Did she just go to sleep peacefully (suicide)?

Question

Just yesterday I found out that a girl I went to school with commited suicide. (this is like the third one in less than a year that I know of :-( From what I was told she was going through a very nasty divorce and had already lost custody of her two kids, and had recently lost her job and was facing eviction (she had substance abuse issues too). The coroner reported that she had died from a combination of medication and alcohol. There was an empty bottle of Vodka next to her bed where she was discovered (they are not sure if she downed the whole bottle but it is likely). I remember her from high school, she was a really gifted athlete, I can't believe that she did this. I'm really hoping that she just passed out, and didn't actually suffer.

Answer 1

I've seen many cases like this in my line of work. I don't know all of the details but from what you shared, I doubt there was any suffering in the actual physical death. It sounds more like she did most of the suffering before she took the pills and alcohol.

Poor girl. Bless her soul. I'm sorry for your loss.

Answer 2

Did she leave a note for anyone? Most people that consciously commit suicide leave a note or signs prior to their death. I have lost 3 friends to suicide. When someone drinks a lot (due to depression it seems here), they can't fully understand what is going on around them. She might have had a headache while drinking and thought she should take some pills to get rid of the headache. Being drunk, she might not have known that she swallowed more than 2 or 3 pills. So she could have accidentally overdosed. This happens a lot. Alcohol and any pill don't mix well. When you are drunk you can't control yourself. You do things you don't know you are doing. Many times a death will look like a suicide but it was an accidental death by drunkenly overdosing.

You are asking this in the religious section. Why? Are you concerned that if she actually did commit suicide that she will be in hell? I am Catholic and our Church says that suicide is an unforgiveable sin because you are dead and can't take it back, can't ask for forgiven after dying. I've been taught that you will go to hell if you commit suicide. Personally, I don't believe this. Because many suicides are due to drunkeness and/or drugs. Alcohol and drugs distort your mind and you don't fully understand that you will die with one more drink or one more pill. If people never drank nor did drugs, there would be a lot less 'suicides' because these people would be fully aware of what they were doing and thinking at that time. I think that if you commit suicide, you face Jesus for judgement and you can tell Him that you are sorry and ask forgiveness. He will know EXACTLY what happened and He will judge the situation and go from there. I suggest that you pray for the souls of people that have committed suicide or who have died by what looks like a suicide in case they are in purgatory, instead of hell.

Answer 3

Since this is listed in Religion and Spirituality, I believe the answer you're looking for is biblical. According to Eccl 9:5 and 10 and Ps 146:4, she is not suffering in a place of eternal torment for her action. God can read the heart and knows her suffering Ps 56:8. At Resurrection, all of her suffering won't be remembered and she'll be looking forward to her new life. Rev 21:4, Acts 24:15, Ps 37:11. Christian love, Bill.

Answer 4

This is a very sad but common situation. It is very likely that she died in her drug induced sleep and she was not aware nor did she suffer. I am very sorry that you suffered a loss and I feel that you need some support as well. Surround yourself with good friends (even some that share your grief) and talk about your feelings. It is hard to cope with deaths especially those that are close to your age. It proves that we can all pass away at anytime. Maybe her death has you wondering about your own life and this is a very natural and constructive process. You can learn from this incident and appreciate everyday as if it were your last. Experiences such as this are so tragic but you can get involved in organizations and help others. Getting involved in a positive manner can halp you deal with feelings of grief and you learn more about the process in the meantime. I will pray for you and everyone involved in this tragedy. Good luck and God Bless!

Answer 5

I am so sorry that you are having this experience with your high school classmates. Rest assured that she probably didn't suffer from the alcohol & medication nearly as much as from all the other things she had gone through. Only God can help her now and she will sleep in death at least until the second resurrection.

Answer 6

I am dealing with a suicide, and I understand your wondering about the last moments of her life. In my own situation, I know exactly what happened, and have to deal with knowing that the end of my father's life was anything but peaceful. My heart goes out to you.

In the situation you describe, it's really impossible for me to know what would have been likely to have happened to her medically speaking. Different drugs result in different effects in an overdose situation, and also react differently when mixed with alcohol. Effects of a drug also vary from person to person. I would wager that your friend had a relatively painless death, though.

I'm very sorry for you and her family.

Answer 7

Combining the Drugs and Alcohol like she did -- she most likely she passed out (went into a deep sleep due to the combination), and it was one of the more peaceful ways of passing ...

Sorry for your loss -- it is one of the most painful situations for survivors -- someone who they knew that had all these talents and gifts, and then to take their own lives .... it is going to be difficult for the near term, as you try to reconcile the young woman you knew with the one who consumed the alcohol/drugs and died ....

Answer 8

If she downed the vodka and pills, she probably did go into a deep sleep and every thing just shut down..the vodka alone may have given her alcohol poisoning and again put her into a deep sleep and she never woke up.I'm sorry her life was so bad she felt she had to do this. May God have mercy on her soul.

Answer 9

It is very possible that she did die in her sleep, but since she mixed the two, it is also very likely that she probably got pretty sick first. If really depends on what meds she took. Pain meds and alcohol will cause vomiting and rapid heartbeat, which is ultimately how most people die, they start vomiting and aspirate on it.

I am sorry to hear about your loss though, I can only imagine how you feel. I hope you have a better day.

Answer 10

It is unlikely that she suffered, and sounds like she just fell asleep. Regardless of that fact, she sounds that she was a very tortured individual, but she left behind two children who will suffer even more now that their Mom is gone, and I can't help feeling much sadder for them.