Posted by SLS on July 7, 2009, at 6:27:38
In reply to would I do it when I'm happy? ***triggers***, posted by Timne on July 7, 2009, at 3:38:40
> You saw the warning. Let's just say I'm talking about a close friend.
>
> Are people always sad, despondent and vegged out when they schedule their own dirt-nap?Tricky.
I do believe that people have the right to exercise autoeuthanasia. However, I also believe that most suicides do have their origins in feelings associated with depression (sadness, demoralization, despondency, helplessness, hopelessness, etc.), even though the decision reached during this period is carried over to a period without experiencing depression.if a decision made during this period is carried over into a more centered mental state. Rational suicide. Rational to whom? Should we allow every single person who decides upon this action to complete it, regardless of mental state of rationale? I don't think so.
> This person has long contemplated the individual prerogative to schedule their own exit.
Me too, although I have avoided doing the research necessary to formulate a painless plan. I guess I also have the prerogative to not take such a dangerous step until I really decide that it is necessary.
> It seems though, that the prerogative isn't related to emotional condition - - it's more economic. Like when there's no food to eat, why bother maintaining the eater? Then scheduling that thing becomes just another chore, like washing the dishes or taking out the recycling.
Now, you see, that doesn't seem rational to me, although I am sure it does to this person. (I am exercising my prerogative here). I would sooner place the individual in contact with a social outreach program to help you take care of such a simple, although distressing, dilemma rather than cheer him on to exercise his prerogative.
> I know some the pharmacological treatments that have recently been required to include warnings to this effect seemed to have something like that going on. They would motivate people to get up off the couch, but the newfound motivation sometimes turned out to be terminal; they acted on ideas they only contemplated in other circumstances.
This is why the third and fourth weeks of drug treatment for depression can be so dangerous. There is a recovery of mental and physical energy without a commensurate improvement in outlook. Sometimes, psychotherapy is needed to repair the damage that depression leaves in its wake. Outlook might not change at all without it. There may also may be unresolved issues that contributed to the induction of depression that must be reconciled in order to place less psychosocial stress on the brain.
It is all about outlook.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:905409
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20090624/msgs/905415.html