Tell yourself the whole story. (Especially in this.)
Someone close to me told me about a survey they had to fill out, recently. A few of the questions were asking about if and how recently the participants had thoughts about wanting to fall asleep and never wake up. My opinion is that everyone would answer that they have experienced those thoughts at one point or another. As I was thinking about this after the conversation, I wanted to address it further.
I sent an email similar to this (some of it is edited, as it was specific to the person):
When you say (to yourself, on a survey, to other people, to me..) that you want to fall asleep and never wake up, it can feel very true to you. I totally get that.
AND
I want to remind you to tell yourself the whole story.
If you were to fall asleep and never wake up, that means you would be dead.
Your future would be no more.
No more possibility.
No more potential to realize.
No more.
Might it be even more true that you want to go to sleep and wake up somewhere else?
That you want to fall asleep and wake up in a different situation, a different job, with different obligations and so on?
That you want to fall asleep and wake up to the day you get to meet a new family member for the first time?
That you want to fall asleep and wake up to the day that you meet the person that you will fall in love with and marry?
That you want to fall asleep and wake up to the day that you find out you are going to be a mom/dad?
That you want to fall asleep and wake up to the day that......?
When you allow yourself to think that you want to fall asleep and never wake up, have the whole entire conversation with yourself.
I think that having a portion of the conversation can lead you to believing a lie.
Not to mention what it would mean to everyone else if you went to sleep and never woke up.
Which is a really pretty way to say that you died.
If you are having thoughts of wanting to die, please ask yourself if that is really true or if you just want to feel better.
AND..
Please reach out and ask for help.
You are worth it.
You are loved.
I hope that this way of thinking and reasoning will be a help to you and maybe others.
As a high school counselor, I had to have these conversations with teens on a weekly, if not daily basis. It is so important to address this topic head on.
I would ask the teens variations of the “wanting to fall asleep and never wake up” and also follow up with the question, “do you want to die?”.
They are very different things.
If you or someone you love is having thoughts of self harm or suicide, please reach out for help for them and/or for you to help yourself or them.
Here are some resources to save to your phone so that you have them when you need them:
You can call or text “988” to talk to someone.
https://www.crisistextline.org/
Text HOME to 741741 to talk to someone
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK(8255)
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
Dial 988 and press 1
Text 838255
If you want to reach out to me to talk about this post, feel free to email me at hello@shannapyzer.com.
In my original email, I also included the following verses:
12 I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need. 13I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]
Philippians 4:12-13 AMP
11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. 13Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and I will [free you and] gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’
Jeremiah 29:11-14 AMP
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 AMP
