Discussion What makes some people see suicide as an option?

[dogemn]

Ever since I was young I've always seen things like suicide, self-harm, or drugs as ways to escape the psychological pain and trauma I was going through. But I've realized that not everyone reacts that way. Some people go through similar or even worse experiences and never see suicide or drugs as options at all.

I'm trying to understand what makes that difference. Why do some of us see suicide as an escape, while others don't even consider it? Is it something in our upbringing, personality, worldview, or biology?

 

[kunikuzushi]

Probably biological because most living things have survival instinct. Also societal norms and media tend to show death as the worst thing ever and something to avoid at all costs. So I think this fear makes some people do everything they can to delude themselves into thinking they can overcome anything and be victorious in "winning" at life by never giving up and beating death. Funny thing is we all die in the end anyway.

 

[vorteksrbija]

It is the question of acceptance. Someone can feel like he does not want to live. Sometimes those reasons why someone wants to die are not even justified and real, they are correctable. But in all that misery and feel of infirmity one often cannot make a difference between what is real and what not, because the weight he carry in his heart in that moment is overwhelming. For some people that can be only period. Some people do not see purpose in their life, because they did not try as hard as they could to achieve their happiness. Some people were disabled to try anything because of various possible reasons. Some people no matter how hard they try, they still can experience more sadness than happines. Life is not the same for anyone. Every man ever that has lived had completely different personality in comparison to anyone else. But when one know, that he is in misery, and know that he cannot help himself, then a desire for getting better will also naturally vanish. He stops to fight. Because life should not be fight, it should be bliss. When the heart, soul and inner you are dead, living biological body do not have any purpose.

 

[itsgone2]

It is odd. I've thought about it forever. Still here obviously but it seems an option.

 

[torturedmind]

I think some people are just able to find a reason to keep living, while others can't find a reason. Either that, or their mental/physical struggling is just too much of a burden to carry any longer. A lot of people who kill themselves feel like they have nothing to live for, no friends, family, career, money, good health, etc. Unfortunately, people who do have these things may still end up suicidal due to mental illness, or just a different outlook on life. Maybe some people just want to die on their own terms instead of waiting to die naturally due to some disease or old age.

 

[fedup1982]

Idk. All I know is I'll only be happy on drugs or dead. FCK LIFE!!!

 

[Forever Sleep]

I wonder about this too. I'm not sure if it is simply upbringing. I had to wrestle with my ideation to begin with- because I had been taught that suicide was wrong and cowardly, suicides go to hell etc. But, still having suicidal thoughts I suppose made me question things like religion early on. To figure out that those beliefs weren't necessarily mine- they had simply been pushed on me.

I think maybe the core reason though is how much value we put on life. I think maybe the difference for suicidal people is that there isn't conceivably enough value or future value for us to stay here. I suppose that ties into a lack of hope. Surely, suicidal people must have lost hope/ belief that things even could improve substantially.

I suppose if feelings that suicide is sinful/ morally wrong are very deeply rooted, it may also be something a person simply doesn't allow themselves to consider.

 

[Forveleth]

Many, many studies have been done on this and social support is repeatedly shown to be a large, universal factor. Things like physical isolation, social isolation (feeling like an outcast and/or loneliness), history of abuse (especially at the hands of parents), and generally no one to turn to all contribute to a higher likelihood of drug use and feeling suicidal. Looking around the forum here, many people make posts about how they do not have friends or they have non-supportive (or abusive) friends/family.

This is not the only reason and there are always many other factors involved but I have seen social support come up again and again surrounding suicidality and drug use.

A few examples:

The Role of Social Support in Preventing Suicidal Ideations and Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - PMC

Background: Numerous epidemiological studies have explored the relationship between social support and suicidal behaviors; however, the overall impact remains unclear. Therefore, a systematic assessment of the association between social support and ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Drug-Free Community Support in Inpatients with Co-occurring Psychiatric Disorders and Substance Use Problems - PubMed

<span><b>Objective:</b> This study evaluated the presence of drug-free family and friends in the social networks of patients treated in an inpatient setting for co-occurring psychiatric disorders and substance use problems. <b>Methods:</b> Social network interviews were conducted with inpatients...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Problematic Alcohol and Drug Use Trajectories and the Moderating Role of Social Support - PubMed

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have a strong association with alcohol and drug use; however, more research is needed to identify protective factors for this association. The present study assesses the longitudinal impact of ACE on problematic alcohol and drug use and the potential...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Temporal association of pre-pandemic perceived social support with psychological resilience and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with a history of injection drug use - PubMed

Pre-pandemic perceived social support was associated with greater psychological resilience and generally better mental well-being during the pandemic. Interventions that improve social support may foster psychological resilience and protect the mental well-being of people who use drugs...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[FuneralCry]

For me it's a result of wanting peace, for me non-existence is just all that's positive and all I want is true permanent peace from this dreadful, torturous and deeply undesirable existence I just always saw as a mistake, all I want is to never suffer again and I'll always see existing as only suffering with no limit as to how much one can be tortured.

I just want to never exist again, no matter what I'd always prefer to not exist than be burdened with this futile dreadful existence that just leads to decay and death anyway, existence to me is always an abomination, I always see existence as the problem which is why I suffer so much from existing in this dreadful anti-suicide world where I cannot just have the option to painlessly cease existing.