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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on September 28, 2006, at 1:05:26
The thread called, "Suicide attempt" has gotten me thinking...
...that there are no regrets if one kills oneself because, well, one will be dead!
If I were in severe unbearable pain, I still think I would rather kill myself than have to endure the unbearable yet temporary pain.
I think I still would choose death even knowing that the pain will be over and I will live a good life. I would choose death because at the moment I would be suffering from *unbearable* pain.
Once I'm dead, there will be no regrets about having missed out on the good life.
It's unlikely that I will suffer from *unbearable* pain and I'm not even sure that unbearable pain is possible. If it were unbearable, wouldn't that automatically mean that you would die from it? Because, if you live through it, then you've "beared" the pain.
Anyways, I'm probably not making much sense now. LOL
I think what I mean is that quality of life is very important and that in some cases death is preferable IMHO.
People should still choose life over death though because if there is a chance for pleasure in the future, I think it's worth it.
LOL I think I totally contradicted myself with that last sentence.
Deneb*
Posted by Michael83 on September 28, 2006, at 1:24:05
In reply to Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by Deneb on September 28, 2006, at 1:05:26
>>>>>People should still choose life over death though because if there is a chance for pleasure in the future, I think it's worth it. LOL I think I totally contradicted myself with that last sentence.
No that makes perfect sense. I think about stuff like that a lot and I think I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain by staying alive.
I'd be more worried about all the things I'd be missing out on. I think the things I do matter for their own sake, and who am I to say there isn't a bigger reason for it? Never hurts to live out life and make the best of it just in case.
Posted by Lindenblüte on September 28, 2006, at 9:01:20
In reply to Re: Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by Michael83 on September 28, 2006, at 1:24:05
This reminds me that I need to write a will and more importantly-- a LIVING will. What happens if I'm incapacitated and unable to communicate or recover any function?
I guess I don't want my loved ones agonizing over my fate. I want to give them the peace of mind that I don't want to be on respirator/life support after a severe compromise to my neurological function.
I can pretty much deal with anything else, other than the idea of me lying around for years with no consciousness or way of communicating such, and no chance of recovery.
-Li
Deneb* this is an interesting thread. I wonder what makes you think of these things (even when you're in a light-hearted mood)?
Posted by Phillipa on September 28, 2006, at 9:19:35
In reply to Re: Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by Lindenblüte on September 28, 2006, at 9:01:20
Deneb are you still taking your meds? If so how come the change to this subject? I'll be curious to see what others say. Love Phillipa
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on September 28, 2006, at 14:32:33
In reply to Re: Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by Phillipa on September 28, 2006, at 9:19:35
After you die, YOU may not be feeling pain or regret, but your friends and family will. They will be in a world of pain and wondering why they couldn't help you and/or how you could do this to them.
Suicide destroys many lives, not just one.
It always helps me to think abt that when I am in that place.
Best,
EE
Posted by ElaineM on September 28, 2006, at 16:40:34
In reply to Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by Deneb on September 28, 2006, at 1:05:26
I think about this one alot. I spent alot of last year tending to relatives as they got sick and died and it made me really conscious about what *I* would want. I have since created a living will and designated the person who will make decisions for me based upon it.
>>>>If I were in severe unbearable pain, I still think I would rather kill myself than have to endure the unbearable yet temporary pain.
For me personally the words unbearable and temporary would never go together. If I'm guaranteed that it's temporary (a recovery, or rehab phase) then I can endure alot. I think chronic pain is truly unbearable because there is a huge difference between existing and living.
I think there are many cases where I support the right to choose death. However, I'm not pro-suicide, or anti-psychiatry or anything like that. The main thing that I think of is how suicide may effect someone left behind. I have one relative who I would give my life for, and I always have them in mind when I get in a dangerous place. I don't know if it's so healthy, but when it comes to me suffering mentally I say, if I'd give my life for them, then I'll suffer through living it too. I'm extremely torn though about physical pain. It is something that can make even the most selfless person act egocentrically -- it can over-ride everything else....At least for me. Usually my conscience anchors me in the world of the living, but I don't think I'd endure physical torture for ANYONE. Maybe that sounds harsh. Maybe it's something you can only decide on once your living through it. I'm not sure. *sigh*
Deneb, this is a heavy subject. I'm with Phillipa for being curious about what got you thinking of this. Are you alright?
