By Kathryn Goetzke, Thrive Global, April 12, 2020
You might be surprised to know that there is an actual gene linked to Suicidal Behavior. And there are risk factors, just like heart disease or cancer. I have them all:
- previous suicide attempt
- family history of suicide (my father took his own life when I was nineteen)
- history of depression and anxiety
- childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- and major life events like job loss, divorce, move, etc. (I’ve had many, and they will no doubt continue, as we all are in a period of dramatic change).
Now, I understand that suicide is a little different as it seems to be a ‘choice’, yet I will tell you that when I attempted suicide I had absolutely no idea I would make that ‘choice’ and I would even argue it felt like a heart attack, yet in my brain. I suppose some might even argue that heart disease, driven by unhealthy habits, is a ‘choice’. I’m not here to convince you of anything, biology and behavior are both critical, and I encourage you to do the research on disease ‘prevention’ as there are so many common themes.
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