Suicidal Crisis: What to Do After an Overdose in Pakistan

You have been through something terrifying, and you are still here. That matters. Panic attacks that make you feel you cannot breathe, suicidal thoughts that push you to act on them, and an overdose that put you in a coma — none of this is a sign of weakness or failure. It is a sign that your mind has been carrying more than it can bear, and it needs real medical help right now. You do not have to figure this out alone.

The single most important thing you can do is to go to a hospital — today, not tomorrow — and tell them everything you have just said. Say that you have attempted suicide multiple times, that you overdosed, that you still feel the same way. They are there to keep you safe. In Pakistan, the emergency departments of major hospitals (like Jinnah, Mayo, or any government teaching hospital in your city) have psychiatric wards or on-call psychiatrists. Going there does not mean you will be locked up; it means you will be put under observation, given proper medication in safe doses, and connected with a doctor who can see you regularly. You tried to manage this alone, and it was too much. It is time to let a professional take over for a while.

What about the loss of confidence?

That happens when your own mind feels like an enemy. After an attempt, many people feel ashamed or scared of themselves. But you are not your illness. The confidence you lost is not gone forever — it is just buried under exhaustion and fear. Once you get your body and brain stabilised with the right medical support, those feelings begin to shift. For now, do one small thing: remind yourself that you reached out here, that is a sign of strength, not of failure.

Concrete steps for right now

• If you can, ask someone you trust — a family member, even a neighbour — to take you to a hospital. If no one is available, take a rickshaw or drive yourself. Do not wait for motivation; just move.
• Tell the doctor exactly what you told us: number of attempts, the overdose, the coma, the panic attacks. Do not leave anything out.
• Do not keep any extra antidepressants at home. If you have pills, let someone else hold them for now.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, or any substance that can make panic worse.
• Once you are with a doctor, ask about a follow-up plan. You need weekly or even biweekly visits for a while.

You are not beyond help. Many people in Pakistan live with these exact feelings and get better when they get treatment. The hardest step is asking for it. You already did that here. Now take the next one.

Zara on the Depression.pk community is available if you need to talk between appointments. But right now, your priority is a doctor and a hospital. Go.