I Think you meant well. And I can see what you are saying. But...I too have tried to kill myself. I shot myself -and obviously did not die- I can't say that I am glad. Most of the time I am angry, that I am still here. But it is NOT the cowards way out. It is a very difficult thing to do. But NO-ONE and I meand NO-ONE can understand the ammount of pain it takes to get to that point unless they have been there,and for what ever reasons like me, made it thru. Please don't think that the act of suicide is some sort of charicter defect or just some simple choice to NOT take responsibility for ones self. NO-ONE on the face of the plannet would chose it as any thing other than a last resort. People die of suicide everyday and yet...The "normal" person still has absolutely no clue how someone could be so selfish, and irrisponsible As if it had anything to do with those things at all. It's no wonder some of us feel so alone. I know that I can talk myself blue in the face and it doesn't matter. Unless you have been there...Nothing can make you understand. Having people telling us to "just snap out of it" doesn't help. It makes us feel even worse about ourselves because we CAN'T. If we could we would. Just the fact that people say that makes us think that because they are saying that, that is something that they have control over themselves, and if we can't do the same thing, that makes us weak, or stupid, or what ever.... We are not stupid although we may be weak. Weak and tired and a lot of other things. it's not because we want to be, or because we are chosing to be. If you have a broken bone, or a cold, no one tells you to just stop it. Mental illness is the SAME thing. AAAAAAHHHH I get so pissed off. I don't know why I am even bothering ot explain any of this. It is pointless!!!!!

exactly donna
depressed people cant face life..thats the problem..u dont know, or got a clue on depression..how dare you.write this..yes family friends upset.. its not nice to leave them..depressed people grieve on a regular basis .about there own lives,and the people that surround them..do you honestly think... that depressed people take there lives as so no thought to others?..im afraid if you belive that..you darling not a clue on depression..i done it..because.. my family would be better off without me..as they kept telling me that...only docs kept me alive..and im here to tell the tale..do not sit in judgment of others.how dare you do that..im disgusted at this post

if you have never dealt with severe pain and depression and panic attacks and etc... then you have no idea what its like to try to get out of bed in the morning and how u feel like such a burden on everyone around you because you have no idea how hard things are and if you have never been there then u dont understand...so when you say "quitters and cowards" u dont know it until you have lived it...when i read this i couldnt believe it i had to respond to it....sorry if it makes anyone mad but its the truth if u havent been there u dont know...thanks

First of all, I'm not judging any of YOU. You take things too personally. I was stating a fact. Suicide helps NO ONE, it takes courage to fact what life hands you.

Why I Think About Suicide:

I'm in pain. Physical pain as well as mental pain. Some days, when people touch me, it sends a searing jolt like an electric shock through my body that I can still feel hours later. It almost leaves a burn.

Because I truly feel that getting better is not going to happen for me. I've been fighting depression for many years. I'm on medication, and it helps, but not so much that I never think about suicide. I have a disease for which there is no cure. I would never deny a person with MS or ALS or cancer the right to end their suffering.

Life involves facing loss. My husband married me knowing there was a chance he would outlive me. Children most often bury their parents its the natural order of things. Yes, an untimely death is more painful, but is it more painful than the pain that I am dealing with every day? I just dont know.

Because I look around at my life and think about how it would be with me gone. Would the scale tip toward better off or worse off? There are some that would be worse off yes, but there are many who would hurt but then lead a better life.

Because I find death fascinating. I always have. I guess I'm morbid.

Because I'm so very very very tired. No amount of sleep can cure me. I need to never wake.

Because every act I need to do to live takes more energy than I am capable of. Brushing my teeth takes too much energy. Making dinner is too hard. Speaking to people is too hard. I am surrounded by things that need to be done - a mountain that overwhelms me; never shrinks, only grows. So many people seem to conquer their mountains, I am crushed by mine.

Why I Haven't Done it (Yet): Mostly, its because I am generally a kind person and don't want to hurt people, my children especially.

I don't find it helpful when people say that suicide is not an option. For me, it is always an option. So far, it hasn't been the best option, but it is never off the table for me. Somehow, just having that escape valve helps me get through my day.

I have posted this so that Donna (if she is still reading) can perhaps get a glimpse into the psyche of a person who suffers from depression and thoughts of suicide. Perhaps I am a coward living often takes more bravery than I feel I have. Perhaps I am too lazy to live life. Perhaps I am selfish if others have to continue to live, why should I get to opt out? But ultimately, those are not characteristics that I think people associate with me. Would death change that? We say people who battle cancer are brave are those that die cowards? I hope not. If I commit suicide, I have lost the war with depression. This does not mean I didnt fight my hardest. Who but me knows how tough the opponent is?

