Discussion How do homeless people resist CTB?

[Anxieyote]

I look at places like Skid Row, and I can't imagine living in a tent and needing to beg for food as a full-time job. What motivates them to continue?

I theorize that maybe they enjoy the bustling city environment and feeling like they are a part of a group. Or maybe they have social connections there that they value enough to stay alive?

Has anyone here had a first-hand experience with homelessness, and why you didn't choose to CTB during that time? I feel like it would be easy to find a bridge or building to jump off of, even without a vehicle.

 

[callme]

Not my experience, but many of them are simply accustomed to living that way and are more comfortable than if they had a job and a place to stay. I don't doubt survival instinct comes to their help in some situations - it's simply needed for survival and once they've built survival instinct, I don't see a reason why they would do it, although they have critical reasons for doing so and probably are depressed.

I could be far off, but I guess they keep living in their way, because they know they can survive, while hardly having a choice.

 

[orangepotato]

Maybe they don't know how to? Me, I'd personally kill myself before becoming homeless. Homelessness sounds worse than death.

 

[Snake of Eden]

Thats a very good question. I thought about it and I concluded that they probably only stay alive because of survival instinct. Not everyone draws the line when they become homeless. I actually just lost a friend to suicide. She did it on the same day when she just became homeless. She wanted to go with some dignity and she didnt want to be ever remembered as a person who has gone homeless.

 

[Phosphophyllite]

I was homeless and I did want to commit suicide, but I couldn't afford the means to do so.

 

[FuneralCry]

I have never been homeless, but I think the answer is because it is difficult to ctb. If society allowed us to have a peaceful exit and there was euthanasia options then most people would probably ctb upon becoming homeless. There is knowledge needed for ctb methods to succeed. Some people feel trapped and feel as though they have no choice. Also, some people may be more mentally stronger and resilient than others when dealing with challenging situations. I know I wouldn't be able to deal with it.

 

[deflationary]

How does anyone resist the urge?

If people rationally calculated the value of their life then I doubt we'd have almost 8 billion people on this planet.

 

[callme]

How does anyone resist the urge?

If people rationally calculated the value of their life then I doubt we'd have almost 8 billion people on this planet.

Sure, just give them the formula. Add 5 points for the joy of life, another 5 for happiness, another 5 for love. Substract 300 for everything else that will happen while you're alive.

 

[deflationary]

Sure, just give them the formula. Add 5 points for the joy of life, another 5 for happiness, another 5 for love. Substract 300 for everything else that will happen while you're alive.

Sounds about right to me.

 

[NormaJeane]

There are people who commit suicide the day before they will be homeless. Those who choose homelessness instead of death, perhaps they are alive for the same reason as we on Sanctioned Suicide are alive, because we can not find the courage to die. One must have knowledge about suicide to succeed with it and a reliable method. I have written the thread Would you choose death instead of homelessness?

 

[Darkmoon Queen]

I think depression is a bit more complex and is never purely situational. I have a theory that there are two types of stress; stress related to immediate survival (such as in the case of paying bills, going to work, finding your next meal or a roof) which everybody has and doesn't cause depression by itself. And then there's toxic stress which comes from rumination on situations that are not actionable.

By which I mean you perceive as actionable.

A homeless person could certainly suffer that if they see no end in sight. But I think most of their time is spent on the former type of stress; there isn't time to worry, you have to find that next meal.

 

[Bone]

I was homeless for about two months earlier this year during a severe manic episode, and lemme tell you what, I definitely was suicidal as hell the entire time (still am). Most of those guys just accept it as their lot in life though. Food is actually easier than you may think to come by-lots of charities and the govt assistance is easy to be approved for in the US. I def can see that mental illness and substance abuse play a huge role in homeless lives as well-fairly nihilistic in a way, but I also admire them for continuing onward and not being "wage slaves" as I hear so often these days. In all honesty though it's dangerous and scary as shit, being homeless, and most aren't cut out for it-including me. If I reach that point again (and I'm inches away rn) I'll def off myself. People look right through you and disrespect the shit out of you. I literally had an employee of Philip Morris throw an open bottle of vegetable oil all over me during the whole thing, just to get me to move. It was the most dehumanizing thing I've ever experienced.

 

[Gustav Hartmann]

When I am under pressure I have no suicidal thoughts, in those situations I am in a fighting mode. I would feel very much under pressure when I were homeless. No time to think you have to react all the time. Suicidal thoughts require some idleness.

 

[Lost Magic]

Yep, I think I would end it on the first week of living on the streets. I am barely surviving right now with my home comforts and gadgets never mind trying to survive on the streets. My heart goes out to those poor souls.

 

[thelastofit]

They find community and become accustomed to the lifestyle. Also as their appearance changes ; they eventually have nothing to be ashamed of as they can't be recognised. Shame is also a killer in itself. Plus they're hardly looking in the mirror either

 

[Charkie]

I still consider going homeless a form of CTB. Done correctly, the streets should have no problem finishing life off if you live in Chicago or Detroit skids. Have talked about it at length with therapist. Just drop phone, wallet, and keys in nearest trash can and wander forever in the urban decay. It's equivalent to drowning in the sea with an anchor to your body, no one will ever know what happened to you and live rest of life free from the past pain, do street drugs to numb the pain. Yeah, reading back at that I am very depressed still and really don't care anymore.

 

[AnonymousS]

I look at places like Skid Row, and I can't imagine living in a tent and needing to beg for food as a full-time job. What motivates them to continue?

I theorize that maybe they enjoy the bustling city environment and feeling like they are a part of a group. Or maybe they have social connections there that they value enough to stay alive?

