Posted by Ilene on December 27, 2003, at 23:00:56
In reply to How do you escape this mental trap?, posted by Camille Dumont on December 27, 2003, at 20:12:39
> The more I twist and turn ideas in my head, the more hopeless it seems.
>
> I've asked myself millions of times "what's the meaning of life?" and come up with no satisfactory answer.
>There is no answer. It's like asking, "What is the meaning of a fish?" Fish are alive, after all. Forget about the question.
> Yet, everybody around me seems to be utterly certain that life is a preferable state to death. How so? How can society as a whole compare something with something else that is totally unknown.
>Most people enjoy themselves, if not all the time, then often enough so that they have other things with which to occupy themselves than "what is the meaning of life".
About the unknown--read Hamlet's soliloquy.
> Is the bias "genetically-inherent" as in its built into us to want to live ... and if so, is it possible that mine might be a bit damaged?
>Yes, and yes.
> If we afford animals (and some people) the dignity of a painless end when they are phisically terminally ill or when their quality of life is almost nil and won't improve, why is it that death must be avoided at all costs when it comes to psychological illness that just won't go away? Why can't we benefit from the same compassion?
>I'm with you there.
> And given that I can't find a way to rationalize the fact that life is inherently better than death, isn't normal that if I'm not well I'm looking to the only alternate state to life? If so, why does everybody around me seem to disapprove and / or convince me that they "know better" and that once I'm "cured", somehow I'll "get it" and want to live?
I think it's normal. About "getting it": suicidal people are usually depressed, so if you are not depressed you are not likely to be suicidal. It just won't occur to you because you'll be busy with life.
Most people can't accept the thought that someone gets so little from life that ending it is a good idea.
Your social life will improve if you stop talking about it, because people around you will be more comfortable.
> Is there something I don't get? Am I missing a few screws or something?
If you weren't missing a few screws, would you be posting here?
Ilene
poster:Ilene
thread:293866
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031217/msgs/293903.html