I know I haven't been blogging much, but I got a journal and have been writing some thoughts in there. I thought I would share some...
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Suicide is Selfish is an Awful Alliteration
I know I've talked about it before, but I think suicide is something really important to discuss. Especially because of what has just happened to someone who brought happiness and laughter to so many, yet couldn't find the same for himself (RIP Robin Williams). It is very, very misunderstood and I think it is extremely important to educate people. Suicide victims are victims of their own mind. I don't think people can quite comprehend that, particularly people who have never gone through depression themselves, or personally known anyone who have taken their own lives. I have gone through both. Not that I'm an expert on the subject, but I do believe I have a much better understanding than the general population.
Suicide stems from depression or any other mental illness. It is something people can't understand because it is all interior. There is no physical trauma, but that doesn't make it any less important than cancer. It is strange to me how people can have so much empathy for cancer patients, yet feel as though suicide victims are "selfish." That is an awful mindset to have. It is, essentially, the same thing as calling a patient with heart disease, selfish. Obviously no one believes that to be true, so why is suicide any different?
I think the difference to people is that cancer (or any other disease) is something that could happen to them, whereas depression/suicide never could. But the thing is, this isn't true. Depression could happen to anyone, at any time, regardless of how seemingly happy they are. It is extremely easy to fake a smile, while feeling as though a rain cloud is permanently stuck in your soul. It is something you can't control. As much as you want to be happy, sometimes you can't get out of bed. It is also very unpredictable and sporadic. Every day is different.
People with depression feel helpless, worthless, lonely. They feel like a burden to the people they love. That is one of the reasons they can't be called selfish. They truly believe that they are doing these people a favor by leaving their lives. In their sick heads, death is the only way out, the only thing that will cure their illness. And until you have endured these feelings, the black hole of emptiness, you have no room to make judgements. Your negativity is not helping anyone, but it sure is hurting a lot of people.
Suicide is also something people don't like talking about, but that is part of the problem. People with suicidal thoughts are forced to face it alone, when being lonely is a key component to depression. It is almost an awkward topic. People don't know what to say. So they try to distract people, instead of dealing with the real issue. They can't say the words "suicide" or "depression" because saying them somehow makes them true. In order to help this epidemic, we must learn how to deal with it, and accept it. People should not only be educated on the topic itself, but how to spot the signs, as well as how to actually assist people going through it.
There is nothing selfish about suicide, but there is a lot selfish about not doing anything about it.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Suicide stems from depression or any other mental illness. It is something people can't understand because it is all interior. There is no physical trauma, but that doesn't make it any less important than cancer. It is strange to me how people can have so much empathy for cancer patients, yet feel as though suicide victims are "selfish." That is an awful mindset to have. It is, essentially, the same thing as calling a patient with heart disease, selfish. Obviously no one believes that to be true, so why is suicide any different?
I think the difference to people is that cancer (or any other disease) is something that could happen to them, whereas depression/suicide never could. But the thing is, this isn't true. Depression could happen to anyone, at any time, regardless of how seemingly happy they are. It is extremely easy to fake a smile, while feeling as though a rain cloud is permanently stuck in your soul. It is something you can't control. As much as you want to be happy, sometimes you can't get out of bed. It is also very unpredictable and sporadic. Every day is different.
People with depression feel helpless, worthless, lonely. They feel like a burden to the people they love. That is one of the reasons they can't be called selfish. They truly believe that they are doing these people a favor by leaving their lives. In their sick heads, death is the only way out, the only thing that will cure their illness. And until you have endured these feelings, the black hole of emptiness, you have no room to make judgements. Your negativity is not helping anyone, but it sure is hurting a lot of people.
Suicide is also something people don't like talking about, but that is part of the problem. People with suicidal thoughts are forced to face it alone, when being lonely is a key component to depression. It is almost an awkward topic. People don't know what to say. So they try to distract people, instead of dealing with the real issue. They can't say the words "suicide" or "depression" because saying them somehow makes them true. In order to help this epidemic, we must learn how to deal with it, and accept it. People should not only be educated on the topic itself, but how to spot the signs, as well as how to actually assist people going through it.
There is nothing selfish about suicide, but there is a lot selfish about not doing anything about it.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
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