StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
In the research paper “Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms?” the author tries to understand why teens or individuals resort to suicidal thoughts. Many psychologists have made efforts to establish and identify some elements leading to suicidal thoughts…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER95.8% of users find it useful
Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms"

Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms? Introduction and Thesis Statement In spite of suicide being a leading ground of death among the teens in United States and globally, there is hardly substantial evidence to substantiate why teens or individuals resort to suicide thoughts. However, many psychologists have made efforts to establish and identify some elements leading to suicidal thoughts. One of the most striking feature or cause of suicidal thoughts has emerged to be stress. Stress can be caused by any undesirable factor within an environment of an individual. It is apparent that high level of stress exerted on a person can lead to suicidal thoughts. The authenticity of this statement will be established in the proceeding arguments below. This is with the aim of drawing the attention of different psychologists to identify ways of addressing this subject with the main intention of reducing cases of suicides or suicidal thoughts. Stressful Situations Leading To Suicidal Thoughts According to Carlson and Heth, stress can be defined as an unfavorable condition that can have an influence on an individual’s mind and physical welfare (527). Nevertheless it has been a difficult experience to state precisely what defines stress that is, whether stress is a process, a cause or an effect that connects physical well being and mental status. Humans are complicated creatures to understand at times and therefore in terms of defining stress among humans it might include both visible factors and invisible factors. Stress build-up has been known to give humans suicidal thoughts. This is not a new concept in the modern world, but it began long time ago during the lifetime of Jesus for those who read the bible. When Judah, a disciple of Jesus; committed suicide after betraying his master. What drove him to develop such thoughts? In answering this question, there are various factors that can trigger someone to have suicidal thoughts at any given moment. Theories have emerged in connection to suicide thoughts and occurrences among the humans. The most striking theory is the newer theory concerning suicide by a famous American psychologist Thomas Joiner. In his theory, he has outlined three major factors that can trigger a person to resort to suicide. These include; a mindset of a person that he/she is alone in the surrounding and there is hardly anyone who has concern or cares about them. In fact, this is normally a mistaken perception. Another factor concerns a person’s feeling that he/she is ‘a parasite’ to other people. These types of individuals have no other thoughts, apart from suicidal thoughts. Lastly, the American Psychologist pointed out the factor of not fearing any form of pain or death. Individuals of these kinds of thoughts can do anything to terminate their life. Joiner’s last factor in connection to fearlessness of any form of pain and death has been proven to be the greatest risk to suicidal thoughts. The theory makes arguments that lack of fear to any type of pain and self-injury may be developed with time in an individual, which may describe the solid connection between the numerous self-impairment incidences and suicide. Persons who are frequently susceptible to anguish and others pain may adopt this form of fearlessness with time. Perhaps this might be the explanation behind the high cases of suicides among occupations connected to suicide exposure like doctors, nurses and soldiers. Research has established that young people below the age of 25 years have slightly less risk of suicide or suicide symptoms when under antidepressants. This is most true at the commencement of their treatment. It is argued that suicidal thoughts can emanate from an experience of sexual or physical violence. An individual feels worthless hence lowering his/her self-esteem which might lead to suicidal symptoms. Neglect from parents, guardians, friends or family and being homeless can drive someone to develop suicidal thoughts. Such a person normally feels that he/she is not wanted in the world and the only option available is to terminate own life. This is what most people would refer to as social isolation, which can be very detrimental in an individual’s course of life. Besides, having a close family member who committed or made attempts to commit suicide for one reason or another can trigger a suicidal thought in a person (Conner et al. 367). According to Haring Rosen and Stith, it is believed that social isolation goes along with social betrayal (577). As much as many people might argue some stressful reasons are useless and baseless, it is worth considering the state of mind at that particular time when one feels hopeless and lonely. This is common among the teenagers who are in relationships or have close friends they consider trustworthy to hide secrets or share common things in life. When a boyfriend or girlfriend breaks a long time relationship a teenager will feel he/she is worthless and a nobody to that effect. What is