YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I just got home from visiting with a friend whose spouse committed suicide last week. I've had suicidal thoughts before when I wasn't being treated for depression and anxiety but I've never known someone who killed themselves. I just can't seem to get the whole situation out of my head. I'm very preoccupied with thoughts of everything surrounding his death. How it effects everyone, how he could be in pain without anyone knowing, etc. I guess I don't know what else to say. I just needed to write about it a little.

Hello ucancallmeal!

Yeah, my depression makes me attracted to morbid thoughts and images. It is a natural thing - not a nice thing, but a natural thing if you have some measure of depression. You are not responsible for the images that pop into your head, the same way you are not responsible if a bird flies into your hair. The only thing you can do is shoo the bird away, and lot let it make a nest on top of your head.

All the best to you!