Overcoming Suicidal Thoughts for Teens by Jeremy W. Pettit

Author:Jeremy W. Pettit
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
Published: 2022-07-22T19:39:45+00:00

Identify Your Stress

Before you can manage stress, you must identify it. It’s especially important to identify stress that triggers thoughts of suicide, because that’s the stress you’ll need to manage to stay safe and build a better, more hope-filled future.

We’re going to ask you to reflect on stressors you have experienced recently. Reflecting on stressors can be, well, stressful! It can bring up painful memories and feelings. If you feel stressed or upset as you work through this chapter, take a break to soothe yourself. Use the strategies from chapter 3 that you found most helpful in managing your feelings, like breathing, acceptance, or adopting a different perspective. If thinking about stressors brings up suicidal thoughts, use the plan you developed in chapter 2 to stay safe. If you need to reach out to someone for help, do it!

Although thinking about bad things that have happened can be unpleasant, it’s a necessary step on the path to learning how to manage your stress. That’s because it provides helpful information about where you need to apply the strategies we’ll cover later in this chapter.

You’ll need your journal for this section. Look through the list of examples of stressors that teens commonly experience, and identify any that you have experienced in the last few months. It doesn’t matter when the stressors happened; if they seem relevant to you, write them down. Also write down other stressors you’ve experienced that aren’t listed here. Allow space to later add information after each one.

Did poorly on a test or major assignment

Repeated a grade

Too much homework to complete

Changed schools

Dropped out of school

Got in trouble with a teacher or principal

Got suspended from school

Pressure to perform well

Problems with a peer at school

Death of pet

Death of someone close to you

Serious illness or injury of someone close to you

Serious illness or injury

Family member lost a job

Had to care for siblings

Family struggled to pay the bills

Not enough money to pay for something you needed

No transportation to get to where you needed to go

Eviction

Had to take on extra hours at work

Too many responsibilities to manage

Parents separated or divorced

Parents seriously argued

Serious argument with family member

Serious argument with friend

Serious argument with romantic partner

Got into a physical fight

Friendship ended

Romantic relationship ended

Romantic partner cheated on you

Not enough friends

Lack of a desired romantic partner

Unplanned pregnancy

Parents disappointed in you

Coach or teacher disappointed in you

Friend disappointed in you

Criticized behind your back

Discrimination for your race or ethnicity

Discrimination for your sexual or gender orientation

Someone gossiped or lied about you behind your back

Someone made fun of you

Arrested

Speeding ticket/traffic citation

Car accident

Moved to a new place

Theft

Assaulted by someone

Natural disaster

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