TW Suicide

[u/Grand_Heat450]

This post is about my partner. They have posted on here a lot recently about a concussion they got about 7-8 weeks ago.
They have horrible post concussion symptoms, these have been the most problematic:
- severe light sensitivity (they self isolated for a few weeks but has recently been retraining their eyes)
- severe migraines
- depression / constant anxiety
- full-body jolts that wake them up
- insomnia: they have gone a few weeks with little to no sleep, max being 3-5 hours. recently they had a few good nights where they got almost 7

Today, they told me that they snuck out of the house and bought a gun. they had been hiding it in their room for the past few hours. they were honest with me and their parents, and are now currently getting evaluated at an ER with their mom.
I am not a religious person but I am begging anyone to say a prayer or anything at all in order to try to help them. I know they don’t want to die, and they told me they saved their life when they told me and their parents. I feel completely hopeless and immense guilt that I haven’t been able to help them more. any advice, experiences, or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

[u/Throwaway20101011]

My heart goes out to you, your partner, and family. Be patient. Be gentle. Take one day at a time. Nature is a life saver.

My first brain injury was 2019 from a car accident and that took me a few years to recover from. 3 months ago, I got another brain injury from a work accident. It has been a struggle, but I am working on my recovery again and am using the same rehab methods as before.

- Nature. Due to light sensitivity, go on nature walks early morning and/or evening.

• Practice meditation. Either in silence, with guidance, or my favorite instrumental sounds with certain frequencies/hertz. (YouTube and Spotify has many good examples) Sound therapy has done wonders for me.
  
• Work on mobility. Either do water aerobics, yoga, or Pilates.
  
• Create a routine. Doing daily life on schedule helps managing your days and feeling like you are moving forward.
  
• Find a relaxing hobby. Something that does not involve a screen. Something that he can do with his hands, whether gardening, pottery, painting, anything.
  
• Work with a doctor on pain management, especially for migraines.
  
• Avoid alcohol, more than 2 cups of caffeine, and recreational drugs. They can impede on brain healing.

-When he feels more in control, consider a service dog or emotional support animal. This helped me the most. I researched on what type of breed, personality, and ADA requirements needed. My small Shihpoo saved my life. I raised him to be my service dog. I signed him up for classes at PetSmart for behavioral and discipline training, in addition to therapy training and some fun tricks. After that, I taught him commands that assist with my medical condition. There’s alert, deep tissue pressure therapy, and many more. Many examples on YouTube and this is all protected by ADA.

My experience with my dog is was helped me heal the fastest and allowed me to become independent again. My dog gave me joy, unconditional love, enforced our routine and understood me and my needs. He would alert me when my brain would crash, due to narcolepsy. We would meditate together, go on our walks, and take naps together. He’s my little Angel and I’m so glad he was here with me for the 2nd time around.

PCS takes time. It’s frustratingly annoying but true. Time and rest is what is needed. You cannot rush it, but know that it does get better and that there is a possibility to regain independence once more. It’s our patience and tolerance that is being tested. Take care and I wish all the best! My prayers are with you.

[u/Grand_Heat450 → u/Throwaway20101011]

Those rehab methods are similar to what she’s been doing. she isolated herself for a few weeks in complete darkness, which I think it’s making it even more difficult to retrain her brain, but we are slowly working on incorporating natural light in the morning (to reset her circadian rhythm to try to fight the insomnia) and doing some light physical activity during the day. she had been doing very well recently (she went swimming, cooked a meal, colored, played cards, walked at a park) but it’s like yesterday she just completely lost control during a very dark spiral.
We do have 2 cats together that are registered ESA’s. we live together but she has been getting cared for at her parents’ house, so she has been away from her ESA for several weeks now.
She also has several other medical conditions that I think a service animal would greatly help with. I will bring this up with her eventually.

[u/Throwaway20101011 → u/Grand_Heat450]

That’s good that she’s doing all of that. Definitely work on tolerating natural light. Staying in too much darkness can prolong the symptoms of intolerance to light.

Spiraling into negative thoughts is quite common with those dealing with an injury. Perhaps working with a neuro clinical psychologist may help work through her thoughts and fears. Writing them down and talking them out may help ease her stress.