died in their sleep?

[cemeteryismyhome]

I recently learned the phrase "died in their sleep" can be a euphemism for "killed themselves". Then I started to remember the many people I know of whom I was told "died in their sleep" and am starting to wonder. None would be a surprise given their difficult circumstances. What do you think?

 

[Forever Sleep]

I've never heard it used for suicide personally. Some of my family members have died peacefully in their sleep. I suppose someone might say it to a child to try to protect them initially.

In hospitals near the end, patients are sometimes given greater and greater dosages of morphine so, they keep slipping in and out of sleep until they pass. I imagine in a way- some of them are 'helped along' in that regard. They may be taken off the medications keeping them alive and put on pain meds till they pass. So, I suppose they make it as peaceful as possible.

 

[Carrot]

I could understand if somebody said that to avoid any questions. Some families could be ashamed to admit it was a suicide or say so for other reasons.

 

[divinemistress36]

Off topic but when I look at obituaries. If someone is young and dies and they dont mention the cause of death I often wonder if its by suicide

 

[Daenerys Targaryen]

If you suffered a fatal stroke in your sleep, it would be a fantasy. Like Margaret. You wouldn't even notice I wish I had that luck

 

[astonishedturnip]

"Died in their sleep" is usually legitimate. Cardiac arrest, natural causes, seizure/stroke, etc.

"Died suddenly/unexpectedly" is usually suicide, OD or (rarely) a freak accident.

Off topic but when I look at obituaries. If someone is young and dies and they dont mention the cause of death I often wonder if its by suicide

I can't help it, I'm such a nosy person. I go hunting in the comments, socials, and obit to try and put pieces together. "Had a lot of demons" = mental illness and can be suicide but is usually addiction-related death, but "check on your people," "you never know who's struggling," etc. = suicide ofc.

 

[NonEssential]

As someone with epilepsy I hope SUDEP (Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) happens to me in my sleep.

 

[NearlyIrrelevantCake]

I've never heard it used for suicide.

My best friend died in his sleep--a brain aneurysm.

I have seizures in my sleep and SUDEP [mentioned by a user above] would be pretty great.

 

[divinemistress36]

"Died in their sleep" is usually legitimate. Cardiac arrest, natural causes, seizure/stroke, etc.

"Died suddenly/unexpectedly" is usually suicide, OD or (rarely) a freak accident.


I can't help it, I'm such a nosy person. I go hunting in the comments, socials, and obit to try and put pieces together. "Had a lot of demons" = mental illness and can be suicide but is usually addiction-related death, but "check on your people," "you never know who's struggling," etc. = suicide ofc.

I think overdoses are a form of suicide.

 

[Pale_Rider]

When I was a kid I remember my cousin "fell asleep at the wheel", and wrecked his car. Took me many years to realize he was actually drunk.

 

[imOK]

In hospitals near the end, patients are sometimes given greater and greater dosages of morphine so, they keep slipping in and out of sleep until they pass.

In my country this phrase is usually used like that. It's implied that the doctor "helped a little". Since people this phrase then is applied to are usually so old/sick and/or frail and close to death that a particular strong gust of wind could've probably killed them, nobody asks any questions and it would be pointless to do so.

"natural causes" falls in the same category, somebody is so old and/or has so many health problems that what she/he really died of in the end, who knows but finding out is also not particularily important and no autopsy is made.

 

[Forever Sleep]

In my country this phrase is usually used like that. It's implied that the doctor "helped a little". Since people this phrase then is applied to are usually so old/sick and/or frail and close to death that a particular strong gust of wind could've probably killed them, nobody asks any questions and it would be pointless to do so.

"natural causes" falls in the same category, somebody is so old and/or has so many health problems that what she/he really died of in the end, who knows but finding out is also not particularily important and no autopsy is made.

I suspect it happens a lot but, doctors are taking a risk they really shouldn't have to. It ought to be legalised so it can be properly regulated. The other darker side is when you get the odd nurse/ doctor murdering people.