by Raffy Gutierrez
Depression is not just emotional pain—it’s mental warfare. The mind becomes the battlefield, whispering lies so convincing that they sound like truth. “You’re a failure.” “You’ll never change.” “The world would be better off without you.”
These thoughts don’t arrive overnight; they creep in gradually until you start believing them. For many teens, they begin with disappointment, rejection, or heartbreak. Add the pressure of perfection online, and that voice becomes deafening.
I know that voice. In 2006, I was standing on a train platform in New York, ready to jump. It wasn’t an impulsive act—it was calm, deliberate, almost peaceful. I truly believed ending my life was the logical solution.
Then I looked up and met the eyes of a homeless man sitting by the pillar. He didn’t speak, but his gaze said something words couldn’t: Not yet. That unspoken moment snapped me back to life.
I often think about how fragile that line is between survival and surrender. Sometimes, all it takes is one glance, one text, one voice to interrupt the darkness. Human connection is the most underrated form of medicine.
Studies show that nearly 90 percent of suicide cases could have been prevented if someone had reached out in time. Just one message—“Hey, are you okay?”—can be enough to make someone pause.
When someone confides their suicidal thoughts, don’t panic. Don’t judge. Don’t say, “Other people have it worse.” Just listen. Listening saves more lives than lectures ever will.
And if you are the one having those thoughts, please hold on. Thoughts are not commands; they are storms that pass. The fact that you are still reading this means some part of you still wants to live—and that part is worth fighting for.
Get help. Call a hotline. Talk to a friend. Go to therapy. There is no shame in survival.
Your life has meaning far beyond what your mind is telling you right now.
If your thoughts turn dark, reach out immediately. There is help—and there is hope. Continued in next week’s article: The Hope That Heals – Breaking the Stigma and Choosing Life Again.
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Rafael “Raffy” Gutierrez is a Technology Trainer with over 25 years of experience in networking, systems design, and diverse computer technologies. He is also a popular social media blogger well-known for his real-talk, no-holds-barred outlook on religion, politics, philosophy.
