Your thoughts on suicide?

Why would a person want to end his/her life? What would make them so depressed, so closed off, to where the thought of death is more attractive than any alternative?

I know, I know, "If the guy killed someone, and he didn't want to go to jail". I can understand that, crime related suicide. These guys are pretty fucked up to begin with.

But what about normal, everyday people? For instance, in high school I knew a guy that committed suicide. They never found out why he did it, he was actually pretty popular, played football, etc. Would you think it would have something to do with family problems? Abuse?

I bring up the topic because someone close to me tried to commit suicide tonight, and I'm wondering why. She's popular, has a nice family, even attends church one/twice a week.

I'm thinking that in her case it was probably someone at school acting like a jerk, or perhaps someone at her church. I just wish I knew, because it's a pretty stupid solution to whatever problems she's having.

The times I've though about something like this is usually right after something really tragic happened, or something that just had me think "Why put up with the bullshit anymore?" Usually stupid stuff I got over after a good night's sleep and some caffine pills.

Some people just have a thought pattern that thinks that way, just the way they work.
I know plenty of people who always talk about how they're ready and willing to commit suicide once/if something bad happens and they think there's nothing left.

I guess it's on a case by case basis thing.

One of my best friends committed suicide back in high school. I'm pretty sure I know why since the location of the act prety much announced it.

He'd just broken up with his girlfriend of a year or so just a couple weeks before. Not only that, but she left him for another of our good friends(Dan). At any rate, he seemed fine. He was going out on dates with a ton of different people, and seemed to be in a great mood about it.

All that changed one day midsummer though. He drove out to her house to try and get back together with her, only to find her their with Dan. They argued for a few minutes and he finally went back out to his car, where he pulled out a pistol and blew the top of his head off.

Now, as obvious as the reason seemed to several others and I, I found out later from his ex. that things weren't that simple. He never talked about it with any of us, but his home life wasn't that simple. His Dad frequently called him out on certain things, I'm told, maybe even beat him when he was younger.

What I'm getting at here, is that there isn't, in all likelihood, going to be something you can pinpoint as a reason for her act. It's most likely an acummulation of things.

Dr. EThugg will school you Andy. There's 3 main reasons. And no, most people would rather be in jail, forever, than die.

1-The already discussed 'tragedy' reason.

2-Mental instability.

3-Simply not valuing your own/or in general, life. It may seem odd to others, but someone who seems 'normal' just may not feel anything in life is as compelling as what they believe will happen when they die. Despite how this might seem like it falls under #2, it doesn't.

Class dismissed!

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Originally posted by EThugg
3-Simply not valuing your own/or in general, life. It may seem odd to others, but someone who seems 'normal' just may not feel anything in life is as compelling as what they believe will happen when they die. Despite how this might seem like it falls under #2, it doesn't.

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It's not always nessecarily that what happens after death is better, sometimes it's simply that neither is better then the other. And suicide requires a whole lot less work and you don't have to clean up afterwards.

Also works great for martyrs.

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Originally posted by andyrose
Why would a person want to end his/her life? What would make them so depressed, so closed off, to where the thought of death is more attractive than any alternative?

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Two words: Clinical depression. Due to a number of biological, psychological, enviromental and social reasons, some people, regardless of wealth, social standing, success and race develop a profound and life-altering mental state that robs them of much of, if not all of, the joy and motivation a mentally healthy person possesses.

Biological and psychological factors are often believed to be the primary factors responsible for depression, but although some people do have a genetic or mental vulnerability to the condition, anyone can suffer from the problem. Devastating life events (death of a loved one, loss of a job), abuse of drugs and alcohol, the suffering of a chronic disease (cancer, AIDS) and other factors can also lead to one losing their interest in life and slowly become chronically depressed. No one is immune to the condition, and that, along with the fact that it is one of the easiest to treat mood disorders known, are important facts to remember.

Suicide is not uncommon as a contemplated course of action amongst the depressed, but only becomes a reality in the extremely depressed. If you or someone you know is so depressed that they have become disinterested in or withdrawn from life, or has attempted or mentioned considering attempting suicide, try to get them professional medical help A.S.A.P. Consider trying to tell them, as politely and subtly as possible, that what they are going through isn't making their life any easier, and is upsetting not only for them, but also for you and the other people they care for, too. Suggest that although you and they may not know what to do about it, maybe it'd be a good idea to approach someone who does know how to deal with the issue.

Depression is a painful, chronic and incredibly common mental illness. It can be treated, quite easily compared to some other mental illnesses. There's no shame in admitting to suffering from it or seeking help for it...the important thing is to take the first (and probably hardest) step towards recovery from it, and not give in to its effects. Just remember, though...you can't force someone to seek voluntary treatment for it. You can only do your best to suggest they get help.

Being disinterested in life does not = depressed. Ever occur to you life might be boring, and you're the one who's nuts by enjoying it?

no Ethugg, for you see, "nuts" is a term given to some people by a psychological majority. To the "nuts" guy, the rest of us may be crazy. To some, Tom green is seen as truly nuts. its all relative.

If you aren't enjoying life, there are better ways of dealing with it than suicide, which will not only end you, but hurt everyone who loves you. Get a hobby, learn a musical instrument, find something, find someone. I simply don't understand that attraction to death that someone can feel. The sheer possibility of non-existance frightens me immensely. I'd only kill myself to save someone else, or if a more horrible death was imminent.

You ever stop to think why she is so popular, cus it may be closely related. Sometimes people that "fit-in" do so by giving up their individuality. Maybe she was trying so hard to be someone she wasn't, that it ate away at her to the point where she was either disgusted by herself or tired of pretending. In either case the posibility of mass rejection of who all her friends may have been too much for her to try to take on. Atleast its on of many posibilities.

I can't understand how anyone can go through life and not consider killing themselves at some point. Life is fucked up, and there is far more pain and misery in the world than there is fun and excitement. I really don't see much for the average person to look forward to, other than becoming a wage-slave and having the best years of their lives sucked out of them. If your swimming in a river of shit, you head for the nearest shore, not ride it out.

As for clinical depression, I know from experience what that's all about, and it wasn't easily treated in my case. The doctors that 'treated' me were nothing more than drug pushers with degrees. After a year of taking these horrible fucking drugs that did nothing but give me side effects, I quit seeing the doctors and dealt with this shit on my own. The problem was never my view on life, because I still see it the same way. The real problem was that I just didn't have a sick enough sense of humour to laugh at how absurd the world is. Now I do, and As long as I can still get a kick out of this sad, sad world, I think I'll be alright.