Pat's Answer

Hi there, and welcome to Ask Pat. 

You have said that you are scared about getting old and you have thought that you won’t live past the age of 30. That must be a really tough thought to struggle with. You should be proud of yourself for reaching out to us at Ask Pat for some support.

Have you spoken to anyone else about your fears? Speaking to a trusted adult such as a parent, aunt/uncle or school guidance counsellor might help you explore these fears a little bit more and they may even help you find new ways of coping with these thoughts you are having. If you would rather speak to an adult you don’t know, you can contact Childline. If you log onto the Childline website www.childline.ie  there are 3 ways in which you can talk to us: live message, free text 50101 or free phone 1800 66 66 66. We offer non-judgmental support 365 days a year. 

You have also said that you have dealt with self-harm and suicide attempts in the past. I am so sorry to hear that you have felt like that and it is brave of you to open up about your experiences with us. Have you spoken to anyone about how you have been feeling? It is really important to seek medical advice from a GP to get the best support you can with these feelings. If you ever feel like you are in immediate risk of harm, you can contact the emergency services on 999 or 112. They can help keep you safe. You might find these articles on the Childline website helpful: https://www.childline.ie/self-harm/ ; https://www.childline.ie/how-to-tell-someone-im-having-thoughts-of-suicide/  

I hope this information has helped you and I hope you take care! 

Thanks for contacting us, 

Pat.