A word of caution about speaking too freely.

[TiredHorse]

As I recently posted, I am no longer hanging out at the bus stop. In light of that change, it was strongly recommended by someone I trust —the witch I've been conversing with— that I try acupuncture, for various reasons.

Ah jeeze. Getting stuck full of needles isn't my idea of therapeutic, but… Why not? It's something I hadn't yet tried, and at $25 for an hour it was affordable. And my witch assured me the acupuncturist was discrete.

The witch did not realize, as I learned very abruptly this afternoon, that acupuncturists are required to report suicidality.

The acupuncturist asked, in the initial consultation, what I was hoping to address, and I replied (among other things) that I had been depressed, and had recently been through a period when I had intended to end my life…

Her eyes got a little wider, and she started in with the formulaic, "are you now or have you ever been—?" entrapment, to which I dutifully replied, "NO!" She relaxed immediately, and the session went on. So it was not a disaster, as it might have been, but it was a good warning that however non-mainstream you think your healthcare may be, there are pitfalls when speaking openly.

My suspicion is that any state licensed practitioner is required to report.

My witch isn't any more licensed than a priest (even less so, I imagine), so she has no such requirement and thus I can —and do— speak openly of ending my life. And she has a fantastic attitude about it: "death is, after all, part of life." But I got complacent, and hadn't thought through how a licensed acupuncturist might be constrained by the law. I suspect massage therapists may be, too. And who knows who else?

I heartily encourage talking to someone if you imagine it may help you climb out of the pit, but be aware that choosing an alternative to modern western therapy may not eliminate all the risk of incarceration.

 

[Hunter]

Look at us, talking about the risk of some do-gooder jailing us for speaking openly about our deaths. It's absurd we have to hide away like criminals just to be able to end a lifetime of suffering. I'm glad you dodged a potential mishap.

 

[Purgatory]

I am sorry for your experince. Forgive me for having a good laugh when you referred to your practicioner as a witch!

 

[Arak]

@TiredHorse ,

You MUST be in the USA. That's just fucked up.

 

[2 be or not]

Thank you for looking out for us @TiredHorse, I hope the acupuncture gives you some relief.

 

[couragetodie]

i wonder why suicide is illegal in so many places. perhaps it's because we would prefer acting like it doesn't exist or we have everything in control. Or maybe there are many who have been stopped from ctb and they appreciate that and then want to stop others. And there are those who lost loved ones due to suicide and they want to stop that too. idk...

 

[TiredHorse]

I am sorry for your experince. Forgive me for having a good laugh when you referred to your practicioner as a witch!

Actually, she is a witch. I don't think she's Wiccan, but I'm not sure; the sects are a bit convoluted. But I'm glad you got a chuckle.

@TiredHorse ,
You MUST be in the USA. That's just fucked up.

Yup; land of the free, home of the brave. (Note: heavy irony in context of mental healthcare.)

i wonder why suicide is illegal in so many places. perhaps it's because we would prefer acting like it doesn't exist or we have everything in control. Or maybe there are many who have been stopped from ctb and they appreciate that and then want to stop others. And there are those who lost loved ones due to suicide and they want to stop that too. idk...

It's not that suicide is illegal here, it's that it's illegal for anyone other than a profiteering shrink in the pocket of Big Pharma to try and actually help you. Everyone else --who are the ones who might actually be helpful-- are legally required to turn you over to the profiteers or face professional destruction themselves.

I'll probably give acupuncture another couple sessions. After all, it's supposed to take a few times being poked before it really kicks in. I have to give it a fair shake.

 

[couragetodie]

Actually, she is a witch. I don't think she's Wiccan, but I'm not sure; the sects are a bit convoluted. But I'm glad you got a chuckle.

Yup; land of the free, home of the brave. (Note: heavy irony in context of mental healthcare.)

It's not that suicide is illegal here, it's that it's illegal for anyone other than a profiteering shrink in the pocket of Big Pharma to try and actually help you. Everyone else --who are the ones who might actually be helpful-- are legally required to turn you over to the profiteers or face professional destruction themselves.

I'll probably give acupuncture another couple sessions. After all, it's supposed to take a few times being poked before it really kicks in. I have to give it a fair shake.

That makes more sense. Such a strange world we live in — but sounds like you have cracked the code via cynicism. Only those certified by the state may communicate with those who want to ctb and not afraid to disclose this. I never thought about it that way — messed up.

 

[Deivis]

The witch did not realize, as I learned very abruptly this afternoon, that acupuncturists are required to report suicidality.

Witch? Priest? Are you from some fucking Haiti or voodoo Trinidad? :)

 

[Arak]

Actually, she is a witch. I don't think she's Wiccan, but I'm not sure; the sects are a bit convoluted. But I'm glad you got a chuckle.

Yup; land of the free, home of the brave. (Note: heavy irony in context of mental healthcare.)