Posted by Deneb on September 30, 2006, at 0:28:05
In reply to Re: Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by Michael83 on September 28, 2006, at 1:24:05
> No that makes perfect sense. I think about stuff like that a lot and I think I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain by staying alive.
I sort of disagree there. I think there is a lot to lose in life. You can lose hope, loved ones, happiness, etc. However, I think it's worth risking losing those things to experience novel or pleasurable things.
Deneb*
Posted by Deneb on September 30, 2006, at 0:32:28
In reply to Re: Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by Lindenblüte on September 28, 2006, at 9:01:20
> This reminds me that I need to write a will and more importantly-- a LIVING will.
Everyone should probably have a living will. No one likes thinking about such bleak topics though.
> Deneb* this is an interesting thread. I wonder what makes you think of these things (even when you're in a light-hearted mood)?
The thread about suicide on the meds board got me thinking about death.
Deneb*
Posted by Deneb on September 30, 2006, at 0:41:43
In reply to Re: Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by Emily Elizabeth on September 28, 2006, at 14:32:33
> After you die, YOU may not be feeling pain or regret, but your friends and family will. They will be in a world of pain and wondering why they couldn't help you and/or how you could do this to them.
You're right EE, but I don't often (if ever) think about the pain and grief of those left behind. I think that I don't matter enough to cause that.
Deneb*
Posted by gardenergirl on September 30, 2006, at 0:47:54
In reply to Re: Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by Deneb on September 30, 2006, at 0:41:43
> You're right EE, but I don't often (if ever) think about the pain and grief of those left behind. I think that I don't matter enough to cause that.And yet you've said before that you've considered hurting yourself or trying to commit suicide in order to "prove something" to others. That would suggest that you do think that what you do matters to others.
gg
Posted by Deneb on September 30, 2006, at 0:54:35
In reply to Re: Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by ElaineM on September 28, 2006, at 16:40:34
> I think about this one alot. I spent alot of last year tending to relatives as they got sick and died and it made me really conscious about what *I* would want. I have since created a living will and designated the person who will make decisions for me based upon it.
Sorry about your relatives. That must have been difficult for you. I can only imagine...
> For me personally the words unbearable and temporary would never go together. If I'm guaranteed that it's temporary (a recovery, or rehab phase) then I can endure alot. I think chronic pain is truly unbearable because there is a huge difference between existing and living.I think I'm with you on the chronic pain, but then again I don't know if it would be unbearable because I don't have it right now.
>
> I think there are many cases where I support the right to choose death. However, I'm not pro-suicide, or anti-psychiatry or anything like that.Me too.
> I don't know if it's so healthy, but when it comes to me suffering mentally I say, if I'd give my life for them, then I'll suffer through living it too.
Right now I would say I would endure mental suffering, but then again I'm not suffering mentally at the moment...
> Usually my conscience anchors me in the world of the living, but I don't think I'd endure physical torture for ANYONE. Maybe that sounds harsh. Maybe it's something you can only decide on once your living through it. I'm not sure. *sigh*
Luckily, physical torture is extremely unlikely.
> Deneb, this is a heavy subject. I'm with Phillipa for being curious about what got you thinking of this. Are you alright?
I'm fine. Just a typical day pondering life and death. LOL
Deneb*
Posted by Deneb on September 30, 2006, at 1:03:32
In reply to Re: Hmmmmm...*trigger* (about death and stuff), posted by gardenergirl on September 30, 2006, at 0:47:54
> And yet you've said before that you've considered hurting yourself or trying to commit suicide in order to "prove something" to others. That would suggest that you do think that what you do matters to others.
>
> ggHmmmm....you've got a point there. Maybe I think I do matter when I'm in one of my, "You do this and think this or else I will kill myself and then you'll be sorry" states.
I like to think that I matter enough that strangers on the internet would be sorry for my death, but I have to face reality. I don't think that will happen. People come and go all the time, what difference will I make?
Killing myself won't prove squat and people won't give a damn that I'm dead, so why sacrifice myself?
Deneb*
This is the end of the thread.
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