Suicide

[Fred1369]

I don't think anyone has actually killed themself because their political party lost an election. Usually it is a failure of some kind, their business, marriage, career. Maybe they are trying to cheat a deathly disease. But more probably a failure of some kind. Is the failure thier fault? Is it something out of their control and they feel totally helpless? What stops some people while others go ahead? Does religion play a part when the depression is this low? How do you know how low someone would have to be? How low could you go? How can you judge if a reason is good or bad if you are not that person deciding? Have you known some one who did but you don't know why? Have you known some one who did and you do know why? What's the difference..those people felt the same inside? Would you just go ahead and do it or would you take the time to get your affairs in order to make it easier on your family? I mean, you may be a helpless failure but you still care about your family. Or could you be so depressed you can't care about the family? Have you ever tried and failed? Why haven't you tried again? If you tried and failed does that make you a worse failure than you already were? No, I haven't been drinking. I just think about it every day since I failed in December 1971.

[Mr Cujo]

You ok Fred...??
Seriously dude... Politics out the window..No BS...
Are you ok or are just tossing out a topic?
Enlighten us so we can partake ... or help...

[Fred1369]

I'm OK, for the moment. Not necessarily a philisophical topic for discussion. I was just curious who else played on this team.

[BVBOB]

I live about 10 miles from the town where I went to school and my kids now attend, in that 10 mile stretch I could probably name 10 people I know who commited suicide, some for love a couple for money, and some who were just plain nuts. One of those was one of my closest friends, had love(apparent to the outside world) had money and was one of the most level headed and kind hearted individuals I have ever known. Why he chose to put his mouth over the barrel of a 12 guage and end his life I will never know, and not too many days go by that I don't wonder. From my perspective suicide is a cowardly and selfish act, you devistate the people you leave behind and cause them nothing but grief always wondering if it was their fault. I cried my eyes out when I found out my buddy was dead but at the moment we were lowering him into his grave I felt nothing but anger at the grief he had caused his family and loved ones that were standing around me. I will always remember him as a great person and a great friend but I have no sympathy for what he did.

[Fred1369]

Bob, you are 100% correct. But when ya get that low ya just can't care anymore. You can't understand until you hit your own level of bottom. Don't say it can't happen. Everyone has a bottom. Not everyone hits it.

I certainly am not rationalizing, just trying to explain.

[DJW]

It takes a way all a man has, and all he will ever be. That is reason enough to hang on "for one more day." If you can take a moment to look back at the darkest moments of your life you'll see that there was a light at the end of the tunnel you just can't see it when you're in the dark.

There's always tomorrow Fred. "Life is worth living."

[Mr Cujo]

Everyone has a bottom. Not everyone hits it.

My family has experienced both over the course of my life. (those who tried and those who made it)
The emotions run the gamut, as Bob has pointed out..The burden is enormous as DJW points out..

The current state of 'things'.... politics, economy, coming holidays, and all the rest... are going to pile high the worries of the times and some will surely crack. I'd bet that we see a spike in the next several months.

FWIW, The 'team' is bound to contain far more than will admit here..but just so you know... everyone here is rootin' for everyone here .... Be they teammates or spectators..
Make the call if you need to. Somebody WILL answer.


.

[Waffen]

I'm OK, for the moment


Call someone now please.


W

[MadCity]

There have been some poignant, thoughtful and caring replies here, and I think that speaks volumes about this community. We may bicker and toss barbs from time to time, depending on any number of things we disagree about. But, in the end, if a fellow member seeks help (I'm not saying Fred is asking for a lifeline; maybe he's just tossing out a question), the troops rally around.

[Fred1369]

Thanx but talking is not what I or others might need. I'm in no danger right now. It's been 37 years so far. It could be a coupla more weeks or it could be another 30 years. It's not a decision thing, it's a breaking point thing.

Sarah Silverman had an interview with Katie Couric. She told the story that when she was 13 she went to a shrink who gave her an Rx for Xanax and told her to take one whenever she felt sad. When she went for her 2nd visit a month later she waited in his office for an hour. Then the hypnotist Dr. from upstairs came down crying saying that her doctor just hung himself.

[BVBOB]

Hey Fred, I'm sure you've seen the movie "Castaway", this quote from the movie always got to me, really made me think.

"I gotta keep breathing. Cuz tomorrow The Sun will rise....."
"We both had done the math. Kelly added it all up and... knew she had to let me go. I added it up, and knew that I had... lost her. 'cos I was never gonna get off that island. I was gonna die there, totally alone. I was gonna get sick, or get injured or something. The only choice I had, the only thing I could control was when, and how, and where it was going to happen. So... I made a rope and I went up to the summit, to hang myself. I had to test it, you know? Of course. You know me. And the weight of the log, snapped the limb of the tree, so I-I - , I couldn't even kill myself the way I wanted to. I had power over *nothing*. And that's when this feeling came over me like a warm blanket. I knew, somehow, that I had to stay alive. Somehow. I had to keep breathing. Even though there was no reason to hope. And all my logic said that I would never see this place again. So that's what I did. I stayed alive. I kept breathing. And one day my logic was proven all wrong because the tide came in, and gave me a sail. And now, here I am. I'm back. In Memphis, talking to you. I have ice in my glass... And I've lost her all over again. I'm so sad that I don't have Kelly. But I'm so grateful that she was with me on that island. And I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"

[Fred1369]

as God is my witness, tomorrow is another day.

[Casey0211]

Originally Posted by Fred1369

as God is my witness, tomorrow is another day.

You bet it is. And keep those tomorrows coming, too. I don't know what your situation is, but I just can't conceive of a good reason to commit suicide. I've known several people who've killed themselves, all very young, and none of them had a rational reason for it. I've often wondered if they'd lived to be my age if they would feel the same way. I doubt it. I'm willing to bet that whatever led them down that path would seem like small potatoes if they were alive today. I've never heard of anyone killing themselves and said to myself, "gee, that makes sense."

If you're having problems, you really need to talk to someone about it, Fred. It's not the suicide's external world (and especially not politics) that's the problem, it's his or her interior world. Everybody at one time or another fantasizes about offing themselves -- even if it's just out of "Tom Sawyer Syndrome," -- you know, where you get to come back and attend your own funeral and see what people have to say about you. But serious suicidal thoughts often have a physical component, as I'm sure you know. But people who take medication are often notorious for not taking it, and medications often need adjustments from time to time. Is that the case here? Suicide also runs in families, and you've indicated that's the case with yours. That indicates to me there is a great likelihood of a physical component.

[jerry34208]

The ones left behind often feel angry, and sad at the same time. It seems like a careless act, even down right mean. I don't think the one who is committing suicide believes they are being a coward or even mean. They are just giving up, giving in to the pain. It's in no way natural, there's something going wrong in the ole brain. Modern medicine and psychology are getting better. Hang in there, better times are ahead. Yes, some bumps too and that sucks but everything is temporary. Make the call and get a leg up when you need it. Suicide causes way way more pain than it fixes. One day they'll plug us into an elaborate dyno tune machine and it will spit out a regimen of vitamins/drugs that will keep us running right.

[ponderopa]

Originally Posted by Fred1369

as God is my witness, tomorrow is another day.

Fred, I wish I had some profound wisdom for you. I've lost friends; One I knew why, One I didn't. You hang in there and call somebody if the funk gets too thick.
By the way, you have the funniest avitar in the world; cracks me up every time I see it!