Suicide: your thoughts?

Before anyone tells the moral or ethical or legal aspects of this, just tell me your PERSONAL thoughts of this, do you approve, disapprove, reasons to allow this and why?

My feeling is it should be allowed legally esp for someone with a terminal, incurable illness
why would i wanna dwindle and waste away, I want QUALITY of life, not QUANTITY

in the past I've thought about it and even hospitalised my self trying it. i just used to sink so low and nothing and know one could pull me out of it. the thing that really hit me hard was seeing my mum crying her eyes out looking at me in hospital she just wanted to know why (because i hadn't left a note) and it kind of woke me up to how selfish it was. I've been diagnosed with manic depression since i was a kid and it just seems to come and go no matter how well things are going at the time. i control it allot better know because me being all depressed is hard for those around me to cope with and not fair on them. i self medicate and to be honest i find it works (so does my family for that matter) however i find I'm quite numb neither happy or sad but its the best Ive been really and my family's happy.


my overall opinion of suicide is it's the cowards route and a very selfish one at that but sometimes to some people it can seem like the only escape. while other people can just get back up and brush themselves off others are more prone to looking for a way out!

suicide to me isnt worth it. if you kill yourself then thats basiclly it. you take the joy of your parents relatives anyone who appreciates evreything you do in life. i wouldnt because you only live once.

Originally posted by HomerinNC
Before anyone tells the moral or ethical or legal aspects of this, just tell me your PERSONAL thoughts of this, do you approve, disapprove, reasons to allow this and why?

My feeling is it should be allowed legally esp for someone with a terminal, incurable illness
why would i wanna dwindle and waste away, I want QUALITY of life, not QUANTITY

I think it depends on the definition of self first. Depending on how you view yourself and - consequently - the world, you will either view suicide as self-termination or a mere transition. Granted, most people in the Western world condemn this act because to them it is 'selfish and cowardly.' The question remains: is this really what they think or merely what they have been programmed to believe? This area is one of world's biggest twilight zones, not many want to touch it. I do believe there are cases, not even terminal illnesses, where this act is warranted. Still, look at the language: commit suicide. It implies a crime. So who really controls our body? Do we control it...that's the question.

There is data out there that goes beyond ethical or religious notions.

One subset of people who attempt suicide are "jumpers". Specifically, these are people who choose to end their lives by jumping off a high bridge, into the ocean, or a river, etc.

The interesting thing about these survivors is that they apparently tell very similar stories. No, this isn't about the "white light" nonsense.

Almost all report that the very moment they jumped (in other words, the moment of no-return), they were instantly filled with severe REGRET. Most say that in an instant, their "problems" were seen in a new light, and they realized that what they had decided was essentially no solution at all.

Some probably feel the need to go into some kind of divine reasons for this, but regardless of why it happens, it's sort of amazing that it apparently happens to the majority, it would seem.

Implications? For starters, we don't really get to speak to the "successful" suicides, so perhaps this is a common element of the experience for all. As for those who choose drugs, etc., that seems to be different, they're not conscious really, at that "critical" moment, so the story would likely be different for that group, although there may be things that still relate somehow.

A great subject for further study in my opinion. Star and Flag, probably a lot of people thinking about this sort of thing now and then.

JR

It should certainly be "legal" for the terminally ill who wish to leave "early".
It really should not even be an issue or a question...

Who do people think they are to tell another that it is "against the law" to leave this world willingly? Say what?

We had a big project on this in one of my psyche classes years ago,
and just about everyone in the classes agreed that people should be free to do with their lives whatever they chose.

There is something (a group/organization) called "dying with dignity"..
that fights for peoples right to do as they wish in these circumstances.

Some of the videos we had to watch were heartbreaking...

I remember one in particular,
Where an old man who was a life-long veterinarian,
Had a terminal disease (I forget which) and his body was slowly(really not soo slow) shutting down to the point he could do absolutely nothing for himself... Not even lift his arms or hands.

He said that he had chosen to exit this world when he felt that he needed to,
and he was going to do 'self-euthanasia' ,
with drugs from his Vet clinic, that would be painless and quick,

However, his body would no longer even allow him to administer it himself... So he either had to slowly die and suffer,
or get his wife to help him,
the wife didnt know what to do, but was pretty sure she would help him do that before she watched him suffer in agony much longer...

But "the state" told them it was "illegal", and blah blah blah,
making their lives that much more difficult.
basically saying; "well, we dont understand, therefore you must suffer, and deal with it".

Who are they to have any say whatsoever?

I know that when we "die" , the only thing that actually ceases to exist is the bodies we currently inhabit, and WE do not "die" or cease to exist at all... ; no one ever really dies..

Death is an illusion..
a lie...

If I choose to leave this plane early, no one is going to tell me that I "am not allowed" to do so.

I just hope that if i was in a similar situation as the old man I mentioned..
that someone I was close to, could actually help me carry out my wishes so that I would not have to do it myself..


I have no fear of leaving this body "forever",
But I do fear that I would not be 'strong enough' to do it myself.. lol


anyway, People should absolutely be able to choose how, when, why they get to leave this world.
anyone who feels that they have a say in the way one chooses to "go""..
is simply ignorant and afraid.

Of course there are all kinds of "side roads" and different circumstances that could slightly change my views on it all,

But to stay as simple as possible, lol
I feel that nobody in the world should be able to tell another soul how/why and when they get to leave.

Nobody can truly, fully understand what is going on within another, to be able to make such a decision for them.

a "non-issue' I believe it's called..
or should be...
There should not even be a question about it..

Frankly if people choose to kill themselves thats up to them, it shouldnt be anybody elses business, other than perhaps their family and friends.

