Help For anyone who has attempted before, how did you overcome the survival instinct?

[doublecupj]

For those who made an unsuccessful attempt, how did you overcome the survival instinct in the final moments? What was your mindset and did you feel at peace or were you simply pushing past the fear?

 

[deadtomorrow]

I didn't
Someone just pulled me out of the water.

 

[Darkover]

by having a easy method like swallowing pills, i've od before and been in a coma for 2 days, i was at complete peace

 

[ixkitty]

I'm gonna be honest with you... I had a lot of mental prep work (I planned meticulously) and the day I did my first attempt, I had little to no food, I chatted with family and friends and I made sure to tell them "I love you bye bye" vs my normal "love you byyyeeeee" so my mind could distinctly tell the difference... The night I got myself some of my favorite alcohol, some Delta 8/9 (or illegal) flower, I started drinking and watching some awesome videos on YouTube while I sat the choice beside me. I chatted on here for a while... and after a bit, I was feeling amazing and at peace and calm and everything... and I took it.

 

[Orange Cat]

I didn't really overcome SI completely. I was in a different state of mind than usual. It's hard to describe. The thought of having to continue living for another day seemed unbearable. I really wanted to be dead. I just focused on that and nothing else mattered to me at the time. I was very scared, but I just pushed past the fear and did it anyway and focused on my goal.

 

[MatrixPrisoner]

For me, 15 years ago, it was simply not being ble to take it anymore combined with sheer will. I swallowed 2 cups of antifreeze, but immediately threw it back up. I wish the method was more instant. I would have been longe gone by now.

 

[JustABug]

My first overdose was impulsive but I was filled with excitement that I didn't have SI. I just went to sleep immediately after listening to my favourite music. I would say, try to make it as comfortable as possible. No one can just overcome SI (other than otherdose I suppose), but the comfier you can make it for yourself, the better. Maybe you could trick yourself into excitement? Or joy?

 

[doublecupj]

I'm gonna be honest with you... I had a lot of mental prep work (I planned meticulously) and the day I did my first attempt, I had little to no food, I chatted with family and friends and I made sure to tell them "I love you bye bye" vs my normal "love you byyyeeeee" so my mind could distinctly tell the difference... The night I got myself some of my favorite alcohol, some Delta 8/9 (or illegal) flower, I started drinking and watching some awesome videos on YouTube while I sat the choice beside me. I chatted on here for a while... and after a bit, I was feeling amazing and at peace and calm and everything... and I took it.

Now this sounds great. I think the key is planning so you don't feel anything is "unfinished". That's probably a big part of the SI subconsciously.

I like your idea, chilling out, having drinks, watching youtube. You made it feel almost like a celebration. I really think that's neat.

My first overdose was impulsive but I was filled with excitement that I didn't have SI. I just went to sleep immediately after listening to my favourite music. I would say, try to make it as comfortable as possible. No one can just overcome SI (other than otherdose I suppose), but the comfier you can make it for yourself, the better. Maybe you could trick yourself into excitement? Or joy?

Yes, I need to do something I really enjoy just before doing the deed.

I know this might be TMI, but I had a porn/masturbation marathon recently and it lasted roughly 6 hours (yes I took a few breaks lol), but after it ended I remember thinking "wow, I'm so at peace, I could die right now and be fine with it".

Maybe I need to try something like that. Just have a great, kick ass time, then do the deed.

 

[the_path_of_sorrows]

Simply called myself weak and counted to three. They say that counting can work as the best method to overcome SI. How this worked, surprised me to an extent.

 

[brownbear]

For me, I just spontaneously decided that now was the time and then just did it. At least for the first few seconds it did, SI kicked in later and is the reason i failed..

 

[CompletedLife]

by having a easy method like swallowing pills, i've od before and been in a coma for 2 days, i was at complete peace

What/how much did you take?

 

[eashanm]

Stoics and yogis both say that to overcome the fear of death one must think of it constantly in the proper manner. Daily meditation involves withdrawing consciousness from the body–a preview of death. By practising meditation we are inoculating ourselves with a minute dose of daily death and thereby developing some control over the dying process.

In short, practice daily.

 

[Spades]

I've had a few almost successful attempts over the years. Though, it's only made future attempts harder as a result of me being unable to leave the house without being supervised by either a family member or my boyfriend.

But back to the topic at hand, during my most planned out attempt, I felt nothing at all. I felt ready even though there was still so much I wanted to do, but my desire to cease existing was stronger than my desire for more.

I felt calmer than I've ever felt before, the confidence I had that this would be my end was so soothing. The weeks leading up to the attempt were almost dream-like, nothing felt real and the few moments that did were unbearably painful.

It was like a light switch in my brain had been flicked on. One day I was scared shitless by the uncertainty of what came after, and the next I had accepted, and even found comfort in that same uncertainty.