the point of living when one you trust or tend to love most rejects you? This is normally traumatic to most teenagers or even adults which compel their suicidal thoughts. Correspondingly, a person’s sexual orientation such as gays and lesbians can lead to suicidal thoughts especially when the individual faces prejudice from the society. It must be noted that there are certain occupation environments that can trigger suicidal thoughts in a person. A state of being jobless or doing jobs in unskilled setting increases the risk of suicide because the person feels insecure about the existence of the job the following day. Similarly, there those who work in places which provide different ways of dying by suicide. Such occupations include; nursing, working as a pharmacist or doctor and even working in security agencies where one is always in possession of a firearm. Lack of a suitable job increases one’s level of debts. This is because the absence of a stable income doubled with the increasing demand to satisfy the basic needs can instigate the thoughts of committing suicide. There are other stressful factors that might lead to suicidal symptoms which can be discussed in other contexts. According to studies, there is an estimate that 90% of individuals who make attempts to terminate their own life might have different conditions related to mental health. Most of the stressful states described above might push an individual “over the edge” hence result into suicidal symptoms and behavior (Watt and Sharp 241). The level of stress build-up is dependent on the degree of the person’s susceptibility to suicide. In most occasions, it may only involve a petty event like a heated argument with a partner. In other occasion it may involve one traumatizing event such as the death of a loved one or identification of a terminal ailment while in other circumstances, a person may be exposed to a series of factors that may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts. Though various arguments have been presented in support of stress as the major cause of suicidal thoughts, it can also be argued suicide symptoms are not caused by stress. It is believed that if one person commits suicide in a certain setting, this may influence another person to consider suicide as acceptable in the society (Comer 13). In particular among the youth and other teenagers, such incidence may not be caused by stress but rather a person may have suicidal thoughts based on the perception that no one condemns it in the society when it happens. A sense of permissibility develops in such a person which might lead to termination of one’s life. According to Conner et al. (357) there are various signals that may help to spot whether an adolescent is vulnerable to suicidal thoughts. They provide an explanation that those who have earlier on made attempts to end their lives are more probably to become suicidal victims. Furthermore, Carlson and Heth (528) attests that about 10-20% of individuals who made attempts to end their lives in the recent past will eventually end into one successful suicide. Besides, the adolescent who are vulnerable to suicidal thoughts may issue verbal symptoms which might involve direct or indirect sentiments about their deaths. Some of these proclamation include, “I wish I would just die”, “why should I live in this unworthy world?” or “you don’t have to put more worries on me anymore” (Comer 51). Demonstrating such signs as letting go of one’s valuable possessions or abruptly having unreasonable mood-swings can be signs of youth developing suicidal thoughts. As discussed earlier, exposure to stress can lead to certain symptoms of suicides such as sleeplessness, depression, reduced or increased appetite or even low esteem. If kept unmonitored such individuals are likely to develop suicidal thoughts and eventually complete suicidal actions. In conclusion, it is important to consider that the concept of stress cannot be overruled as a causative agent of suicidal thoughts. Suicide cases are increasing on daily basis hence intervention must be put in force to avert further cases of suicide thoughts. Such inventions might include proper guidelines of availing counseling centers online or physically to enable people with such symptoms obtain the necessary help. Works Cited Bartle-Haring, S., Rosen, K. H., and Stith, S. M. Emotional reactivity and psychological Distress, Journal of Adolescent Research, 17(6), (2002)568-585 Carlson, N.R. and Heth, C.D. Psychology the science of behavior, 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 527 (2007). Print. Comer, R. J., Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 4th Edition, (2005) Worth Publishers, NY Print Conner, K. R., Duberstein, P. R., Conwell, Y., Seidlitz, L., and Caine, E. D. Psychological vulnerability to completed suicide: A review of empirical studies. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 31(4),(2001) 353-385. Print Watt, T. T., and Sharp, S. F. Race difference in strains associated with suicidal behavior among adolescents. Youth & Society, 34(2),(2002) 232-255 Print. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1600513-pls-call-me-about-this-matter
(Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1600513-pls-call-me-about-this-matter.
“Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1600513-pls-call-me-about-this-matter.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Can Stress Cause Suicidal Symptoms