I have never had someone I know commit suicide. I hope if I do I will remember that they made a difficult choice, but one they felt they had to make. They felt that all other options were too awful. I am free to make the same choice any time I want and I choose to live. For today at least.

Yes, you're right. Suicide isn't the answer. HUGS. Dawn

Suicide isn't the answer ... as many others have said, but saying a person with an illness is a coward for succumbing to that illness???? Donna would it really be so hard for you to admit you were wrong to say this about cowards and quitters?

I don't know if you've noticed that a person truly contemplating suicide usually already has a pretty bad opinion of themselves, may actually loathe themselves, only people with healthy self-esteem are going to be prevented by the thought of being a coward or quitter.

I mean when you are rocking back and forth sobbing in such deep pain that the thought of dying is the only comfort available to you . . . you don't give a F*CK about being a coward or quitter. WHY at that point is the question . . . why live in this pain that just seems like it won't go away? All rational thoughts have this time been drowned . . . even thoughts of family can be vague and unforceful . . . sanity trying to make it's way through the fog the illness of depression has cast over your mind . . .

I cant believe after all these replies, you only typed that small response. Shame on you, Donna

I'll start with this Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain.

Now that the above is out of the way, I'll actually respond.

I read your profile and I don't think you understand what depression is. The depression most people experience after the death of a loved one is a normal occurrence, depression by itself is not normal. You are probably experiencing something different than most of the people here.

You cannot accurately judge ANYONE for their actions. Some people might attempt suicide, fail and lead a horrible life afterward because of it. Some of them might even think they DESERVE that. THAT'S what depression does.

By posting what you did in this area, I'm almost positive you have never been depressed to the degree people who are suicidal are. It takes a lot of courage to commit suicide when part of you thinks you deserve the suffering you are experiencing.

I hope you never experience the pain and self hatred that so many of us on here live with, and have lived with, for years.

Let's just look at her post as a view from someone who is left behind point of view, or as someone who has to be involved or be a caretaker for someone who is depressed and wants to take their lives. They too are living a life of hell. Face it we are selfishish people. We can't help it. I fight depression. I've dealt with it all my life, lived with it im family members. You do get sick and tired of it. We also want to lead normal lives. Doesn't matter which side of the fence your sitting on. I've felt so guilty at times. Knowing that I was putting my family through hell. Then also knowing that if I had to deal one more day with my sister and her threats, of I am going to kill myself, all we want is for that person to get better. If someone does commit suicide there pain is over, but those left it never ends. Do I have the answer no. For me because I am married and have two children I refuse to put them through what I went through as a child and sibling. I continue to go to the Dr. for my depression make sure that my medicine works, and change it when it doesn't. I go to therapy. My family understands that I have depression and know that I work at it. It's a terrible disease, and can be such a hopeless feeling. We just have to stick together and help each other but most of all we have to not give up. LL

First of all, I can't read lonnng replies because I have diabetic eyes and it is a strain. Maybe those that are thinking suicide need to stop thinking about themselves and more about others. I'm glad for everyone that attempted suicide and is still among the living. Maybe if you get riled up enough you'll forget about suicide. Like the theme song in the movie MASH, suicide is painless?, it brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please.

You're not listening. When you're suicidal, or attempt suicide, in your eyes it's a very self-LESS act. You are giving the people you love a break from yourself. You think they would be be better off without you.

You really don't understand depression and each time you respond, you make that more and more clear.

I can see she didn't mean anything nasty about her post. others may not see it but i do.

Then why am I on prozac? Suicide selfless? How can that be? Your family loves you know matter what and unless you're in extreme pain and are terminal, I don't think they want you to kill yourself. My mom died in 2008 and I loss my job and I'm battling diabetes complications, so I think I qualify to be depressed.

She may not have meant to be nasty, but calling people who have been fighting this illness all their lives with no respite cowards and quitters isn't going to win her any friends. And as Sophie said, those who finally reach the point of wanting to end it do so because they think they've become an unbearable burden on others, as well as feeling as though life has finally become too much for them themselves.

I finally understood that about my ex; apparently he felt that he was beyond being of any good to anyone anymore. I could have told him he was wrong, but in that state of mind would he have heard that? Those who contemplate suicide need understanding and intervention, not being called names and someone trying to "shame" them out of feeling the way they do. THAT doesn't work. While I've never actively tried to kill myself, I've had plenty of times in my life when I thought that I was too messed up to ever be of any good to anyone, and didn't care if I lived or died, and went through my days accordingly. The mindset is the same.

I asked what happened, Donna, to make you put this post up. You haven't seen fit to answer. If anyone has gotten defensive here, it's you. You say that we're taking things too personally? Well of course we are! You're hitting a nerve here. Our illness is VERY personal to us. Getting us "riled up" will more than likely backfire on you.