Articles with suicide survivor

Personal Finance Support Group

Hi Everybody! During this whole quarantine, global pandemic situation, I’ve lost a lot of support networks. My DBSA, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, group imploded and left a big vacuum where I once had a great support group. As I was looking around for other support networks and ways to get in touch with people, I was hitting walls. Sure, there are online virtual meetings, but they seem to be with “strangers”, but literal strangers not “Twitter strangers”, lol.

When my DBSA group imploded, a handful of us within that group took it upon ourselves to start a Discord server (i.e. chat room), explained in more detail by the previous Business Insider link. We have been using it since then and it has been great for us to stay in touch, reach out to others, video chat, and more during these times of “no physical contact” or socialization. Last week, I saw someone mention feeling lost and struggling and wanting/needing a place to reach out, and I thought, maybe we, the Personal Finance, PF community could also use a space like that.

Something “off Twitter”, away from judgement, away from politics, and away from the GD trolls that tend to roam there just to tear people down. It seems someone can’t post something as simple as “I’m having a great day today” without being accused of something. It’s ridiculous, but not necessarily a good place to be open and vulnerable about what’s really got you down.

Enter: Discord PF Support Group!

Today I created a Discord server for anyone in the PF Twitter-sphere, or anywhere else that is looking for a place to get some support. It doesn’t have to pertain to mental health. It can be as simple as wanting to celebrate a small win, or just a place to literally shout into the void, where you won’t get torn down, judged, or made to feel worse about whatever it is.

Here is the link to that server: https://discord.gg/MJurm7B

My goal is to make a safe shared space for anyone that wants it. Trolls, bully’s, and in general, assholes will not be tolerated. Neither will offensive language (I may be the worst culprit…), or offensive content. I want people to feel welcome and safe and able to share whatever. Maybe you’re not the most open person and you don’t feel comfortable sharing topics on your blog like I have. My dad’s suicide, is a big one. My previously untreated depression is another, yikes… The fact, I, we, let it go for so long, ultimately led to destroying my marriage, yep, I talk about that on the blog too.

In general, I’m as open and try to be vulnerable and willing to share with others on literally any topic. If I can’t share it, how do I expect people to also want to share, open up, or talk about any of their fears, concerns, and what’s on their mind at the moment?

Easy Access

It’s free to join, you just need to make a “profile” on Discord, and/or download that app. You can stay anonymous and make your username your PF Twitter handle, your name, or whatever you want to be called. Do you connect more with the name, Lothar, Destroyer of Debt, you can make that your name, lol. You can change it as often as you want, have an avatar, or not. It’s literally all up to what you’re willing to put out there.

I’ll add a channel on that server (chat-room) with links to more virtual support outlets, similar to what I did in this post. That way, if you want more support for addiction, or gambling, or whatever ails, you, I’ll hope to have something linked there for you.

That’s it. That’s the big announcement, but I wanted to put this post out here for anyone interested or looking for a space around “fellow like-minded people” to be heard, get some support, and more.

If you’re interested, here’s the link again: https://discord.gg/MJurm7B Hop on over and join. I put a small bio/introduction about myself on there, but don’t feel pressured to do that for yourself.

Thanks and Welcome!

Come one, come all, assholes excluded! If this isn’t your bag, please share for others that may feel like they could get something from this space.

My Dad’s Suicide: 10 Years Later

I’m reposting an edited version of this because I noticed I missed World Suicide Prevention Day yesterday. I was dealing with my own depression and finding someone to talk to. I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety a lot over the years and there have been times that I’ve had suicidal thoughts and ideations. It gets overwhelming. It’s physically, emotionally, and mentally draining and is very hard to convince yourself to reach out when you’re at that point.

If you are feeling depressed and want someone to talk to, reach out to someone close to you and be honest, be open. If you don’t have anyone to reach out to, then call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. If talking isn’t your thing, they have an online chat. If that doesn’t work you can reach me on twitter @coffeesippers. DM me and I will send you my # and we can talk, I can listen, whatever you need. Remember, once you’re gone, there’s no coming back.

My dad committed suicide 10 yrs ago this past July and the sadness never really goes away. Yeah, I’ve “dealt with it”, and those emotions are settled, mostly, not really, who knows? Ten years on and at times it sure as shit still feels like it just happened yesterday. This isn’t really about typical suicide prevention, because I don’t know how to stop it. I’m not a professional therapist and I feel like telling someone to “talk about it” is akin to telling an alcoholic to “just stop drinking…” It’s just not that easy. Not when you’re at that place in your head.

This is how I felt after I found out that my dad committed suicide.

Disclaimer, there’s no PF spin or $ talk today, so feel free to delete and move on if you’re not interested, my feelings won’t be hurt a bit.

Suicide Never Goes Away

With it being Suicide Prevention Day recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about my experiences surrounding that topic. It’s worse than an earworm of a bad/not bad song (Tom’s Diner anyone?) that you hear a small snippet of and sure enough, pretty soon all you keep hearing is the droning melody of all the events that have played out over the past 8 years. Yeah, you’ve dealt with it, and sure, those emotions are settled, but it sure as shit still feels like it just happened yesterday. This isn’t really about suicide prevention, because I don’t know how to stop it, and telling someone to “talk about it” is akin to telling an alcoholic to “just stop drinking…” This is me finally getting this story out to more than just a few close friends.

Disclaimer, there’s no PF spin or $ talk today, so feel free to delete and move on if you’re not interested, my feelings won’t be hurt a bit.