Will you regret your choice if you survive?

[elenaboo25]

The issue with survivorship bias like this is they're often asked again a year or more later. Of the ones still alive, some will be on a path to recovery and say something like that, some will still be very suicidal but watched and say something like that to avoid detection, and some will have died by suicide in the interim and therefore can't respond. So the findings make sense. But what does that mean?

Some people might regret their attempt a year or two later, but then 7 years later they're back at the same point of wanting to ctb, and regretting that the last time wasn't sucessful.

 

[TooMuchHasHappened]

Well, I mean, if you survive an attempt you're going to say whatever you need to in order to keep from being locked up. So naturally you're going to say you regret it. If you say you don't regret it and intend to get back on the horse as soon as possible, it's a lifetime supply of grippy socks for you.

Yes! This is a very important point. I'm skeptical about most studies for numerous reasons so I agree with you 100%. There are many reasons why "studies" of this nature could never be an accurate representation of how the survivor truly felt.

 

[DreamsOfNothing]

I think I would be regretful if I did it on an impulse, but I've never attempted impulsively. I want death, so I can only regret not succeeding.

 

[insectontrial]

I've made two serious attempts on my own life in the past. One was by partial hanging, in my teenage years, and the ligature I used (dressing gown cord) snapped. I remember watching a video about a man who jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge, and he said he regretted it from the moment he jumped. I, however, didn't have any feelings of regret, or any second thoughts when I attempted to hang myself. On the contrary, it felt like a relief, and like I was doing the right thing.

I then tried to CTB at the age of 22 after a traumatic event, but I was too impulsive in my approach. I mixed high quantities of promethazine and codeine with a spirit alcoholic drink and woke up on the floor feeling, quite frankly, like shit.

The only attempt I don't really count is the time I tried to jump out of my first-floor bedroom window aged eight and my parents had to grab me to stop it happening. It would not have killed me. But I genuinely did want to die - I can remember feeling suicidal from the age of seven.

I'm fully set on ending my own life, and I recently spent some time researching and trying to figure out the best way to achieve FSH, and I must say when I tested out a partial hanging this year I didn't feel any desire to back out of the process.

I won't regret my decision when the time comes. If I seriously screw it up and end up being severely disabled, I will kick myself over it, but at least I might be able to access assisted dying if my country ever allows it.

 

[RadiantNumber]

Why I would, just I'd be angry at myself that I can't even die on my own terms cause I am such failure

 

[DeadManLiving]

I would have to see the data. I don't believe anything unless I see the evidence or results with my own eyes, and even then the study is likely heavily curated in favor of the desired outcome with survivorship bias and sample selection issues. There most certainly could be a few cases where subjects that survived all of a sudden became the center of attention after intervention and got what they needed to keep going in life, but those cases are not representative of the majority.

 

[TooMuchHasHappened]

Academic literature echoes these findings. A review in the journal "Current Opinion in Psychiatry" notes that suicide attempts are "usually regretted by people who survive them". Qualitative studies with suicide attempt survivors also report that while some initially feel negative emotions such as sadness, shame, or disappointment, many later express feelings of gladness, gratefulness, and hope for having survived.

What are your thoughts?

There are so many variables with studies of this nature, too many to list here, that such studies could never be accurate.

First of all, who is funding such studies (likely pro-lifers) and what outcome do the funders want to portray? Researchers often cherry pick participants to fit their narrative. Supplement companies do the same to help sell their products, for example. Plus, "Many" is ambiguous in my opinion despite its definition.

Also, if those who took part in these studies did not have chronic conditions that were only going to get worse and cause more problems with/in the body, if they didn't have chronic pain 24/7, if they could still work and exercise and have some sort of a meaningful life, if they didn't spend most of the day in bed or at home because of their pain and physical issues, if there was a chance that their situation could improve and they could have some sort of a decent life without too much suffering, if they didn't feel overwhelming guilt, shame and embarrassment for how their life has turned out, if they didn't have a myriad of other reasons for wanting to CTB, and if they didn't suffer any long term consequences from their failed attempt, then ok yes, "many" may have positive feelings and emotions. So again, what category of survivors are being asked to take part in these studies, and who are agreeing to participate.

I could go on and on, but for many of us on here there is no hope unfortunately, and we should not have to suffer and live a miserable life if we don't want to. Personally, I don't want to die, I used to have a great life, but my circumstances are such that for me, especially considering my background and how my life used to be compared to how it is now, there is no other option. I will never, even if I had millions in the bank, be able to have any sort of a life that is meaningful to me.

I'm single and do not have children, so my decision to CTB is much easier than for some on here, however I am very concerned about the impact on my parents. I've seen close to 40 consultants and therapists (even been to the USA twice) within the last 4 years for help with the many ailments that I suffer with, but unfortunately nothing can be done to improve my situation, and because of my situation things will only get worse and I can only expect more issues and surgeries in the future. I've just had too many accidents, injuries and surgeries (15 so far) and have suffered with chronic pain for almost 9 years now, that life will never be good for me again, in fact life would never even be ok. One thing is for sure though, that I've gone to extraordinary lengths to improve my situation, and no one can say that I didn't try.

If I failed an attempt and were asked to take part in such a study then I'd refuse. I'd refuse because if I answered their questions truthfully then I could be taken into involuntary care, and if I wanted to attempt again then that would be very difficult, if not impossible. The only other option would be to lie and say I feel much better etc to avoid being locked up or constantly monitored, which I suspect may be the reason why many report to be feeling better and regretting their decision. The responses participants give to those conducting these studies will likely not be how they really feel.

I want to make sure as much as possible (like most on here) that I will not fail, although I do realise that even with the most careful planning and preparation that things can still go wrong. If I did survive then I think I'd be much more likely to do something that I really wouldn't want to, to make sure I didn't fail again, a position I do not want to be in. And by that I mean jumping in front of a train travelling at 125mph or jumping off a tall enough building, which I don't want to do as that'll cause trauma to others, something which I want to avoid. If causing trauma to others did not concern me then I wouldn't be writing this.

 

[endeledestein]

Academic literature echoes these findings. A review in the journal "Current Opinion in Psychiatry" notes that suicide attempts are "usually regretted by people who survive them". Qualitative studies with suicide attempt survivors also report that while some initially feel negative emotions such as sadness, shame, or disappointment, many later express feelings of gladness, gratefulness, and hope for having survived.

What are your thoughts?

My thoughts are that they didnt ask if they regretted it to those who actually died... So its biased from the start.

I would only regret it if it left side effects and made me unable to attempt again...

I dont want to die, I just dont want to suffer... And every day it seems less and less likely that will ever happen... I tried so much, but Im old and chances and hope are ending... So if i failed my attempt I would just keep feeling the same pain until i tried again...