Suicidal Behavior as a Psychological Disorder

 This research paper "Suicidal Behavior as a Psychological Disorder" explores Frank's case, a suicide behavior victim, with a view to critically review the causes, symptoms, diagnosis strategies of suicidal behavior, as well as the recommended treatment for suicidal behavior.... Studies have categorized suicide or suicidal behavior as a psychological disorder, and according to these studies, it is only through understanding the deeper symptoms, including its causes, as well as its treatment mechanisms that its solution can be found (American Psychological Association, 2009)....
9 Pages (2250 words) Research Paper

Schizophrenia: Symptoms and Treatments

million Americans are diagnosed with this mental health condition each yearSome researchers have also predicted that one in every 100 people will suffer from schizophrenia … Schizophrenia: symptoms and Treatments Schizophrenia is one of the most common forms of mental disorder today.... Even though remarkable improvements have been made as regards its cause, symptoms, and treatments, Schizophrenia still bewilders the public and health professionals.... This paper will describe the symptoms of schizophrenia disorder and treatment methods offered by the biological, psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioral approaches....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

The diathesis stress model of borderline personality disorder

With neuroanatomical considerations, both symptoms associated with BPD and biological research findings support the hypothesis that this disorder involves pathology of the limbic system, the basal ganglia and the hypothalamus.... The automatic reaction, which is a hysterical respond to avoid abandonment and loneliness includes impulsive actions such as self-mutilating and suicidal tendencies.... No exact cause of Borderline Personality Disorder has been found....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Manic Depression - Bipolar Disorder as a Mental Illness

symptoms of manic states are varied and include restlessness, increased energy, euphoric mood, racing thoughts, poor judgment, intrusive or provocative behavior, difficulty concentrating, and a decreased need for sleep.... For example, delusions of grandiosity thoughts reflect a manic state, and suicidal thinking reflect a depressive state (NIMH, 2008).... hellip; NIMH states that this mental disorder "can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide" (2008)....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Suicidal Behavior

This essay talks about the suicidal behavior of a person who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.... hellip; Researchers have recognized the accomplishment of several different types of intervention plans to reduce suicidal behaviors like child abuse, drug, alcohol addiction, loneliness or turmoil in family relationships.... The essay "suicidal Behavior" analyzes the different types of intervention plans to reduce various suicidal behaviors upon which state and local health departments and other agencies are working on....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Law Enforcement Suicide

Therefore, since the law enforcement officers are mostly licensed gun holders, it will be very detrimental to the public if they cause harm to the public before they commit suicide.... Normally when a person under stress talks out the matter, they feel slightly relieved from the sharing and at times they may get assistance through the sharing.... hellip; This topic has attracted massive literature on what causes the same and the preventive measures that can be taken to prevent the police from killing themselves....
7 Pages (1750 words) Research Paper

Causes of Suicide: Mental Health, Traumatic Experiences, and Family History

The symptoms of depression include loss of interest in e things that a person used to do before, mood swings, lack of interest in relationships with people, too much sadness and hopelessness.... When a person is exposed to suicidal tendencies of other people, they are also likely to commit suicide.... There is no proper structure to help people suffering from suicidal thoughts and also people are not keen enough to identify when a person is likely to commit suicide....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

The Role of Cyber Bullying and Physical Bullying in Adolescent Suicide

Other symptoms may include the development of disorders such as those related to sleeping and eating.... The victims become too occupied in the resulting stress and finding ways of dealing with it to the point that education and their normal activities cease being important.... In other instances, they may develop acute depression that may render them useless to the work sector and can in turn prompt them to consider suicide.... The teachers and the parents can realize this by assessing it from the performance perspective....
5 Pages (1250 words) Annotated Bibliography
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us