Semi-recently, I told a close friend of mine about a previous attempt I made a while ago. They responded to me with, "I still love you and I'm not here to judge you." I think that's the best possible outcome. Would I tell this person about my current planning? Absolutely not. I can't afford to be interrupted or having big, emotional conversations about things I know they won't understand. Sympathy used to feel good to me. I used to feel that relief of being seen, heard, understood. These days, I know what it's like when someone really sees me. And no one I know does. I have no desire to be vulnerable like that with people who cannot understand. It's exhausting. Once the suicidal ideation entered my head, it never left. For someone who doesn't know that place, there's no relating. What I have needed, since I was small, was empathy, not sympathy. I can't get what I need so I don't engage anymore. I just make my plans, follow through on my preparation, and keep myself focused on the task at hand.