recovery from sucide..

[nataskapus]

that would have to be a tall order...(to come back from suicide)...

Or maybe the group should be called alt.suicide.attempt.recovery

You would have to be pretty damn special, if you could recover from a
suicide...

just thinking out loud..

[Bill Yeakel]

nataskapus <na...@kapus.com> wrote:
> that would have to be a tall order...(to come back from suicide)...

It certainly is. I am one of the very few who has accomplished the feat.
Thanks to the Easter Bunny who made me Pope.

[Peter Aylen]

If I may disagree, talking in general terms, I do not think that
recovery from suicidal disposition requires someone to be "pretty
damn special". Certainly, it may take courage to look for other
solutions, and the willingness to live if solutions can be found.
[My focus here is on the social-psychological elements, rather
than medical, such as severe chronic pain which would involve
other considerations].

My impression is that someone who is suicidal feels that their
life is out of their control, that their focus is on the hopelessness
of life. This attitude of separateness from the lives of "normal"
people means that they tend to lose social contacts and feel
isolated, and therefore reinforce "hopeless" thinking.

Though a person may require help to do so, it seems to me that
a first corrective step could be to break down the problem areas
of his life, for example, depression, can't get on with boss or
parents, etc. Then do an inventory of possible sources of help in
each of the problem areas, from debt counseling, to self-help
psychology books, or whatever is relevent. This requires a shift of
focus from hopelessness to possibility with the question, "how
effectively have I used these resources?" In other words, a person
begins from where they are, taking whatever initial steps they can,
and each step gradually empowers the person to take control of their
lives. Admittedly, this is easier to write than to do, but what is
the alternative?

Another essential is the willingness to ask themselves, if it is the
case, why does the sense of hoplelessness persist in my life, what
is it telling me about myself that I need to know? [If a person
poses such a question, a useful exercise is to write down whatever
comes to mind in response to that question. (The exercise can be
used for any thought, emotion, or event that causes concern].
When the writing is concluded, read what has been written. If
anything is unclear, you want to know more about something, etc.
then ask an appropriate question, and continue writing. The
exercise produces understanding of the relationships between
life experiences and feelings, including those of which we may not
be consciously aware. In doing this exercise, it is essential to
focus on the meaning or message about your life conveyed by the
emotions that arise . Do Not - repeat Do Not - allow emotions to take
over the mind, but keep back part of your mind as the conscious
analyst of what is going on.

Clearly this process can be emotionally painful, and professional
support from a therapist valuable.

If someone doesn't trust other people, they may use the exercise but
should be prepared to use a crisis line if required. Keep in mind
that even a very bad day means that a person has more to learn
about themselves, and also represents an opportunity to do so using
the exercise. In this way a person can see progress even through a
bad day. {Someone on medication to control their emotions shouldn't
use the exercise without getting professional advice first. The
exercise, I think, is best suited to a person who, though suicidal,
would be willing to take advantage of an opportunity to recover.
Others need professional help].

Lastly, a person needs to start learning about what steps others have
taken in similar situations to their own in order to recover their
lives, and the means they have found to do so.

This has been a long response. The aim has been to point out
a few steps that could be taken by anyone towards recovery,
particularly to point to a required change in perspective.

Obviously I don't know your particular concerns.

[Bill Yeakel]

Peter Aylen <pay...@pacificcoast.net> wrote:
>
> If I may disagree, talking in general terms, I do not think that
> recovery from suicidal disposition requires someone to be "pretty
> damn special". Certainly, it may take courage to look for other
> solutions, and the willingness to live if solutions can be found.
> [My focus here is on the social-psychological elements, rather
> than medical, such as severe chronic pain which would involve

We are talking about recovery from suicide, not disposition. Read the
messages, bozo!

>
>
> Clearly this process can be emotionally painful, and professional
> support from a therapist valuable.

How can a therapist help after you're dead? Get real...

>
> Lastly, a person needs to start learning about what steps others have
> taken in similar situations to their own in order to recover their
> lives, and the means they have found to do so.

alt.suicide.methods is a good place to start

>
>
> Obviously I don't know your particular concerns.

Then shut up.

>

[james]

On Wed, 25 Dec 2002 00:53:43 -0800, Peter Aylen
<pay...@pacificcoast.net> wrote:

>

It's easy for you to be so objective about it. Fuck recovery, I look
forward to a time when assisted suicide is available for all, then
desperate people wouldn't have to take their chances with risky
methods and face death alone.

[Bill Yeakel]

james <x...@z.com> wrote:
>
> It's easy for you to be so objective about it. Fuck recovery, I look
> forward to a time when assisted suicide is available for all, then
> desperate people wouldn't have to take their chances with risky
> methods and face death alone.

I'm looking forward to when involuntary euthanasia is legal for those of
us who can be trusted to use it wisely!

>

[Poochy]

> If I may disagree, talking in general terms

[snip]

OMG, are you for real dude? Too much verbal diarheah. Party on, or whatever.

Poochy

[Let_Me_Die]

I agree with you! I've attempted suicide several times in my life. Recovery sucks! The thoughts never, ever go away. Just let me get it over with! And I agree with the assisted suicide. All someone has to do is help me kill myself, and prevent anyone from intervening.

[Let_Me_Die]

Are you suggesting that, in my case, since I have a history of suicide attempts (the last one being almost 4-years ago), that it be legal for someone to come along and euthanize me just because I am suicidal? That I don't have to consent to it, they'll just do it? So long as I get to choose the method they'll use (or let me use) to end my life, I say I'm all for it!

[Queer]

I have to agree that the group title is misleading. Personally, I like the suggestion of 'alt.suicide.attempt.recovery' where we could openly discuss how we tried, and why we failed, and maybe even get into trying again. No, I am not suggesting encouraging someone to take their own life.

As for the concept of assisted suicide, most discussions centre around people who are suffering from chronic physical ailments that are causing severe painful suffering, and are terminal. Lately though, the topic of people who are suffering severe mental pain, as in severe depression, and allowing them to choose to end their life, and therefore their suffering. This is something I personally agree with, but, only if the method I'm allowed to use is of my choice. If I'm suffering from severe depression, and I want to end my life, help me to do it in a way I want to die by, and being drugged isn't how I want to be euthanized.

As for this idea of involuntary euthanasia, knowing my history, if you decide I must die, fine, help me to die then, but, only by the method I choose. All you have to do is stand by and either watch or wait somewhere close so you can stop anyone from interfering, thus prolonging my suffering, and you can confirm I succeeded.