What is your view on suicide?

Question

I'm just looking for people's opinions on the subject. Has anyone heard of anyone successfully killing themself by staying in a car full of carbon monoxide?

I'm already seeing a psychiatrist and therapist so I don't need advice on this. Thanks.

Answer 1

I believe that our life belongs to us. It is our property. We can choose to do whatever we please with it. I don't think suicide is a crime or a 'sin'. I think there are times when it's a logical move.

The thing is, it's not reversible. So you want to be very very sure! You have to be in an awful lot of pain to want to end your life, especially if you're young, because you're throwing so much away. It should really be considered a final option, a last resort.

If you're seeing a shrink, that's good. Try to be patient. Stick around for a while. Things will probably get better! 8^)

As for the carbon monoxide technique. I'm a little afraid to talk about it because I don't want to give you 'instructions'. But carbon monoxide poisoning is relatively painless. One problem is that if you change your mind halfway through, you might still die, or you might live with terrible brain damage. People who die of carbon monoxide poisoning, their skin turns cherry red.

Answer 2

What a great lot of thoughtful, concerned answers! I am NOT a religious person (nothing wrong with it of course), though I'd like to think that I'm spiritual. Many years ago I made a serious attempt and was in a coma for about 2 weeks. The whole time I was aware. I was aware, that I was still aware. Every religion/practice in the world says suicide is no good. Some buddhists believe that you go to a state where you're totally alone WITH OTHERS who have done the same thing, but you can't connect with anyone. You can feel them there with you, but you can't FIND them, in any way. In the coma, everything was like a solid grey, and I remember how alone it felt - much worse than the loneliness and fear I was feeling before the attempt. I was graced that there was no severe brain damage or other terrible effects. Suicide is always an 'answer' that comes from the greatest pain and the deepest, blackest darkness that few people understand let alone know. I still have bad times, but I will never forget that feeling of loneliness that was so much worse than my problems were at the time. And have been since. It just isn't any answer. I suppose it's true that it is selfish, but try being really selfish and live. No one would ever want to spend any time in that greyness. It was awful. The worst thing I've ever known. Stay in light. And love. I still see a therapist and don't need any advice either, so I hear what you're saying. It's a serious question and maybe it will help someone who is having trouble.

Answer 3

This is a true story...I had a friend who tried to commit suicide by carbon monoxide a few years ago. Today he is in a long term health facility and has to be tended to around the clock as he is unable to do anything for himself. I tried to end my life by taking about 200 xanax tablets that I had accumulated and drinking rum and coke. I failed and ended up in intensive care. My story can be read if you go to Yahoo search under "The Last Temptation of George Petrie". I was Baker Acted and hospitalized (against my will) for 30 days. I took the anti-depressant medication and when I was released I felt stronger than I had in a long time. I went to court and fought and got back everything that was taken from me. I continued to get stronger, even tho' I had to try a few different types of medications. Today I am stronger than I have ever been in my life and very thankful that I was forced to take medication. The sad part of this is that, if I had diabetes and had to take insulin I would have taken it. Since I had a mental illness I fell into the "trap" that the stigma attached to this type of illness places on people. I thought I could beat this on my own but I was wrong. It is a problem with brain chemistry and needs to be treated like any other organic disease. I wish you the very best

Answer 4

My opinion... don't do it. I know you're seeing someone now, which I'm very happy for. I won't council you on this, you asked us not to, and you're already doing the right thing. Sometimes.. things are so dark and difficult, and it sucks because you may be only a lightswitch away from changing your entire view. A lot of people have been there. I've been there myself. Only thing that got me through was my hobby - my passion for writing music. It gave me a different viewpoint. I realized there's a spark for something that makes me feel whole and good. Now I see things sadly still sometimes, but very differently - and never sad enough for me to walk away from it.

Many years ago, my next door neighbor killed himself by being in a car in his garage with the engine running. So yeah. It worked. He left behind 2 kids and a beautiful wife. Was extremely sad and such a loss. He was a good guy and no one knew the extent of what was going on until he was gone.

