What do you say to someone who has tried "everything"?

[hopeless302]

Some people say they've been to therapy, they've tried the medications and don't feel any better. What else can they do? Is it just over if neither of those things work?

 

[BlueMist96]

Its up to them whether or not they want to keep trying or give up. It's not over until they decide its over I guess. There are lots of people who've already given up but don't leave for one reason or another. If they seem like they still want help, best anyone can do for them is try to offer support. If it's clear they don't want help, then all you can do is be kind and try to comfort them while they're still here.

 

[SmigSauer]

You can't say anything.

I have tried medication and therapy, neither had any effect on me at all. I tried to complete productive goals, like graduating, getting a job, buying a car, getting a driver's license. None of this made me feel any differently. I felt slightly better when I was in the process of completing these goals, because I still had hope that I would complete them and feel some sort of fulfillment of happiness. When I completed the goal, the feeling of fulfillment never came. I felt worse off after putting myself out there and doing stuff because I now knew that no matter what action I take, I will still feel like shit.

This is all there is. There's nothing that somebody could say that would make me feel better. The problem is me. I am a broken person who can't enjoy life.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I agree with others- it's more about whether they are still open to looking to find support. Some people try multiple therapists, multiple medications. Even more extreme treatments- as I see it- like ECT. I think some people do well on Ketamine. There are probably still a whole bunch of things they haven't tried but then- maybe they don't want to now. And- I do believe that has to be up to them. It's not really ok for someone else to push- as I see it because- they aren't the ones putting up with the side effects.

I think it is very much down to how much this person wants to talk and, what they want to talk about. One course of conversation might be why they feel the treatments they tried failed.

Plus- outright ask them maybe- what do they think may actually help them? Where are they struggling the most? What are their problems to begin with? They'll likely just be grateful that someone cares enough to ask.

 

[Sadbanana]

Some people that talk to you have already given up. They aren't interested in your advice, they just want to talk to someone, sharw their struggle and get sense of connection.

In my opinion if you want to help them, it's best if you talk to them in respectful and not performative way. Don't try to virtue signal for invisible audience, suicidal people are usually very fed up with prolife rhetorics.