PST.

a TEEN LINE listener