Suicidal Ideations

What are Suicidal Ideations?

Quite plainly, suicidal ideations refer to mulling ending one’s own life. Many people suffering from various mental illnesses like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, etc. can have recurring suicidal ideations that can lead to self-harm, or actual suicide. Suicide is a culmination of complex physical, mental, genetic, and environmental factors that can weigh down a person; it often strikes individuals and families in the midst of socio-economic calamities accompanied by shame and loss.

While many people who experience suicidal thoughts do not attempt it, some actually do. It is important to recognize certain signs indicating a person may be having suicidal ideations.

  • Feeling or appearing trapped and hopeless about a situation
  • Increased use of abusive substances
  • Having severe mood swings
  • Withdrawing from family and friends and preferring to be left alone
  • Engaging in risky and self-destructive activities and behaviors
  • Giving away assets or getting affairs in order without any obvious reason
  • Having an abnormal preoccupation with violence, death or suicide
  • Getting means that can take life such as guns, knives, medications, etc.
  • Saying goodbye to others
Suicide is a preventable death

Feeling suicidal does not mean you are weak, crazy, or flawed or you have any character defect. It only means that you are experiencing pain more than you can cope with at a given moment. The pain seems unbearable, overwhelming, and permanent during that phase but with support and time, you can overcome this pain and the suicidal thoughts will eventually pass.

Treating suicidal ideations can be complicated. Certain medications have been linked to causing or worsening suicidal ideations in the patients. Alternative methods of treatment considered to mitigate risk of suicide include: 

 

  • Antidepressant, anti-anxiety, antipsychotic medications under strict observation
  • Psychotherapies
  • Hospitalization
  • Outpatient treatment
  • Healthy lifestyle modifications
  • Ketamine therapy
Ketamine is reaching out

Ketamine therapy holds promise for people experiencing and getting treatment for suicidal ideation but aren’t seeing much improvement. According to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, ketamine helps ease suicidal thoughts in people with depression much faster than any other treatment modality – within hours, in fact.

It is highly effective in low doses. A single adjunctive ketamine treatment may remain effective for up to six (6) weeks. Ketamine therapy actually addresses various other mental health conditions and can be especially critical, literally life-saving for suicidal ideation. Patients who have undergone ketamine infusion therapy have reported rapid cessation of suicidal ideation along with a significant reduction in depression and anxiety – conditions that usually coexist.

If you or a loved one are still suffering after trying traditional methods of treatment, Ketamine can be a compelling option.

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Get in touch for a comprehensive evaluation to see if Ketamine treatments are right for you.

Dr. Mendiola is Ventura's trusted hometown doctor, caring for its residents and neighboring counties’ since 2000.

He completed his psychiatry residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, his advanced TMS Fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, and is dual-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the National Board of Medical Examiners.

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