And maybe this'll end up in the lounge, but the text first made its appearance in Chit Chat, so...
From the PM A Confession thread:

Quote :

"I've been creeping closer and closer to suicidal territory. The care of my cat if I'm gone is what kept me from doing something irreversible on Thursday. Then I had a three and a half hour panic attack today. I remember <10 minutes of that time. I'm calling around first thing in the morning for a therapist."

I've always been a proponent of mental illness awareness and acceptance; activism to reduce the stigma of mental illness; and openness and frankness when discussing mental health matters. And then I felt the need to hide behind some semblance of anonymity: hypocrite. (That was my confession.)

Dang near everyone reads Postsecret; pay attention to the business at the bottom of the page, too (this week, it's not there.) The suicide hotlines and prevention services have resources for friends and family, too.

Spoken as a layperson: if someone confides something like this, stick with them. Talk with them, ask how you can help (if at all), or if there's anything you can do. Sometimes, they're sharing with you because they don't feel they can trust, or should burden, the people close to them with issues like this. But also ask for guidance from professionals/those in the field.

Quote :

"i worry more about people who don't tell anyone they have those kinds of thoughts. if they're sharing with you at least they actually don't want to die and will probably continue to seek help."

Exactly. But one can never assume that they don't truly want to die.

Quote :

"There isn't one. If a person is sharing things like that, chances are that they do not want to kill themselves, but are interested in having a person listen to them. Going over their head and calling the police or whomever you call on something like that can really damage a person who already feels like they are struggling to have control in their life. Listen to what they say, tell them that they have people who care for them and encourage them to seek help. locking up a potentially suicidal person is like convicting a potential criminal with zero evidence. I never understood how you could take away someone's freedom based on a hunch, for a crime they didn't commit. /soapbox"

Unfortunately, sometimes, the mindset of a suicidal person is completely irrational. Consequences don't mean much since they'll be dead soon, so it's okay to tell someone. A temporary loss of control in one's life > loss of life. I've been hospitalized involuntarily five times - between the ages of 12 and 17. I would not be alive if not for the initial suicide attempt that prompted the first hospitalization and the intensified, focused treatment that resulted.

I understand your stance a bit, but having been on the other side...sometimes, people really don't know what's best for themselves. Especially once at the point where suicide is no longer just an abstract concept.

8/22/2010 11:35:56 PM

No one gives a fuck

8/22/2010 11:36:52 PM

obligatory

[WORDS] [tl;dr]

8/22/2010 11:37:18 PM

tl;dr

8/22/2010 11:37:50 PM

^^pretty much

I guess I should have included a /psa and /words

8/22/2010 11:38:42 PM

Quote :

"No one gives a fuck "

yea. that is kind of the point of the thread. what to do for people who feel like no one gives a fuck. and who may not give a fuck themselves.

Xtine - only the care of your cat was stopping you? what about matt? and your friendz? i mean, i understand, though i've never actually been on the brink of suicide. definitely had some dark thoughts though.

[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:40 PM. Reason : .]

8/22/2010 11:39:17 PM

8/22/2010 11:39:28 PM

Glad I was on topic then

8/22/2010 11:40:50 PM

but zorthage would cry

8/22/2010 11:43:50 PM

to the OP

i actually resent the fact that you are lecturing us about this shit

it's not our responsibility to make sure you don't do something stupid

[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:44 PM. Reason : g]

8/22/2010 11:43:51 PM

I could tell that was her confession. I thought it was selfish given how much people love her, especially her husband. But I don't understand suicide.

8/22/2010 11:44:09 PM

oops never mind




[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:46 PM. Reason : ]

8/22/2010 11:44:15 PM

People care for you, b. Probably more so than you think.

8/22/2010 11:44:22 PM

^^didn't read.

8/22/2010 11:45:09 PM

can't you read joe?

Quote :

" And then I felt the need to hide behind some semblance of anonymity: hypocrite. (That was my confession.) "

8/22/2010 11:45:19 PM

http://www.hulu.com/watch/95971/the-bridge

8/22/2010 11:45:31 PM

Quote :

"it's not our responsibility to make sure you don't do something stupid "

That’s dumb reasoning.

It’s no one’s responsibility to do anything.

But human beings naturally form ourselves into groups so that we as a group can help out other members of the group. It’s common human decency to intervene if another human you know of is having issues like this.

8/22/2010 11:45:36 PM

yea i don't think she was talking specifically about wanting someone to prevent her from doing something, but just if a friend or person ever reaches out to you that there are things you can do. and they aren't reaching out because they want you to stop them necessarily.

[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:46 PM. Reason : .]

8/22/2010 11:45:39 PM

fuck this thread

the most extreme form of selfishness

just fuck it

8/22/2010 11:47:00 PM

Quote :

"I thought it was selfish given how much people love her, especially her husband. But I don't understand suicide."

Not to shit all over this thread, but are you fucking kidding me? Why would you even make that comment and follow it up with a qualifier like that?

To my understanding as someone who has never ever had a depressed thought in my life, a lot of depression and suicidal thoughts problems have to do with chemical imbalances... certainly not some conscious decision to be selfish as you put it.

[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:49 PM. Reason : and I'm pretty sure OP did NOT write that either]

8/22/2010 11:48:15 PM

so wait, does she want to die or does she just want attention?

8/22/2010 11:49:34 PM

Quote :

"yea i don't think she was talking specifically about wanting someone to prevent her from doing something, but just if a friend or person ever reaches out to you that there are things you can do. and they aren't reaching out because they want you to stop them necessarily. "

Precisely.
If you look at some of the responses to that post, you'll see that some people really have no idea what to do if they were to ever end up in a position to help.

And this is a fantastically educated messageboard - especially as teh internet goes

8/22/2010 11:50:12 PM

contemplating suicide most of the time doesn't have anything to do with how many people love or care about you in your life.... just sayin

8/22/2010 11:50:16 PM

^^^^ i agree. i used to think it was selfish and sometimes it is hard when i read about it to not think "how selfish now all the people left behind have to suffer"

but i had a friend from HS commit suicide last year and i don't know...its just a weird thing.

^ also agree

[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:50 PM. Reason : .]

8/22/2010 11:50:20 PM

Just saying, for a girl who loves logic she sure as shit doesn't see how much people care about her and how stupid it would be to end her life and ruin the lives of countless others. Obviously, she doesn't give a shit about herself right now but how dare she not think about how her actions could negatively affect others. effect wtfever

8/22/2010 11:50:35 PM

you fucking suicides. you bunch of selfish narcissists.


the only people you hurt are all the people in your lives, your friends and family. but you don't give a fuck about anyone but yourself. only a real piece of shit will lay that karmic burden on their friends and family, and check out leaving everyone else to clean up and bear that load.

ambrosia, if your going to kill yourself, at least go out in a meaningful way. like dousing yourself with gasoline and setting yourself on fire in the brickyard. make it spectacular.






[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:52 PM. Reason : ]

8/22/2010 11:50:35 PM

Okay I skimmed the post and think I can relate. Like just today, I was playing TreeTwista in the TWW Xbox NCAA 11 online dynasty. Prior to the game, my Ohio State Buckeyes had somehow dropped to number two in the polls despite our flawless 9-0 record -- so, needless to say, I was pretty bummed even before kickoff.

But on the first drive things started to look up! My defense penetrated his offensive line on third down and Tree's QB (Penn State) was hit by one of my lineman, causing the ball the fly into the hands of my left end. What a swing!

But wouldn't you believe it, on the very first play from scrimmage, Terrelle Pryor goes off and throws the ball into double coverage, leading to an interception. I really wanted to kill myself for making such a boneheaded play. But I didn't! I stuck to my gameplan and in the end I perservered! Big time! Final score, OSU 55, PSU 14.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say, is don't let life or the AP Poll get you down. Keep your chin up and don't be afraid to rely on your running game when your all-world QB goes down with a shoulder injury in the second quarter.

8/22/2010 11:52:12 PM

when you people start to mentally group who is on what side of this issue please don't group me with joe

joe just proved that he's a worthless piece of shit

8/22/2010 11:52:22 PM

maybe you don't (or think you don't have) have any friends/family, maybe you think your friends/family would be better off without you, there are probably endless thoughts that don't make sense to us that cross the mind of someone contemplating suicide

when you are contemplating suicide (seriously contemplating it) do you really think you're in a rational place to sit there and be like "this could potentially hurt someone"

you're asking an irrational, mentally disturbed person to act rationally in a time of complete irrationality.

[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:53 PM. Reason : .]

8/22/2010 11:52:42 PM

so now we're taking advice on how to deal with a suicidal friend from the same irrational person? fuck that

[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:56 PM. Reason : i just realized something terrible. fuck.]

8/22/2010 11:53:38 PM

lol yeah this thread is ironic. Yo I'm suicidal but here's how to talk to me or other suicidals.

I think when you make it public like this it's a cry for attention and tww is the wrong place for that. If you were really suicidal that needs to go to family and your husband.


Irrational or not, wait it out a fucking second and decide when the moment passes.

8/22/2010 11:56:33 PM

lol @ ernie

8/22/2010 11:56:35 PM

I don't understand depression either for what it's worth, but I've known people who have everything (money, great career, loving S.O., great family) who have SEVERE depression. It's not a rational situation and it's completely out of their control.

That's why I think trying to assign rationality to it and saying "X loves them" so it's not logical for them to feel like that is just silly and really, really ignorant.

8/22/2010 11:56:43 PM

^4 as someone who has been on both sides of the equation perhaps she has some helpful advice

and besides, i meant irrational IN THE MOMENT of seriously contemplating suicide

she might still be irrational but she's alive so clearly she made it to a more rational state

^ yea i agree with that

[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:58 PM. Reason : .]

8/22/2010 11:57:00 PM

kiwi is a dumb cunt

but i would fuck her tits

8/22/2010 11:57:14 PM

8/22/2010 11:58:02 PM

Well then they need to stop labeling themselves as logical.

8/22/2010 11:58:33 PM

Quote :

"Irrational or not, wait it out a fucking second and decide when the moment passes."

Do you understand what the first word you used that I quoted even means? You have to be trolling or drunk.

[Edited on August 22, 2010 at 11:59 PM. Reason : typo]

8/22/2010 11:59:17 PM

or terminally dumb

8/22/2010 11:59:32 PM

People have the right to kill themselves. Its retarded to say otherwise unless your some heaven 'n' hell beleivin nancy

I'm astraladvent and this message is brought to you by tww for android

8/22/2010 11:59:54 PM

you can piss off billy.

ive had about 5 people in my own circle of friends throughout my life commit suicide.

it's absolutely devastating, it destroys families. it devastates friends. even to people who were mere acquaintences or coworkers. everyone is pulled down with guilt wondering what they could have, should have, done.

suicide is pure selfishness. its taking the easy way out and fuck everyone else.

8/22/2010 11:59:55 PM

Man up or check out. Stop attention whoring.

8/23/2010 12:01:19 AM

Quote :

"it's absolutely devastating, it destroys families. it devastates friends. even to people who were mere acquaintences or coworkers. everyone is pulled down with guilt wondering what they could have, should have, done."

well they could be dead

8/23/2010 12:02:45 AM

87% of those who commit suicide later say that they wished they hadn't.

8/23/2010 12:04:12 AM

for real. if you're going to do it, if you're going to devastate your friends, family, and coworkers... then at least make it spectacular. make it front page stuff. make it for a cause, or something.

8/23/2010 12:04:58 AM

yeah you're right it was your fault. It would be better if people suffered alone since they are obviosly notgood at getting help just so that we don't have to feel bad. Suicide & murder are neccesary parts oof society.

Thank you kiwi. If you seriously hate life then do it, otherwise try to find the good things and shut your whiny ass up. Everyone goes through awful peroids. Makke sure you don't have alternate mental issues or something causing those feelings, otherwise do it becausee you are a bummer anyways

I'm astraladvent and this has been a tww for android update

[Edited on August 23, 2010 at 12:12 AM. Reason : f]

8/23/2010 12:07:30 AM

8/23/2010 12:08:14 AM

ITT all but joeschmoe seem to have SOME grasp on mental illness

but joeschmoe, not really getting it at all

8/23/2010 12:09:00 AM

he just sounds like the typical talk big on the internet type

8/23/2010 12:09:38 AM

I think we should try our best to dispel myths or "common sense" ideas about suicide. Every single threat or attempt must be taken seriously. People who attempt or threaten suicide in a manipulative way or an attention-seeking way are so frustrating and so annoying...and, unfortunately, they're often the same people who eventually complete the act "successfully."


On the other end of things, I would remind suicidal folks that the best way is to make it look like an accident. I know that concealing the suicide may not be a top priority at the time, but really, it's just the polite thing to do for the folks you leave behind.

8/23/2010 12:11:08 AM