Growth and Self-Improvement

As a psychotherapist, I have seen people with many different personal challenges. I have sat and listened to every kind of problem you can imagine. Growth and self-improvement are not always easy for people to achieve when they have rigid personalities, have been abused, or have low self-esteem.
Recently, I had the opportunity to counsel a teenager. His situation was losing his girlfriend and feeling so hopeless that he wanted to commit suicide. His thought process was, “If I can’t have her, life is pointless and I want to kill myself!” The girlfriend was older and she left home to attend college thirty miles away. He was still in high school waiting to graduate and hoping to hold on to his girlfriend. Since becoming a college student she didn’t write or call as he had expected. He said, “She seems to always be gone and I don’t like it.” He found himself becoming jealous and at last, he had realized that he was losing her. So here he was with his back against the wall, jealous and anxious. The only solution he could think of was suicide. It was quick and final and the helpless feeling would be gone.
Luckily, his mother was aware of the situation and was very concerned about her son, so she contacted me. Fortunately, he and I were able to we work through his crisis. We talked through the many options available to him. His one way thinking was leading him down the path to suicide. His young age had yet to let him see the many options available. Once we started talking and he saw the other avenues available, his thinking became more open and he became excited about the prospects before him. Sometimes family members are too close to the situation and outside counseling will be beneficial.
Through many years of counseling I have witnessed people explore a variety of alternatives that they were unaware of. When times get tough, don’t give up. Explore wise counsel and you may be surprised at the positive outcome. If you or someone you know who is or may be suicidal, don’t wait to reach out for help for that person. Contact an outreach program or a therapist for help as soon as possible.