How often does a Non - religious person commit suicide?

nope...it's evil
there was a movie documentary years ago that said many similiar stories were +told of failed suicides that were severely tortured in their nde...
the results were that it was worse than the prior situation
also....God will help any distrought person, just ask and surrender to Him and you have supernatural permanent help immediatly that will never leave you, and as a result of seeking Him, one will have everlasting life guaranteed no matter what happens later in life, YOU, AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD!

[edit on 6-8-2010 by GBP/JPY]

I have had a cousin kill himself, I also experienced several soldiers attempt or were succefull at killing themselves when I was an MP in the Army. In fact a good friend of mine blew is brains out in the MP station. Out of the ones that I knew I know there was high levels of stress, and probably a sence that life would be better if life didnt exist. I am sure when you are going through peronall trials that just seem overwelming, bang and get it over with sounds like a good option. I have been low myself rock bottom and have thought some of those things, I have always told myself that life goes on, you cant count yourself out until your out.

I am all for pleasantly signing out early with terminal painfull disease.

Having suffered severe depression in the past and being on meds for ten years, i too understand the desperation of wanting to escape unrelenting mental/emotional pain. Day dreams about dieing was the only relief i had because i could not dream up or imagine anything positive. Its a severe sickness that i fought my way out off and learned the true power of the mind and how to reprogram my mind with positive brainwashing.

When people used to say to me...."its all about perspective and choice"

They were completely right. Choose lite, choose happiness and don't lean on the "its a chemical imbalance" or "its my parents fault" excuses.

Get some help and do the work.



[edit on 6-8-2010 by The Great Day]

We recently had a suicide near us where the son did CPR on the father. Why would anyone choose to put there family through that?

Definition of Suicide :- Long term solution to a short term problem !

I dont condone anyone taking theyre own life frivolously ! (see above) but in the case of people actually SUFFERING then i believe it is theyre right to decide when to end theyre life !

[edit on 083131p://08America/Chicago06 by ProRipp]

If a person just wants to give up its a tragedy. I believe in a persons right to die...........under certain circumstances. If they have a certain incurable disease it is up to the discretion of the patient when or where. No prolonging issues. Or if a certain quality of life is lost i.e. paralysis and coma. I do believe in psychology and psychiatry and if a person is depressed or if the way their life didnt turn out the way they wanted it to is no reason for suicide. Than again, it is there life. I have only an opinion.

Every single person is here for a reason, a purpose. IMO, people who want to take their own life haven't found what their purpose in life is.

I really don't think there is much debate to be had, if someone 'really' wants to commit suicide then they will, and i don't think it's selfish either, people who proclaim such things are the selfish ones imo. Anyway as i said, i don't have a problem with it if it's a genuine and well thought out decision. Whether people agree with it or not is irrelevant in the end as it's the person life and their decision, has absolutely nothing to do with you.

[edit on 6-8-2010 by Solomons]

It is probably illegal to take your own life because they make a fortune by treating you when you are old and/or sick with something. You suffer while they fill their pockets.

Suicide to me is facing a challenge in life and hitting the reset button. It is my opinion that we are here facing certain challenges that we must overcome, and when someone commits suicide, they are ending this life, but are just having to start all over again and be faced with the same challenge again later.

I believe that we should be able to choose when we exit and there should be no laws to stop that. If someone is in pain and will forever suffer in this life, let them move on. They know better than the "law" when its their time to go. Our bodies are not meant to last forever, but we are. I wish more people realized that.

well in the case of someone died in pain it may be thought out.
But let me assure you as a survivor of it .It is NOT thought out
alest not past the point of setting it up.
And tell me what is worse for my 16 year old son a father who kills him self , ( which he will get over in time )or a father who is crazy which will never change? My god I fight it day by day just trying to get to tomorrow my son is aware of this even though i go through much MORE pain trying to keep him from seeing it.
the thing that really sucks is if I even had a little hope I could get control over this . But I feal like I am on death row just waiting for the warden to come and sit me in the chair.
And I fear the coming months as I stay so close to the edge I know just one more step is all it will take.
Only good thing is I can talk about this here because It doesn't matter what you see me as . But I cant talk to anyone who may accutly be able to help me change any thing .I have become quite good at faking being normal and if we were just hanging out you would never know there was something wrong with me . But keeping it bottled up just makes it build up even more.
let me assure you there are no drugs that make it go away when I tryed (and i came within a heart beat saved at the last second) I was on depacote .
You know being like I am I can tell you one thing there are a lot of people on ATS who are self destructive (think about it why do so many post to the threads that are about the possibility of death and destruction so much?
thous people are just as crazy as I am the only difference being they want every one else to go with them . can you say postal?
as a matter of fact the world has been on the edge of madness from 1945 till now . After all you think I am strange because I may kill my self ? and yet you live in a world that has the power to destroy its self compleatly and how many of you were cherring 6 years agaio saying KILL THEM all.
I read many post and a few still pop up saying turn the place into glass nuk um and you say i am the only one who nuts????

[edit on 6-8-2010 by xxcalbier]

I very much doubt you'll see the back of this reality even if you do commit suicide, as you'll probably just get sent back(reincarnated). There's no escaping this matrix or the mind of God. We are trapped for all of eternity. We have no choice but to grin and bare it.


[edit on 7-8-2010 by kindred]

My opinion is, regardless of the legal aspects, it's something resembling cowardice.

Having said that, however... Of course there are times where it might indeed be an option for someone...in the case of catastrophic illness.

I'm of the opinion, however, where there is life, there is hope. Many disagree, and that, of course, is their right.