How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying To Kill Me

I’m sharing this because I know how heavy the silence can feel when you’re struggling with self-harm or thoughts of suicide. For a long time, I carried that weight, but I want you to know that there is a way through it.
​Through a combination of working with my counselor, seeing my psychiatrist, and finding the right balance with my medication, I began to heal. But a major turning point for me was reading a specific book that changed how I handled my darkest moments.
​Tools for the Journey
​The most life-changing thing I learned was how to create a Safety and Crisis Plan. My doctors had not mentioned it, but the book the book did.
​Visibility: I printed out several copies of my plan and placed them all around my house. Having them right there to look at when I felt overwhelmed helped me choose safety.
​A New Perspective on Support: I also started calling my local crisis line when the people in my life were busy or unavailable to chat when I needed there support the most.
​The "Mental Health Line": A huge shift for me was when I stopped thinking of it as a "crisis line" and started viewing it as a "mental health line." Reframing it that way made me feel so much more comfortable calling for support before things became unmanageable. It really helped me feel less alone.
​I wish someone had shared these tools with me years ago. If you are struggling right now, please know that you don't have to do this alone. Creating a plan and reaching out for support are powerful acts of self-love.
​ how I stayed alive when my brain was trying to kill me was the resource that guided me, and I hope it—or the idea of a safety plan—can be a light for you, too. Please stay. You are worth the effort it takes to heal. ❤️‍🩹 I believe in you. Don't give up.

Last updated on:2026-02-12T12:32:05+05:30