Has anyone here had a first-hand experience with homelessness, and why you didn't choose to CTB during that time? I feel like it would be easy to find a bridge or building to jump off of, even without a vehicle.

I was homeless a couple of times in the UK over the last several years, despite the fact that i get disability benefits it is an awful brutal, and degrading way to exist. I was not on drugs or alcohol but some in society look at you very differently. Not all though.
A few times i booked myself into cheap hotels, and on multiple occasions tried to hang myself. The last time i couldn't take it anymore and overdosed on Amitriptyline and brandy, it should have been enough. I came to in hospital after being found unresponsive in my room. I had written staff a note apologising for the discovery of my body. I should also add a few times i was admitted to an in-patient unit, every time i was discharged by the doctor, despite them knowing i had nowhere to go. All i wanted was to die.

 

[Lifessocruel]

Ah that's awful! I'd definitely ctb straight away if I was made homeless. Such a degrading way to live but some homeless people actually make quite alot of money especially in posh towns and cities. People just throw money at them cos they feel sorry for them. I do think alot ctb though. And i agree its a long term its a form of ctb, being out there in the freezing weather.

 

[Zzzzz]

Yes I've been homeless and I knew someone who lived at skid row. When I was homeless I didn't ctb because I had hope my life could get better. Or I felt that my suffering was perhaps not so great that I would rather live. Dying is such a difficult thing to do that people will endure much suffering to avoid it.

 

[PinkSakura]

Drugs stop their thoughts

 

[TheSomebody]

I think when people don't have the basics for living, brain regresses to instinct thoughts only.

They won't have the energy to think about suicide or depressing thoughts, because it's too exhausting for the mind and their brain will be entirely focused on supplying "eat-water-shelter" programming

That must be exactly why I read several reports about people living in sub-human situations like wars or slavery praising life.

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

I've thought about this, and I think having a very simplified life can almost be liberating, in a way. You're thinking about a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food in your stomach rather than all the intricacies and complications of a modern day, competitive life. I drive past homeless people quite often, and I sometimes feel really pathetic, sitting there in my leather suv with navigation and heated seats and wanting to be dead so badly. It's a weird thing.

 

[Anxieyote]

I think when people don't have the basics for living, brain regresses to instinct thoughts only.

They won't have the energy to think about suicide or depressing thoughts, because it's too exhausting for the mind and their brain will be entirely focused on supplying "eat-water-shelter" programming

That must be exactly why I read several reports about people living in sub-human situations like wars or slavery praising life.

You bring up a very good point. Even slaves would have babies and consider it a "gift". In retrospect, I'm really not sure how they could justify having a child, but a lot of it probably had to do with not having access to birth control, and wanting to feel special for having created a baby with their genes. I also predict that their SI was also in overdrive, saying "someday things will get better, and we will be happy."

SI prevents many deaths that would be considered justified given the circumstances. I really feel sorry for humans who go through bullshit, and then pass that bullshit onto their offspring. Making babies should not be as easy as it is.

 

[Timeless]

I know a homeless person, well I see him alot no friend of me. But he's staying high all the time. That's his number one priority. Like so many other homeless people that's a big problem here. Cause of that they can't be in a program to get new housing and the government / a few organizations will help in this country. But they discriminate addicts. Or they try to force them to kick their habit first.

I don't know if I would become homeless I'll exit right away.

 

[All-Dead-Y]

I'm almost homeless. I've interacted with many homeless regularly. I wouldn't say I've known them personally, but they can recognize my face.

Most of them are high or drunk 24/7. If they aren't wasted, they're sleeping. They also tend to be religious.

Some of them prefer being homeless-- these types are very antigovernment and love camping.

I think a lot of them don't ctb out of principal. They remind me of Diogenes. It's not that they enjoy life necessarily-- but they'd rather stick around and turn their mere existence to a middle finger towards the rest of society.

 

[irememberinnocence]

Homeless doesn't automatically mean hopeless. I can't speak from my own experience as I'm not fully homeless, but I do live on the fringes. I'll take a few guesses :
1. Homelessness doesn't make everyone feel suicidal. Even when it causes depression, very frequently, that doesn't necessarily lead to full-blown suicidality.
2. There are degrees of homelessness, some more bearable than others.
3. Some people have supportive people still in their life who encourage them to hang on, or supportive social services.
3. Some people may want to CBT but not have the means available.
4. Some may want to CBT but don't want to leave behind family members or a beloved dog.
5. A minority actually choose to be homeless for varied reasons.
6. Most people hope not to be homeless forever. Many see it as temporary and some have active plans to get out of homelessness soon.

 

[Lifessocruel]

I bet some homeless people were so pleased when the pandemic hit because our government in the uk put them up in hotels ect. But on the other hand with no begging and that means had zero money so couldn't get high so some must of absolutely gone mad. Unless they knew how to use the dark web which seems very unlikely.

 

[callme]

Lack of methods? Their most acessible is probably starving or plastic bag suffocation, painful.

 

[thelastofit]

Lack of methods? Their most acessible is probably starving or plastic bag suffocation, painful.

It's not a lack of methods. They have the most options. Everyday is a matter of staying alive.

their lives are simple. Not sad over Instagram likes and consumerism.

 

[Despondent]

I've experienced homelessness before and I asked myself the same thing all the time. It was suicide fuel for me -- I would do half-hearted attempts/unlawful activity that resulted in police involvement or hospitalizations. Homeless support is minimal where I live. I've met some of the sweetest people who have been homeless for years and wonder how they're still pushing through it all.