My Friend is Giving Up on Life

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2006
My Friend is Giving Up on Life
4
Wed, 09-16-2009 - 9:06pm
I have a fifty-four year old friend who is experiencing bad financial times. She already suffers from dysthmia, which can deepen into intense depression now she is in this troubled state and anxiety. She is seeing a therapist and taking medication but I do no think that is helping her right now. She has been looking for a job in her field, but she has been 18 years out of the workforce and no one wants to hire her. She suffered greatly from a terrible trauma 12 years ago and it haunts her till now. She has one son who is now preparing to go to college up State - she lives in New York - on a student loan. She feels totally abandoned and tells me that after her son leaves for college she will kill herself as no one needs her anymore and no one wants to hire her. She is already doing research on how she will do this, and it is killing me as I suffer from depression to and this is making me more depressed. Her husband is a big mouth, bullying loser who has put them into deep financial problems. She made me swear that I would not tell anyone, but I find it hard to keep this a secret. She has no family and I am her only close friend. What should I do? I hope you guys can come up with some thoughts, I feel guilty even posting her problem here.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2006
Thu, 09-17-2009 - 11:50pm
Hey guys, no one even bothered to answer my post. Please, someone, anyone, help me here. I need some much needed advice. Please guys please help out with some suggestions. I am alone here.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2006
Fri, 09-18-2009 - 1:09am

I am a lurker on here but there is another board on iVill called "suicidal thoughts and feelings" where perhaps they might have suggestions for helping out for your friend - here is the thread:


http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhsuicidesur


I'm sorry I don't have advice. :(











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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2004
Fri, 10-22-2010 - 6:21pm
None of us really have any expertise in something this serious.
It sounds like medical intervention is key.
Perhaps you could volunteer to go to the doctor with her.
That's all I've got.
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Community Leader
Registered: 10-10-2007
Sun, 10-24-2010 - 12:08pm

Welcome to the board!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2007
Mon, 10-25-2010 - 4:36pm

I'm sorry that so many of us have missed your post until now.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2006
Fri, 10-29-2010 - 2:52pm
Once the immediate danger is over do you think it would help to ask her to consider volunteering with you in some way. Elementary schools are always looking for people to come to listen to/help the kids read and stuff. Or some childrens hospitals need help with various things. If you both like pets what about a local animal shelter, you could help walk the dogs & stuff.
By asking to do it together you both benefit from the time together, and she gets that feeling of importance again.
This is just a thought I had.
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