The act of killing yourself may take a bold moment, but you're not being brave or honorable. Even a coward can have a single bold moment. But you're proving you're a coward for taking the easy way out. It takes a lot more bravery and heart to actually live life during those dark times. Getting through these times just makes you a stronger person and it makes you value life even more. Believe me.

Please.. take care of yourself and continue talking to your psychiatrist nd therapist. I'm hoping you'll find your lightswitch soon.

Answer 5

My opinion: I can see why someone would consider suicide, its a way to end pain, but it is a very selfish act because it causes so much pain to those left behind. Many family and friends must attend support meetings to come to terms with not being able to help the person who died. It may not be right, but there is also a stigma attached to suicide and the survivors have to deal with that too. They continually ask themselves "why couldn't I help"?
I guess if I had to say my feelings on suicide it that it is a total waste of a life. If someone feels life is really not worth living then why not donate your life to helping others in truly giving acts. Rather than die, if you don't really care, then work with those who need your help (like AIDS, people in the worst situations), be a hero. Now this is really hard to do because many people who want to commit suicide are depressed and its hard to get started when this is the case. I bet if more depressed people said "whatever, I hate life I might as well go out and risk it all helping others" then their depression would lift and they would find a new lease on life.
I totally understand why someone would be suicidal so I'm not passing judgment, things can seem so hopeless for a person. These are just the ramblings of my opinion--since you asked. As for CO posioning, I have heard of it happening accidently, like the exhaust getting clogged in snow. (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm4501.pdf) It can happen even if you do not intend for it to and leak into houses and hurt other people (webmd.com). It can cause brain damage besides death. The CDC says more than 2,000 commit suicide by intentionally poisoning themselves with CO. www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm

One other thing, I had a friend who tried to commit suicide and now he is in a wheelchair forever. Looking back now, this person can't believe he ever wanted to die and certainly didn't want it to turn out this way. Moods change over time and my opionion is wait and see if things get better. Sorry, I have to say it...Please tell your health professional you are asking about suicide.

Answer 6

I have a bit of a double sided view.

A friend of mine did actually kill herself. We knew she was emotionally severely damaged, and had massive emotional issues. Yet she left us wondering - did we help enough, was there something else we might have tried.

She left us without a goodbye note, or anything.
I think that anyone contemplating suicide should at least, as a service to those he/she is leaving behind, leave a note with a goodbye, and an explanation.

So, while i can understand that there are factors in life that grow over peoples head, i still think leaving life without at least an explanation is cruel to those left behind. Perhaps even more so than that which leads a person to choose to end his/her life.

Also, i would hope that the person thinking about suicide, would have exhausted EVERY last option for help and advice.
Once done, there is no way back. It`s final.

Good luck with your quest - and i hope you find some way out of the despair you must be in.

Answer 7

Suicide is a horrible thing.

I have a friend that hung herself not even 2 months before her 17th birthday. It left everyone wondering what we did wrong and how we could have helped her more.

You don't want to do that to your family. Suicide takes a long time to finally accept and overcome. If you are actually thinking about going through with it, think of how you are going to make your friends and family feel. I went through 6 months of questioning what I did wrong to make her do it and feeling guilty.

And it's very possible to die with your car running in the garage. It's carbon monoxide poisining.

Answer 8

Well, yes, I have, and I think it is a terribly selfish thing to do. I understand a person can become depressed, but ultimately, they need to think about the pain they are inflicting on those left behind. Nothing is ever worth killing oneself over. Life is not stagnant and given time, things always get better. A person contemplating suicide is really a person screaming for help. Hopefully, someone is listening and ready to save their life by getting them to therapy and making sure they have adequate medication.

Answer 9

My mom told me the following, and it's always helped me put things in perspective when it comes to suicide:

"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem."

Always remember that what hurts today won't hurt tomorrow or a week from now, a year from now, etc. Pick a point on the horizon to look toward and know that today's hurt won't last. It's not easy, but with suicide, there's no opportunity for things to get better - and they do ALWAYS get better - even when it seems like it won't, or if it takes longer than you'd like.

Answer 10

My girlfriend's mom died that way. She was the one who found her.

I know you're seeing a professional, but do you have a plan and intent that they don't know about? Tread carefully, if you're actually considering this, there are things that NEED to be addressed in therapy that are being overlooked rignt now.