[Mountaindewed]

Why can't we decide to end our own lives? Why can't we make that decision? Like why isn't it allowed. You get locked up in the psych ward if you mention it or try it. Why should someone have to suffer through painful terminal cancer or just depression or other mental health issues that is endless?

I just feel people should have a choice.

[MuddyBoots]

Well, technically we do have that decision. It's just there are consequences. Death, for the obvious. Terrible pain towards loved ones. Loss of a purposeful life. Probably a lot more than I'm listing. Being put IP for these thoughts are to prevent suicide thereby preventing those consequences.

I agree with you, especially on people with little to no hope of recovery (terminally ill, people with dementia, lifelong chronic severe mental illness etc.).

It's like we have the decision to murder, just it's illegal and there are consequences. We have the ability to do whatever we naturally are able to. But it's all about consequences.

[*Beth*]

I believe your question is a good one, Md. It's one I have certainly turned over in my own mind many, many times. I guess the one thing I keep coming up with is the effect taking our own lives inevitably has on the people we leave behind. Even future people who may never have known us, but will always hear of us as "the great-aunt who killed herself" or "daddy's grandma who killed herself."

What's so sad about that is the "suicide" takes prominence over all other personality characteristics, and that could be so unfortunate.

I don't know. My own aunt

Possible trigger:

shot and killed herself

on her 60th birthday. I was 25 at the time; next month I will be 60. I have missed my aunt so much all these years. She had this sense of humor that was like no one I've ever known. Plus, now I'm facing 60 and I'm feeling extremely anxious, facing the age she was when she took her life. 60 came so fast.

Since her death, new children have come along into the family and they would have adored her - and she, them. But she took that opportunity away.

I worry that those children will know her only as

Possible trigger:

"the lady who shot herself"

rather than the bright, funny, fun woman she was.

Sorry. I'm rambling. But maybe my own upsetting experience gives you a small sense of what it feels like to be the family member of a suicide. I've also lost a very dear friend to suicide. He and I went to high school together. He suicided when we were 34 and it was a horrible shock. Just so, so wrong. Sooo much artistic and musical talent, lost.

[bizi]

I am sorry for your losses beth.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by bizi

I am sorry for your losses beth.

Thanks, bizi. Me, too. I also lost a cousin to suicide. He was a year younger than I (we were around 30) and he was my aunt's grandson. He also

Possible trigger:

shot himself

. I couldn't help but wonder if he got the idea

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(firearm)

from his grandmother, and if it was a gene of some sort. When we were growing up, my cousin had long, silky blonde hair. Beautiful kid.

[Victoria'smom]

It's frowned down upon . I feel like it's not my decision as it severely affects everyone who knows me, hears about me, or possibly would know me. It's like taking away options for others to interact positively or negatively. There's also the situation so much can go wrong. I don't think it should be illegal. but I do think it's not a choice because your part of a community. I can not do that because it increases the chance that my husband or son or close family member will also by 50% This doesn't mean my brain doesn't go there often but its always I'd screw up somehow and end up in the hospital or [worse . Where my family wouldn't allow my husband and son to let me go.

[Moose72]

My favorite uncle committed suicide about 3 years ago. It was a shock to us up North but to the southern part of the family they knew he was suffering with a fatal, constantly horrible disease that I cannot think of right now. I've watched old family films with him in it and I miss him. We had a special relationship when I was a kid and he and his brothers were teens.

[*Beth*]

I'm so sorry, @Moose72, about your favorite uncle. How sad.

It's true that terrible failures can occur when a suicide attempt goes wrong. I've known of two of them, one was a guy I only saw now and then in college and one was my sweet great-niece.

With objectivity I can say that S. was one of the most kind-hearted, caring, gentle people I have ever, ever known. She was also a very sensitive, fragile person with mental health that was delicate. And that's probably why she was repeatedly taken advantage of by certain people in her life, and eventually ended up in a relationship with an older guy who abused her. S. had fine grades in high school and was accepted to college as an art major. But college was just too much for her. She got into drug use, which tipped her over the edge altogether.

(Please don't read this trigger warning if extreme violence triggers you.)

Possible trigger:

When she was 19, my great-niece got a hold of a gun and shot herself in the head, intending suicide. But something went wrong. She ended up in a coma for about a week and awoke completely blind. She had surgery, but the bullet was in a place that could have been life-threatening to remove (ironic). Barring a miracle, she will never regain her sight.

S. is 24 now and lives in a group home. Her sui attempt has caused a vicious rift in my family, lots of finger-pointing and blame (complicated situation and it's all really, really sad). Maybe I'm totally wrong, but I wonder if the whole mess has contributed to my sister getting so stressed (S. is her favorite son's daughter) that she eventually had the stroke that has caused her to have dementia.

[Fuzzybear]

I think it's a good question..

The people left behind A good friend's dad killed himself when she was 15.

Also there is a massive risk of screwing up an attempt.

[otroo]

I honestly wish it was easier said than done. My last attempt scared me so much it was an overdose, and I came through, but for like a week or so afterwards, I had to either lean against a wall or use a walker to walk. I thought I was that way permanently. I wish it was a easy choice between a red or blue pill with no pain.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[Fuzzybear]

^
I wish too it was easy, with a pill and no pain.

[MuddyBoots]

I knew this guy that slit both his wrists and got permanent nerve damage in both hands from it. I have shyt kidneys from a lithium overdose. If things don't go as planned...there are consequences to that too.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots

I knew this guy that slit both his wrists and got permanent nerve damage in both hands from it. I have shyt kidneys from a lithium overdose. If things don't go as planned...there are consequences to that too.

Very true. It happens far, far more than most people know.