Trigger warning: This video contains personal suicide experience details.
Approximately half the transgender population has attempted suicide, myself included. We don’t have a genetic predisposition to self destruct, but rather struggle with gender dysphoria, social rejection, and the insane cost of full medical transition (which is not covered by most medical insurance providers).
Let’s talk about it
Sharing is a powerful, transformative force. As a public speaker, I regularly share my personal experiences, challenges, and struggles, including my history of suicidal behavior, to help create awareness.
I think it’s important to continue the discussion about suicide. It’s a topic that makes many uncomfortable, but the consequences for avoiding or ignoring it can be deadly.
We all experience adversity and have our challenges in life, some more than others. It’s not helpful to judge who has it worse off, or who’s troubles are greater/lesser than anyone else’s. It is helpful to lend an ear and extend compassion to someone who’s struggling. You may just save a life in doing so.
Reach out, don’t check out
If your troubles become too overwhelming, please reach out and talk about it with a close friend or trusted family member. If there isn’t anyone you’re comfortable sharing with, then please make a call to one of these services. Every person on the other end of the phone is there by choice because they genuinely DO care about you! They’re trained to listen without judgment, can help you work through your feelings, and offer guidance in seeking continued support.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800-273-8255
Trans Lifeline
US: 877-565-8860
Canada: 877-330-6366
Desperation
In my darkest times, I never wanted to die, but rather just couldn’t bear another moment of the overwhelming pain and suffering, and couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. Unable to find other solutions, it felt like the only way to end the pain and suffering was to end my life.
Had I succeeded (in ending my life), I never would have grown, evolved, and realized my authentic self as a transgender woman. I never would have met all the amazing people and new friends along the way.
It gets better!
Please, please reach out and talk with someone before doing anything harmful to yourself. There’s always better, brighter days on the other side of the dark times. That’s the truth. It’s hard to see when clouded by overwhelming circumstances, but that light is still shining bright at the end of the tunnel.
Believe
Why the silly cat filter on such a serious topic?
As with all of my other cat-filter-laced short videos to date, this comes from the same source, recorded the same day back in February, 2018. It was originally an hour and a half Facebook Live video called “Gabbin’ with Gabi on a Friday Night” in which I interacted with viewers live, riffing on whatever topics came up. My intent was to get a group discussion going about more serious topics, but things kind of went all over the place, including having fun with some of the video filters available. I just happened to stick with the cat filter for about 2/3 of the live video stream, during which time both silly and serious topics were discussed.
Regardless of the silly cat filter, I felt the clips of discussion used in this short video were still worthy of sharing in the hope of raising awareness and inspiring important discussions that may literally be life-saving. So yeah – it’s a very serious topic, and I have a silly cat filter applied (that I lack the technical skills to remove post-production), and so I’m hoping people continue to find value in the meaning of the video, and not get caught up in appearances. There’s WAY too much judgement and drama about appearances already. Let’s focus on the topic and do what we can to reduce the pain, suffering, and isolation so many transgender people deal with day to day.
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Gabi Talks – Suicide is Not the Solution (60-second video)** Trigger warning **This video contains personal suicide…
Posted by Gabrielle Hermosa on Thursday, September 20, 2018