That light switch still hasn't been flicked off.

I can't say I've felt the same since I made peace with death, or that it's even possible to go back to my prior state of mind.

I can't even remember what it's like to fear death anymore no matter how hard I try despite this happening well over 2 years ago. It's like I vaguely remember how it felt, but it's so difficult to wrap my head around why I was so scared in the first place and I don't know why.

It just feels so distant, like the person I was before died that day.

I'm in a much better headspace nowadays, but I'm still very depressed and I still want to die. It's just not so unbearable all the time, but there are moments where it is, few as they are now. It's really only horrifically painful 4 out of the 7 days of the week rather than the full week like it was 2 years ago.

All in all, I'm not sure how I made peace with dying or even how I stopped being so scared of it. I just don't have any kind of survival instinct anymore and that's all I know for certain.

So I'm afraid I don't have any advice on how to overcome SI if that's what you're looking for, the only answer I have is that it just happens one day.

You'll know when you're ready I guess, I'm sorry if that's not the answer you wanted,,

 

[FutureHanger]

Simply called myself weak and counted to three. They say that counting can work as the best method to overcome SI. How this worked, surprised me to an extent.

I know counting helps with fear but where did you go to find this info?

 

[luisamanequim]

For those who made an unsuccessful attempt, how did you overcome the survival instinct in the final moments? What was your mindset and did you feel at peace or were you simply pushing past the fear?

Have a quick and simple plan and then just wait for a really depressive episode, then you just try to make it worst and eventually death will be your only desire and you won't be afraid of it.

 

[the_path_of_sorrows]

I know counting helps with fear but where did you go to find this info?

On reddit a few years ago, probably in the comments on r/deadorvegetable or r/depression_memes. Somebody was joking about it and some people left thankful responses.

 

[FutureHanger]

On reddit a few years ago, probably in the comments on r/deadorvegetable or r/depression_memes. Somebody was joking about it and some people left thankful responses.

damn I was hoping there's a list of SI tactics

 

[the_path_of_sorrows]

damn I was hoping there's a list of SI tactics

If only I had one I wouldn't be the one responding..

 

[goblin99]

When I tried back in 2019, I was in the most emotional state I could've possibly been in. There was no planning, no research done, nothing. I just had the worst day ever and wanted the pain to end. I didn't really have a moment where I thought about it and wanted to stop or anything like that. I just remember feeling so much pain before passing out. I don't think there was really even a moment of being at peace. I just know I was crying and wanting it all to end, then next thing I know I'm awake and hallucinating.

 

[stilhavinightmares]

This should be a sticky thread. Sooo informative to hear everyone's tips.

 

[Abyssal]

Not sure.

I guess when I'm ready the ctb it never really bothers me. I accept it pretty well. More likely than not I'm able to mentally remove myself from my life and just go for it with the though of achieving a result.

Setting a timer helps too.

 

[FutureHanger]

Setting a timer helps too.

timer for exactly when you'll attempt? or a countdown of time you should attempt by?

 

[mortuarymary]

You don't. It either happens or it doesn't.

 

[FutureHanger]

This should be a sticky thread. Sooo informative to hear everyone's tips.

Yh but there's other posts like this. Think it'd be better if we had an SI prefix

 

[Abyssal]

timer for exactly when you'll attempt? or a countdown of time you should attempt by?

Yeah. I felt ready to do it and set a timer for one hour to see if I'd find a will to leave. After an hour I saw nothing and I went for it.

 

[FutureHanger]

Yeah. I felt ready to do it and set a timer for one hour to see if I'd find a will to leave. After an hour I saw nothing and I went for it.

so like Parkinson's law, cool!

 

[trashhologram]

First few times SI saved me. I was very young then and most likely wouldn't have died anyway. Last time I was just done. I didn't even think, just did it. Unfortunately I wasn't alone so other people called 112 (aka the European emergency number) and I was rushed to the ER. It sucked. I still have nerve damage.

Edit: I forgot my OD's lol. But when I did them it was an impulsive thing. I just swallowed the pills and woke up the next day. My then boyfriend was mad at me. Lol. It sucked.

 

[SVEN]

I climbed over a barrier on a well known bridge here in Scotland which has a 0% survival rate for jumpers. An off duty cop saw me and stopped me. When it's really time and you just can't cope I found that it just seems a better choice.
The authorities finally got around to putting up a 12-14 foot metal barrier on both sides of the bridge.

 

[DEATH IS FREEDOM]

The survival instinct is not a problem if you feel bad enough. The survival instinct does not exist in that moment.

 

[Chacha]

Society is tho hypocritical. People should look from themselves if people want to end their lives they should let them do, if these people want to help they should listen and understand the suicidal person and give them what they want. No making them miserable only to get recognition and get paid