Searching For A Way Out:
Stopping Gay
Suicides
By: M.J. Rahahleh
When the world feels darkened, and all doors are shut in your face, suicide seems like the sanest option, the ultimate salvation; the desire to break away from this world that grows stronger. Mixed feelings of hatred, anger, frustration… all accumulate, causing a state of anarchy inside, guiding you down the path of self-destruction. Gay people often struggle more than others, for they have their own battle(s) to fight, and so suicide has tremendously spread amongst the gay community. Homosexual youth attempt suicide at a higher rate than heterosexual teens do, because they feel rejected, different and outcast from the society. Not all gay teens commit suicide, they just a higher risk of doing it. If you feel suicidal just because you're rejected of your orientation, don't worry, you're not alone.
Researchers document that 1/3 of all teenagers that commit suicide are gay.
Why do gay people commit suicide? We can go on and on searching for reasons, but the most common (and most spread) reason is the drama of coming out, which we all designate as "the battle of all battles", rejection is usually the response to coming out, some might adjust or compromise, or even straighten-up just to regain the love and trust of their family and friends, others might not feel obliged to change their orientation just because someone doesn't "approve" of it. And because of this feeling, a person tends to be more self-folded, isolated and withdrawn. Symptoms such as serious mood changes (i.e. feeling happy and hopeful and one day shifts into feelings of depression), withdrawing from the surrounding atmosphere, being unable to concentrate, talk of suicide, dramatic changes in personal appearance or expressions of excessive guilt. This growing feeling of guilt feeds on the constant feeling of committing sinful acts, which brings us to the reason why most families reject the homosexual nature: Religious belief; we all know that Islam, Christianity and Judaism - the monotheist religions incriminate homosexuality, leading a ruthless crusade against homosexuality and homosexual individuals. And those people, spoon-fed those beliefs, believe that their way of dealing with homosexuality (rejecting it) is the righteous way; this determined rejection makes those feeling of self hatred and isolation more profound. Many LGBT; (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals) teens who feel suicide is their only option have inevitably been bullied to death. . . .New forms of bullying – online and in public forums like MySpace and Facebook – have meant that there are no safe peer-group places for LGBT teens who are feeling threatened.
There are other reasons for such feelings, such as: ending a long term relationship or being rejected by someone who you strongly feel for might lead to that self isolation. Exodus from home (after coming out), failing at school/university, feeling of alienation and being different because of your orientation are supporting factors as well. Suicidal acts may be such as self destructive behavior, like reckless driving, or increased drug and alcohol abuse, preoccupation with death, bequeathal of handing over favorite possessions to others or stating a desire to get even with significant others "to make them sorry"..
The righteous solution to such acts might sound as if it’s the magical word, "a psychiatrist". Well, it's not. Psychiatrists usually make it even worse, pretending that they care, but when you really think about it, they really don't, they just want the money you pay for your sessions, and they usually team up with your family (who rejected you in the first place) against you, a parent might load your psychiatrist with words to tell you, in order to fulfill your parents' desire, not to guide you back to the right path to live a long happy healthy life. Instead of getting a shrink, let everything out to someone that actually cares about you. If you have a suicidal friend, be sure to let them know that you're concerned, and that you understand what they're going through. Channeling such emotions in the right direction will improve the state of mind of the suicidal person. As cheesy as it sounds, there's actually a "light in the end of the tunnel", and no, it's not the light that a spirit has to cross over! It's the light of a new sun, shinning over the world, giving hope and warmth, and a new chance for billions of people to struggle to make their own lives. Don't waste your life, make your own present, make your own future, and choose the right thing to do.
Our former July 08 cover boy Yanal, had talked about going through suicidal phase, make sure to read about how he got through it >>>
Editor’s Note: (A Clear Up); Speaking about physiatrists and shrinks, we’re not saying they’re all bad and careless, but it doesn’t deny there are few who don’t (make sure to read next month article on finding the best physiatrist for your condition and to look for). In the article (Up), religion came up, and by it we’re not talking about it negatively or showing any kind of discrimination, our writer is showing the truth on how it could be one of the factors.