My brother is contemplating suicide

[Caravaggio]

I was told my brother is SERIOUSLY considering suicide. He has medical and financial problems and if things get worse, he will do it.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEEEASE pray that he does not do this. He has TOTALLY left God; brought up in a very Catholic home but thinks Christianity is a big fake now. Thinks there is just non-existence on the other side which would be better than the suffering he is going through now.

I don't know where else to turn. I have prayed so much for his conversion but he seems to be getting WORSE. He hates everybody and everything. His heart is filled with blackness. I heard in the past he may even have dabbled in the occult, and now I think a demon may have entered him. I feel he already IS in hell the way he hates so much.

PLEASE pray for him not to do anything so drastic as suicide. This would kill my parents and I know something inside me would die also. I can't imagine living knowing his soul is suffering so much in hell. He suffers now and I hate it, but at least while he's living there's hope (albeit it a very fine thread).

Thank you for your prayers.

[alisasny]

Prayers sent for your brother and do know that you can attempt to watch him 24/7 and if his heart is set he will still find a way so be vigilant and find a good way of reasoning.

[Aliska]

He and your family will be in my prayers, but I strongly suggest you knock off any religious talk around him, demonic talk, and get him a good therapist who will handle the situation wisely. Religious pressure could be adding to his pain and is not going to help him in his state of mind.

I feel for you in your desperation for your brother. This is one of the most difficult things to go through with a family member.

[trickyricky]

knock off any religious talk

That's about the worst advice I ever heard.
Get to a priest or minister ASAP!!!
If he goes through with it he's going to wish it was lights out for all eternity.

[OpusatFR]

Run, Do not walk, and get him to a mental health professional, preferrably a Psychiatrist who can evaluate and prescribe medication if warranted.

He needs help and needs it now. If he is a danger to himself, call a mental health hotline and they can refer you to the proper channels.

Physical problems can present with emotional components so don't be too quick to think of demons and possession when it could be a very real physical presentation that needs medical intervention.

[sinkspur]

I strongly suggest you knock off any religious talk around him, demonic talk, and get him a good therapist who will handle the situation wisely. Religious pressure could be adding to his pain and is not going to help him in his state of mind.

I wanted to repeat what Aliska says, as she is right on.

Anyone who contemplates suicide is in a mental and emotional spiral, and is not making good decisions. He needs help with the stuff in his life, now.

[Aliska]

He needs a good therapist and some meds. Most priests would tell him to get to one post haste if he hasn't already. He can work out the other things later when the clouds start lifting.

Exerting pressure about religion in his frame of mind could push him over the edge.

[sinkspur]

If he goes through with it he's going to wish it was lights out for all eternity.

You have no certainty of that and it's talk like that pours fuel on the fire.

[AmericanMade1776]

You are in my Prayers, and your Brother, I pray that he finds healing of his spirit. I pray that you will be able to be comforted.

[AmericanMade1776]

some of the medicines that are given for mental problems cause depression and deepen the thoughts of sucide, so chose carefully, but Prayer can work miracles. FAITH!

[OpusatFR]

Well. That's nice and prayer is good, but medications for a mental condition given by a competent doctor and monitored for compliance and care is a whole lot better.

I've only met one person who I could say was really in possession and that person scared the heck out of me. For one thing, this one could actually read my mind. I've met a lot of truly bad people who have done some very bad things to others, but I had no sense that they were under any control of other than their own free will.

There are miracles and prayer is excellent, but relying on prayer instead of medicine when God Almighty gave us the means is not advisable in many cases.

Medicine and prayer go hand in hand.

[Desdemona]

He obviously needs help and I wouldn't overtly mention God and Christianity, but talk to him. Make sure he knows that you are there for him. Whatever you do, don't abandon him or give him the idea that any sort of support system is lacking. Be kind and gentle.

I've known too many people who have lost family members in this situation to suicide mainly by abandoning them, including a couple of my own family members. Just don't abandon him.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

He obviously needs help and I wouldn't overtly mention God and Christianity, but talk to him. Make sure he knows that you are there for him. Whatever you do, don't abandon him or give him the idea that any sort of support system is lacking. Be kind and gentle.

This is good advice.

A person in the grip of depression who is contemplating suicide is not thinking clearly, although they will surely think that they are. Having worked in psych nursing and knowing many therapists, I would caution you as to their overall effectiveness. I no longer have the confidence in that profession which I once did. Your brother may need mental health care as a first line response, but if his problem is in the spiritual/occult/demonic realm, medication or standard psych treatment will make him worse.

If at all possible, find a therapist now who has experience dealing with the occult. This experience will be necessary for long term treatment. Eventually, your brother will need spiritual guidance. In modern times the psychiatrist has replaced the priest with disastrous results. Start looking for a solid, conservative priest of good reputation.

[netmilsmom]

>>I was told my brother is SERIOUSLY considering suicide<<

Everyone here is giving you great advice, but please understand that most (and I mean most) people who want to seriously suicide, do it. They don't tell anyone. Your brother is pleading for help. You are doing the right thing by getting him some.

[k omalley]

I don't have any good advice to give you but I will pray for your brother, that he gets the appropriate help, that the depression will lift, and Our Lord will pull him back to the safe shore of faith.

[trickyricky]

I've only met one person who I could say was really in possession and that person scared
the heck out of me.

I too had a relative that I KNOW was possessed
He went from one psychiatrist to the next. Meds, the whole works.
Just a look from him would send chills down your spine
Of course nothing worked because the problem was spiritual,
and they never even addressed that.
He's gone now.

Take the advice of all these folks, but if he's possessed you'll know it,
because nothing they can do will help.

There are Christian exorcists if you can't get the Catholic church to help you.
Just don't wait until it's too late.

We'll be praying for you and him.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

There are Christian exorcists if you can't get the Catholic church to help you.

I want to add one more thing on this note. I do not know which state you or your brother live in, but Church law mandates every diocese is supposed to have an exorcist. In reality, most do not because the bishops no longer believe or do not want bad publicity. There are maybe a handful of diocesan exorcists in the entire US. If you really want to treat demonic disturbance you will have to go to the SSPX. They believe and they WILL help. I know of one case in particular which was a complete cure after a few sessions.

[LadyDoc]

His negative thoughts are signs of a major depression.
He needs to see a mental health specialist NOW.
The phone book usually has an emergency hotline for this, usually in the front.

When you have major depression, sometimes you need hospitalization in the local community hospital. See if he will go to the emergency room if you can't get help elsewhere, and tell them he is suicidal. He might be admitted, but if not they will arrange him to start medicine and see a doctor who specializes in these problems.

Please. This is a MEDICAL emergency, and although depression has many spiritual causes, it is often a biochemical problem with the brain.

He will be in our prayers tonight.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

too had a relative that I KNOW was possessed
He went from one psychiatrist to the next. Meds, the whole works.
Just a look from him would send chills down your spine
Of course nothing worked because the problem was spiritual,
and they never even addressed that.


--

We had an adult female psych patient who was diagnosed multiple personality. She had been the victim of satanic rituals as a child. No amount of treatment helped her. She kept getting worse and worse. Her eyes were black and when she made eye contact your blood would run cold. Demonic harassments and attachments are very, very real.