It's not that suicide is illegal here, it's that it's illegal for anyone other than a profiteering shrink in the pocket of Big Pharma to try and actually help you. Everyone else --who are the ones who might actually be helpful-- are legally required to turn you over to the profiteers or face professional destruction themselves.

I'll probably give acupuncture another couple sessions. After all, it's supposed to take a few times being poked before it really kicks in. I have to give it a fair shake.

' Everyone else --who are the ones who might actually be helpful-- are legally required to turn you over to the profiteers or face professional destruction themselves.' Does that include familiy, friends, acquaintances ?
Are psychologists supposed to turn you over to a psychiatrist ? If so, that's fucked. If in trouble, get attacked with a psychiatric diagnosis and neurotoxic drugs ?

 

[Final Escape]

i wonder why suicide is illegal in so many places. perhaps it's because we would prefer acting like it doesn't exist or we have everything in control. Or maybe there are many who have been stopped from ctb and they appreciate that and then want to stop others. And there are those who lost loved ones due to suicide and they want to stop that too. idk...

They can't make money off you if you are dead. The state doesn't like you being able to destroy yourself because it considers you property to extract from in one way or another. You're here to enrich mega corporations, don't ya know? The rest of what you said might be true but ultimately if this policing of suicidality was not put in the hands of the state, there's not a whole lot anybody could do if u are planning and talking about your suicide. But if the state was not in charge of policing the suicidal then I'm sure there would be other ways of preventing suicide available that aren't so draconian. Or there would be other solutions that aren't about punishing suicidal people.

 

[TiredHorse]

Are psychologists supposed to turn you over to a psychiatrist ? If so, that's fucked. If in trouble, get attacked with a psychiatric diagnosis and neurotoxic drugs ?

I suspect 'ologists and 'iatrists are on about a par, since they are both in debt to the med schools, but everyone else needs to refer you to one of those.

Does that include familiy, friends, acquaintances ?

I would bet that friends and acquaintences are probably safe, but I wouldn't be surprised if, when you are the parent of a child who is legally a minor, and that child ctb, and you did not previously report known suicidal tendencies to the authorities, you could be charged by the state with child abuse/neglect. It would be damnably difficult for a DA to prosecute, but if it's election year, there's no telling what an aggressive DA might try in order to get his name in the news. Here in the US, it'll all depend on your state laws.

But that is me speaking at my paranoid worst. I suspect most DAs wouldn't touch it, assuming the parents' grief would be punishment enough.

 

[GeorgeEastman]

I talk about it so much that nobody believes it. My family used to expect it. People at work are just like "oh, he's just crazy and wants to die again."

One of them called my bluff on it once, saying let's go push you off a building now. Of course I chickened out. I hate it when other people have all this damn sanity and I don't.

 

[TAW122]

Thanks for the heads up and the warning @TiredHorse. Also, I keep any discussion of death/suicide out of anyone I interact with IRL. The risk is just far TOO great. I don't even trust my own family when it comes to these topics. Also, I agree that the way suicide is treated in society and by the government as well as other authoritative bodies are just simply inhumane and unconstitutional. It's like the stupid piece of logic that goes like "If you are suicidal, then you are not rational. If you are not rational, you cannot make any choices or have any say (nor rights) in what happens next." Then they proceed to violate your civil rights, dignity, and what not, then charge you with a hefty medical bill (in the US) and expect that you are grateful for their (poor and humiliating) treatment and then come up with the money (if your life and job hasn't already been fucked to the ground already) to pay off a stupid debt for services done against your will. There was one article on Psychology Today (anti civil rights, pro-slaveryesque organization) sanctioning and condoning involuntary commitment and treatment. Absolute horror.

 

[Redt2go]

I let the "nothing matters" slip today at dinner and forgot that NT people don't think that way

 

[bigj75]

I let the "nothing matters" slip today at dinner and forgot that NT people don't think that way

LMFAO!

I remember when i was NT.

 

[Redt2go]

LMFAO!

I remember when i was NT.

Lol I remember when I thought I was NT haha this is fucked

 

[Lifeisatrap]

I went to a accupuncturist a short while after my failed attempt and she was very nice. She was making small talk with me asking if I could live anywhere in the world where would it be and I just answered without even thinking a place where euthanasia was legal. She just answered that's only a couple countries. I was relieved by the non judgemental responce. I guess she knew I was in there for depression but still. The accupuncture didn't do anything for me though lol. But am alot more cautious now and don't talk about it with anyone.

 

[Redt2go]

What a calm response. Lol awh. That's why I'm so thankful for this forum

 

[Koal]

One of the reasons I like this website is the fact I don't need to worry about filtering my words to ensure I don't say anything that might suggest I'm actively suicidal. It's nice not needing to keep my thoughts locked away in the maximum security wing of my mind.

 

[Miss clefable]

This is why I don't tell people I even told my ex gf to not ring an ambulance because someone who wanted to live needed it more and I felt like I was wasting there time :(