Have You Even Known Someone Who Committed Suicide?

[Kirk's_Tights]

A guy I worked with jumped off his 17th floor balcony. He invited all his friends over from our job and they played cards. The guys said he was really happy and having a good time. Soon after they left, he jumped.


His mom had died that year and he was really depressed and had pictures of her all over the place in his house.

Too bad, he was one of the first people I met at work, really nice guy.

 

[Balrog]

I knew two people who have committed suicide. One was a friend in high school who had a lot of personal problems with drugs and a dad who was constantly on the road with a professional rock group and didn't give a shit about him. He took his dad's gun and blew his brains out. Sad. The kid was a nice guy and a very talented drummer himself.

The second was a big blow in my life. She was a teacher/colleague/friend of mine who was about to lose her college position because of some arbitrary clause in her contract. I had learned after the fact she also had an abusive upbringing which played into the suicide. She was also single. We worked closely together on different projects, so I knew her well. I remember, about two months before she did it, I saw something in her eyes. I can't explain it, but I even asked her about it. She seemed taken aback and said she shouldn't talk about it. I regret not pursuing the matter further in hindsight. My last words to her were telling her how much I looked forward to continue working with her even as she and I both moved on to different positions. She took her own life with sleeping pills two weeks later.

And to the person who says suicide doesn't affect those left behind, you are wrong.

 

[Aurian]

(her final note, before the panicked, painful one, she just talked about how totally happy she was at this point in her life, and how excited she was to be able to go out on such a high ), .

*hugs*

That is how it was for my brother. He had been sad and distanced himself a lot from the rest of the family. But in febuary he brought us all home to celebrate his kids birthday and had a great time, talking about how he loved his car and family and everything. It was a wonderful day.
The next month he killed himself.
Someone later on told me that it is normal that those who has taken the decision to kill themselves, feel better for a while and enjoys "the rest" of their time, before doing it.

I guess it was true for him. I know that he must have planned it for a very long time, since he had several lifeinsurances and such.. copycatted his best friends death (also suicide).

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

yes, I've been angry, I've been sad, I've been confused (her final note, before the panicked, painful one, she just talked about how totally happy she was at this point in her life, and how excited she was to be able to go out on such a high )

I don't really think you understand the mind of a suicidal person.


Her happiness came from knowing that she was going to end her life and all the negative things would be gone forever and she'd be at peace.

A suicidal person doesn't have to be one who cries infront of people all the time or shows that they are actually hurting in any way. The guy I spoke about above who invited all his work buddies over was laughing and happy as he played cards with his friends. You would have never known he was suicidal.

In most cases, people who know they are going to kill themselves will do odd things like invite people over and be really happy but it's their way of having one last gathering with their friends/family before they say goodbye. They don't invite them over and say "I'm killing myself tonight. Wanna play cards?" He knew what he was doing to his last gesture was to spend time with close friends.

 

[pookha]

I think depression is something we should stop thinking of as a mental illness, because that makes people think it's odd, which makes them feel like they shouldn't admit to it, which just adds to the reasons to feel depressed and sorry for yourself. When in reality, at periods throughout life every one (or a majority of people at least) suffers some form of depression.

there is a vast difference between everday run of the mill temporary sadness that just about everyone has gone through at one time or another and real soul sucking chronic depression.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I think depression is something we should stop thinking of as a mental illness, because that makes people think it's odd, which makes them feel like they shouldn't admit to it, which just adds to the reasons to feel depressed and sorry for yourself. When in reality, at periods throughout life every one (or a majority of people at least) suffers some form of depression.

there is a vast difference between everday run of the mill temporary sadness that just about everyone has gone through at one time or another and real soul sucking chronic depression.

Oh, I know, and I don't mean there isn't a difference between people who are depressed and clinical depression. But there are people who because they don't want to admit they're depressed just suppress those feelings, whether it's out of concern for others, or a bit of paranoia that people may think they're weird.
There is a stigma attached to depression (and paranoia) even at levels that are "normal" because it is said to be a mental illness. Sure there becomes a point where it is, but there doesn't seem to be a distinction made between what's normal and what's a problem, at least in every day situations.