Sadness knows no name

[Scarlet Rayne]

You know, I see the fashion world, the pinup scene and I realize that it can me a tough industry to deal with. The stresses, the cattiness, the ugly side of people, privacy boundaries being stepped on, the public expecting perfection, all the pressures of life and loss.

I wanted to write an article on how these stresses can impact a person. Some very talented and amazing people could have been saved. Marilyn Monroe, one of the most well known pinups suffered from bipolar disorder, later she died from overdose. Bettie Page, did not die until well on into her later years, but the stress from public scrutiny made her fall out of the limelight.

"As of late, Lee Alexander McQueen died on Feb 11, 2010. His publicist stated that he committed suicide 9 days after the death of his mother." [1]

There are usually signs present before someone commits suicide. There are always precursors we all need to be aware of not only in ourselves but in others. Here are a some signs that may be present in someone who is not quite stable and may need immediate assistance and support:

"Recognize the Signs Of Depression and Possible Suicide Risk

* Talking About Dying -- any mention of dying, disappearing, jumping, shooting oneself, or other types of self harm.

* Recent Loss -- through death, divorce, separation, broken relationship, loss of job, money, status, self-confidence, self-esteem, loss of religious faith, loss of interest in friends, sex, hobbies, activities previously enjoyed

* Change in Personality -- sad, withdrawn, irritable, anxious, tired, indecisive, apathetic

* Change in Behavior -- can't concentrate on school, work, routine tasks

* Change in Sleep Patterns -- insomnia, often with early waking or oversleeping, nightmares

* Change in Eating Habits -- loss of appetite and weight, or overeating

* Diminished Sexual Interest -- impotence, menstrual abnormalities (often missed periods)

* Fear of losing control -- going crazy, harming self or others

* Low self esteem -- feeling worthless, shame, overwhelming guilt, self-hatred, "everyone would be better off without me"

* No hope for the future -- believing things will never get better; that nothing will ever change" [2]

It's a huge tragedy when we lose someone close to us or someone we looked up to. These things can be prevented. It's hard to see the light when you're suffering through depression or some sort of sadness, even post traumatic stress disorder. These things cloud your thinking and often lead to drug abuse. Most people who commit suicide either intentional or accidentally have been under the influence of some sort of drug, not all but many.

It is our responsibility to step outside of our own comfort zone and reach out to those in need. There really are many broken souls out there and if it were not for someone coming into my life and showing me the way, I too was on a path toward destruction and ultimately death.

There is always a way out, but sometimes a person too deep in a black whole it just seems impossible to get out. Some people just lose hope and faith that things will change or they feel they've just run out of luck or being punished. It's these times when we need to reach out and be supportive to people who are suffering, and attempt to get them help. Not always are people willing participants, and sometimes an intervention is needed.

What most people don't realize is that when you get to that point, you stop caring. You don't care whether you live or die and you become reckless. This is when a person needs people to care the most because even if they don't care about themselves they just might care enough about you to make a change. You just might be their lifesaver...

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1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_McQueen">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_McQueen
2. http://www.sfsuicide.org/html/warning.html