SS has its faults, I've met some hostility from time to time and my specific reason for being here does not seem to garner much more acknowledgment or understanding than it does in the outside world..so that has been extremely frustrating and disappointing, I am sometimes taken aback at how dismissive people can be to something so significant in this superficial society.
Despite that, SS has allowed me to not feel so alone in my concentrated belief that everyone should have the right to die and the right to determine when they have had enough. In that way, it's a (much needed) breath of fresh air.
I've also had some pms and replies that have countered any trivialization I've encountered here, people who have eerily similar situations and struggles, compared to my own. I am thankful for their messages even though I am awful at timely responses.
I do feel the safest on this site, I don't have the kind of burning anxiety or trepidation I may endure while visiting other sites or corners of the internet. (All the more reason why I find the crusade against SS preposterous). I like that we can have off-topic conversations among like-minded people, it helps to know that they know, even if we are conversing about something unrelated to suicide. I used to talk to a few people on the phone about specific issues we shared and I found that the same sentiment holds true...when we feel understood in our darkest hours, it is easier to dip our toes into lighter conversation in the times between the breakdowns. Whereas it's extremely difficult for me to display the normal signs of humanity among people who are willful in their ignorance of my suffering, I would feel like I was acting and betraying myself if I were forced to interact as if nothing were wrong. I can't relax with those I know would spit at my tears.
When I laugh at humorous posts here, people know it's not out of joy, they know I'm still miserable and simply trying to cope.
But if I were to do the same, or much more, in daily life, they would use that to alleviate themselves of the worry that I am not okay, they would think to themselves
"I guess they're fine!"..even though it's abundantly clear I am in HELL.
I'm not so sure I'm describing this phenomenon in the best way, but yea..anyway, I'm glad SS exists.
It is absolutely necessary, especially when we basically have nowhere else to go to speak about suicide so openly, without the very warranted fear of being locked up and further stigmatized and demonized by those around us.
I know that people criticise this website saying that it's harmful, but this forum probably prevents suicides in a way. It can act as cathartic for people as they have a safe space to share their thoughts. It can take away the isolation which can cause them to cbt. In real life others panic and they get sectioned/medicated and put on suicide watch etc if they share their feelings there.
Yes, it also cautions against impulsive actions, so even if we still go through with it (I am) we are better informed and can use the support here to calm ourselves down so that we don't commit the act in a dangerous or more risky manner, bettering our odds against brain damage and becoming a vegetable.
