Profound Feelings of Despair
Last night, my girlfriend Tiffany counseled a friend of hers who is undergoing a massive personal and emotional crisis. I won’t go into details. But, the situation reminded me that many students have been through situations that I can’t imagine bearing. And it brought to mind this passage from one of my favorite books.
May God have mercy on all those who suffer tonight.
I want other people to be happy. I tell my friends who are religious or spiritual but haven’t yet found anything like this to wait, to pray, to meditate, to try to clear their minds of whatever is blocking them from their own happiness. Often, it’s stress—school, with its homework keeping us up till 3 AM, or people, relationships, parents. And to older people, it all sounds so trivial! Here we are, comfortable, affluent, well-fed, even bored, and we couldn’t be more miserable. Do adults understand this? I like to think that they at least wonder about it, whatever answers they come up with. Most adults seem surprised, even shocked by the depth of emotion that people my age experience. We’re not always eloquent, but we get across the message in scars and suicide attempts and overdoses.
–A Tiny Step Away From Deepest Faith: A Teenager’s Search For Meaning by Marjorie Corbman
Oh Yes, adults understand this very well. A lot of us have been where you are.
I still remember at 12, sitting on a barge in a river, late at night, daring myself to jump in and end it all. But I was too much of a coward and I am still here enjoying every minute of my life.
It’s just that it is so much harder for you young people today. There is so much going on. So much pressure. So much that is impossible to bear.
But at the same time you are so much braver than we were. So much more aware of the issues. So much more grown up before your time. And so lovely and caring for other people.
That’s why we older people have trust in you, like I have.
Thank you for sharing. That was a very brave thing to do.
Do you have a caring adult within reach who you can share with?
You will be surprised how much they care and want to help.
Like I do. Please let me know if I can.
Though the quotation doesn’t have to do with me personally, I’m very touched by your comment here. And it is very good to know that adults care; the great lot of them seem not to. At age 25, I am one who cares. I’m often asked why. I don’t know, honestly.
But, I do, and stories like the one I watched unfold last night as my girlfriend Tiffany talked on the phone to a friend far away who had downed lots of liquor and 3000+ mg of prescription pain medication…they make me grateful, but also break my heart.
If you have a heart for young people considering suicide, you should think about supporting the organization To Write Love On Her Arms. I’ve previously written about it here.
Let people know you care. Some will turn it away, some will embrace it. Thanks for reading and for taking the time to respond.
Thank you.
I have the email address and will make contact.
I spent two years, once, on the midnight to six am shift for Psychiatric Emergency Telephone Counselling, and the feelings and empathy for those ringing up in distress became very real to me.
I can hear that in your voice, too, and it makes me feel good to know that there are people like you around in this world who really care.
The quote is so true!
I am surround by adults who, if you tried to communicate the depths of emotions that I personally feel and people my age feel, they would either be shocked or just shake it off as impossible.
I have met very few adults who actually understand what young people go through emotionally.