I feel uncomfortable giving advice to others who want to CBT

[death_by_life]

Plus, I'll openly admit that I'm selfish. I have to remind myself that I'm pro-choice and if I do truly care about someone, I should want what's best for them. If their life is mostly suffering with no hope left in them for improvement, I can't justifiably wish that for them. I'll miss them though- if they made my life that little bit brighter for a time. Selfishly, I'll want them around still for my sake but I know that's unreasonable to expect that of them.

Yes, this. I don't know anyone here, but I am genuinely sad when someone ctb, especially if it was someone who contributed a ton of value with either their knowledge or just their presence. I actually just had a moment a few minutes ago where I was reminded that someone had recently passed, and wished to myself that they hadn't because I really appreciated their posts. And then I had to take it back, because it was what they wanted, and I'm not entitled to their presence (especially because they didn't even know me).

I'd say it's an effect of social imprint. We're supposed to protect the others' life at all costs. That's what we were taught all our life. That life itself (especially human life) is sacred and to be preserved. My first impulse towards others was always to help them "get better" not to end themselves.

However, to my point above, what @Jadeith said also applies - we are taught that life is valuable, it's in our biology, and even if we don't feel our own lives are valuable (I'd argue that most here don't feel valuable), the instinct to preserve life is still really strong. So, there can be a paradox, because people are really really complicated and there is nothing in existence that's absolutely certain.

So no, I don't think you're selfish. It sounds like you're thoughtful and intelligent, and that alone can make life harder to withstand, and it can bee confusing when things don't line up right.

Two things can be true.

 

[vitbar]

Both the sense of responsibility and the law in my country hold my tongue. In person with a close friend it has been different. Still I'd feel some responsibility.

 

[ham and potatoes]

I feel you. I'll point people in the right direction as to how to find information, like I'll share other post on here that answer their questions, but I wont explicitly tell them how to do it.
I dont want it on my conscience that I helped someone kill themselves on an impulse decision or over something trivial.
Plus, you know, there is the whole legal aspect of "encouraging suicide"