What Would Make You Consider Suicide?

Published on November 24, 2005 By MasonM In Blogging

I have battled clinical depression for a number of years. Suicide had crossed my mind a few times. Fortunately, I sought treatment instead of "going there".

Many people don't understand the thought process that leads to such an act, often because they've just never really thought about it seriously. So, taking time to think about it, what do you think would lead you to consider suicide as a viable alternative?

Ok, I know it's a bizarre question. Humor me.

Comments

Trudygolightly

on Nov 24, 2005

well early good morning Mason, it's half past the midnight hour here and....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I too cope with major clinical depression, am on Cymbalta for it. Doing ok most
of the time now, holidays ARE a trying time....

guess itwould be a feeling of there's nothing left to live for, that would do it for me.

MasonM

on Nov 24, 2005

Thanks for the input Trudy.

Yeah I'm doing pretty well, and thanks.

dharmagrl

on Nov 24, 2005

If I had a life time of unbearable pain ahead of me, if I knew that I would slowly lose control of my faculties and become incapable of caring for myself, knowing who I was and where I was at...then I would. I would wait until the pain horrific and I felt like I had no quality of life left due to my impairments...then I would. You bet your ass I would.

I reserve the right to die on my terms, in my way. The same way I lived, so shall I die.

Spc Nobody Special

on Nov 24, 2005

Zombies. Definitely zombies. Yeah, I'm at least 62 percent joking, but I don't know how many horror movies I've watched and thought, "Man, six thousand zombies coming at you and you're wasting ammo on them? Be smart here."

In real life? A feeling of futility and depression. I'm morally opposed to suicide, but when that depression hits you hard and you start wondering what's the point, those cheap-ass twelve gauges down at walmart start to look mighty good. Even Hemingway called it banal in Death in the Afternoon, but that didn't stop him when depression came calling.

Get to feeling better man, it ain't worth doing. Hang tough. The depression and pain pass.....eventually, and the good days make up for it, although it doesn't feel that way at the time.

Moderateman

on Nov 24, 2005

slow painfilled death with no chance of ever getting better.

Dr Guy

on Nov 24, 2005

Mason,

I have actually been there. yes I even wrote letters to my children. Why? What caused it? The realization that I had wasted 20 years of my life in a loveless marriage (I loved her, she never loved me - I was an escape).

There are many causes. I dont have an answer for that. I do know when I did. And as I wrote earlier, my sister pulled me back. I owe her.

Now I have a loving wife, a loving family, and pretty good health! And I dont think of it any more. I guess when we think there is nothing else, we think of that. We need to only be reminded that we do have something else to know that is not the way.

I am very thankful I have so many family and friends who do that for me.

I am very thankful this year, and this was a great way to say it. I Hope you know you are wanted and loved as well.

Peace on earth, and goodwill to you!

ParaTed2k

on Nov 25, 2005

My understanding of suicide is, when a person has come to the point where it is an acceptable solution it is often the only solution they feel they have left. I guess that's where I would have to be to consider it also.

From talking to patients who recently failed at suicide (at least the ones who seriously wanted to die), it is how they describe a feeling of euphoria or even excitement once they had decided to actually do it. Planning for it seems like a certain amount of control over their lives that has usually been lacking for a long time.

MasonM

on Nov 25, 2005

#3 by dharmagrl
Thursday, November 24, 2005

Thanks Dharma. A practical and no-nonsense concept of doing it your way.

MasonM

on Nov 25, 2005

#4 by Spc Nobody Special
Thursday, November 24, 2005

A feeling of futility and depression.

I think that feeling of futility is a common one in suicide cases.

Get to feeling better man, it ain't worth doing. Hang tough. The depression and pain pass.....eventually, and the good days make up for it, although it doesn't feel that way at the time.

Thanks, but the question isn't one of "I am considering it..." More of an academic exercise to see what others think about the topic. Thanks, though.

MasonM

on Nov 25, 2005

slow painfilled death with no chance of ever getting better.

Thanks, MM. A common and understandable one, I think.

MasonM

on Nov 25, 2005

#6 by Dr. Guy
Thursday, November 24, 2005

Thanks for your perspective on it Guy.

drmiler

on Nov 25, 2005

Have already considered it and dismissed it. Being able to do things for myself and having the ability stripped from me a little at a time (progession of MS). To "me", suicide is a cowards way out.

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