Urgent Support

Having thoughts about giving up?

Aatef, his first year into IIT, had begun to feel like there was nothing good going on in his life. He had not been doing well in his exams and was questioning whether he wanted to be in IIT or not. Everything seemed so hard and he was just not motivated to put in the effort. He wondered often if he had made the right decision by investing so many years of his life, trying to get into IIT, and not to mention the financial investment his parents had to make, to send him there. He couldn’t bring himself to talk about this with his parents. They would be devastated. His relationship with his girlfriend back home, his sole support, was crumbling as well. The distance wasn’t doing them good. The burden of these feelings was quite heavy and he was tired of carrying it all alone, with no one to share it with. There seemed to be no way out. Lately, he had been thinking if things would be better if he simply stopped existing.

Initiation

Aatef had been dealing with a lot and things that usually helped him to cope weren't working anymore. Naturally, he felt extremely vulnerable and began thinking about suicide. At times, some of us also may have had such thoughts. However, sometimes, these thoughts can become very overwhelming.

At such times, it is important to remember that you are not alone and that help is always available.

Symptoms

When should I reach out for help?
  • Having thoughts like
    • I am so tired of/done feeling this way
    • I can’t take this any longer
    • Things are never going to change for me
    • I can’t see any way out of this
    • No one would notice if I was gone
  • Feeling hopeless, trapped, feeling like being a 'burden'
  • Isolating yourself from friends and family
  • Consuming drugs/alcohol more than usual
  • Feeling angry/ Exhibiting rage
  • Extreme mood swings
  • Crying often, feeling a lot of emotional pain
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Doing risky things
  • Thinking about suicide to deal with the situation
(These signs are not for self-diagnosis / labelling, but to facilitate a better understanding of when to seek help)

Seek help

If the signs above sound familiar, know that you are not alone and that it is important that you seek support. It is extremely important that you do share your pain with someone.
Where can I find help?
  • Reach out to the IIT hospital
  • You can also contact Security or its Quick Response Team at any time if you feel a threat to your personal safety.
  • Talk to a counsellor at the Student Wellness Centre
  • You can approach your ISMP/ ISCP mentor, if you feel comfortable sharing this with them.
  • You can also confide in a friend, a teacher or your parents.
  • Remember, no matter how overwhelming and permanent things feel right now, you are not going to feel this way always - these difficult feelings will pass.

Coping mechanisms

In addition to seeking help, how can I help myself?

While you’re getting help and sharing your concerns with someone, there can be times when you feel vulnerable or overwhelmed. At such times, you can use these resources to soothe yourself: