Bringing suicide out of the closet!
By GreatMartin
@GreatMartin (23671)
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
February 19, 2016 9:12am CST
I read about a young man committing suicide and I wondered if that was the only answer he could find to whatever his problem was. It isn't a pleasant topic but I think it is worth a discussion.
I had one personal encounter with suicide when I contemplated it on the evening of March 31, 1967. I was completely bombed out of my mind (drunk), had eaten so much I, literally, thought I would bust, was trying to get over a break up with a lover, was out of work, hated myself--but I couldn't do it-the reasons may sound funny and/or stupid now but at the time they stopped me.
1. I was afraid if I shot myself in the head I would mess up and wind up being a vegetable.
2. The same if I took pills and took the wrong amount.
3. No way could I cut my wrists--too chicken.
4. It was late night/early morning--not enough, or fast enough, traffic to jump in front of a car/bus/cab and didn't feel it was right to possibly ruin another person's life.
I kept on going over ways but none seemed to be the answer. I left my apartment at 3 AM and walked the streets of Manhattan until 9 AM when I called for help and everyday since then has been a blessed day and even though I have had some hard, rough times suicide never entered my mind again.
The other was the suicide of the husband of one of my closest female friends--they had everything any young couple could want plus two beautiful children--he never left a note and to this day she doesn't know why he did it--thankfully she got on with her life but to this day she wonders why.
In the 80s I saw many young men with AIDS commit suicide rather than face what was ahead--and I do keep a supply of pills (I know the dosage now) IF I ever deteriorate to the point I can't live independently--at least that's what I say now.
This is a longer discussion than I had planned to write but we have to bring suicide out of the closet--SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER!
14 people like this
3 responses
@patgalca (18391)
• Orangeville, Ontario
19 Feb 16
My kids have always been my reason for staying alive. When they were younger there was no way I wanted to leave them in the hands of their father (for obvious reasons I've posted about in the past). Now that they are older I know they STILL need me and have weddings and grandchildren to look forward to one day. There have been so many times, though, that I wished I could be where my father is.
Last week on Blue Bloods Danny was talking to a girl who was sitting on a ledge ready to jump. He told her that he was in the same position with another person once before, except that person jumped. He said the guy turned around in the air and he could see in his face that he realized he made a mistake. Once you do it you can't undo it. It was a very poignant and strong statement made on that show. There were other story lines going on in that hour but those few minutes made an impact and hopefully saved a few lives.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
21 Feb 16
When true depression is involved the hopelessness is so painful there is no other answer. I have been depressed and it was my faith that saved me but I know the blackness and all the love from others in the world can't touch it.
