Posted by coral on October 9, 2000, at 17:16:33
In reply to Re: It's my party and I'll die if I want to. , posted by SLS on October 9, 2000, at 11:11:23
"....Suicidality is often an impulse to escape an intensification of pain and feelings of doom.
The pain and feelings of doom are either transient or treatable. Often, the same person gets suicidal episodically. Their "rational" decision-making processes seem to change with the changes in the severity of their illness. Do you feel it is rational to allow or encourage such an individual to successfully end their own life during such an episode?"I think you're confusing "suicidality" with "suicide ideation." Much of what we "thought" we knew about suicide has been debunked, such as those who talk about it, don't do it. We now know that's a myth. Also, it's not easy to commit suicide. Suicide normally requires a great deal of planning for successful execution (sorry.... no pun intended.)
I, too, have been told by therapists, through researching, formal education and by my own personal therapist, that a depressed person's perceptions are more accurate than a non-depressed persons, in many instances. That's part of the difficulty in the role of the therapist, to ascertain which perceptions are accurate and which are distorted, due to the depression. Not surprising, the causes of the depression are almost always linked to accurate perceptions of the depressed person. Rather than being able to handle the situation, for whatever reason, the psyche/brain malfunction, resulting in depression.
As far as "allow or encourage", I have interrupted someone's attempted suicide and would unhesitatingly do so again. No, I would not encourage someone to commit suicide.
I think the point of this discussion is whether someone has the right to commit suicide, and whether it should be considered as a viable option. I also clearly recognize that it's a slippery slope once a society says "okay" to suicide. The worst case scenario being forced euthanasia.
But, ultimately, the choice to live or die must rest with the individual.
poster:coral
thread:42903
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000926/msgs/46017.html