Here's the deal. You must stop thinking about suicide. It is a terrible thing and it destroys those you leave behind. I have been so depressed that I wondered also, but life does get better. Try to get professional help or friend you respect. Suicide does not help anyone and it sure cuts you out of a lot of good things that could be up ahead if you keep trying.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that it is hereditary, in one way or another. My life has been plagued with thoughts of how I'd do it, but I am always detered by the thoughts of everyone around me who would be devastated. It's also a big HEADS UP that I need to either change my meds or up the dosage again. When I feel myself starting to slide down that particular slippery slope, I think of the people who love me, and then focus on good times with them or just in general. Helps most times.

Hang in there, it DOES get better!
Candy

I dont think suicide is hereditary....We all know depression is. #1 factor/cause of suicide is depression. I have lost my Grandfather and Uncle to suicide and I can tell you that the pain I feel is beyond horrible. It makes me so angry to hear people thinking about it...I know thats not a helpful or 'good' reaction to have, I just cant understand it. Can people really be that selfish that they only think about how they feel and no one else? Im not saying people shouldnt do whats best for them, Im just wondering if people like inflicting pain on others for no reason. When someone kills themselves it leaves a gap of pain, suffering,wonder and anger, for those of us still living. I know that I have not been the same sense that December morning when my mother called me to tell me my Opa was gone.....What made the pain so great was that he didnt have to die....Its not fair and it hurts so much. I hope you will think twice before you do something so terrible like this. Keep living for everyone who loves you, and most of all for YOU....

depression is heriditory, and with depression come thoughts of susicde, b ut like everyone said it is a selfish thing to do, and you won't go to heaven

I agree, depression can be hereditary and that depression does and can cause a person to commit suicide. However, I do not think we should stand in judgment of those who do commit suicide. Unless we have felt the pain they were feeling with their (not our) personal ability to cope with that pain we shall never know where they were really at. We may all have a common thread of knowledge of the pain, but we can never know anothers actual pain and actual ability to cope with that pain. So, how can we set ourselves up to judge them? And looking at it from another perspective, how about considering that it is selfish of the ones left who are only thinking of me me me and I I I never acknowledging the depth/level of pain the person must have been struggling to endure? There are two sides to every coin.
Also, people with constant thoughts of suicide usually are having them because even if they are unaware of it, it makes them feel like they have some control. In other words, they know that they always have that option, suicide, if their pain out weighs their ability to cope any more. We as a society will put a dog down in a heart beat so it will not suffer, but we do not give that courtesy to another human being. And yet, when out on the battle field if a comrade has suffered an injury where he will slowly and agonizingly die, his buddy will be merciful and put a bullet through his head. The means justifies the end in my humble opinion. And that is all it is.......an opinion.

I am not sure if suicide is hereditary or not. I would just like to add some things here...do not commit suicide. Talk to someone immediately if you feel this is your only way out. Unfortunately, I know how it feels to be so depressed that you feel death is your only way out. For those who have never experienced this first hand (not to be rude or anything) the pain is unbearable. I would not wish severe depression on my worst enemy. It is worse than any physical pain I have endured, so far. Before I was in this state I used to judge others and wonder how could anyone get that desperate. Belive me, it is possible to feel this way. As far as this being a selfish act, I think each situation should be looked at differently. Yes-there are those who commit suicide to "get back" or make someone else hurt. That would be a selfish act. But it really offends me when there are comments made that people who commit suicide will go to hell, etc. Who gave you the authority to send anyone to hell (again, just making a point not being rude). Depression is an illness just like diabetes etc. Also, take into consideration that there are valid cases of those who have commited suicide under the influence of certain prescribed medications that are supposed to treat their illness. Suicidal people need help and not more negative judgement from those who have not walked a mile in their shoes. Again...for anyone thinking of commiting this act DO NOT do it and get help right away. Someone cares for you even if you don't realize it now. I am sorry for all those who have lost someone they love and you are in my prayers.

Yes in a way i think it can be hereditary. The fact is that those who do kill themselves don't think of the ripple effect that it can have on future generations. And because of that effect it almost gets programmed into our brains. In my case, my grandmother did it before i was even born, but my it's all my mother could talk about and so through her i felt the loss and still do 29 yrs. later. My uncle just commited suicide a week ago and i think that the mental depression that my grandmother had did pass on to him. However, it can be stopped! Just like alcoholism in somones family can be hereditay, you have the power to end the cycle and set the example for future generations. These two were not the only ones in my life that have chosen to take thier life and the thought is with me everyday, but i try to remind myself that they didn't get help! And that's why today i joined this site for the first time, to get just that! So although i know it's a daily battle, don't give up! Be brave with me and help these poor upcoming generations that it can be done!

Depression is hereditary. Studies have been done that show if one parent has committed suicide the child is something like 4 times more likely to do so than the average depressive. I think this is very complicated. In part the fact a parent role modeled this is one aspect. The family also probably has a very severe depression it is passing down. Also there is -- this is hard to put into words----there is a sort of permission to suicide and suicide may even be a romanticized way of reuniting with the lost parent who did the exact thing. Very deep I know LOL -- but IT IS deep!

Sometimes I find I feel the most suicidal when my anxiety is at its worst. Like it is the fear of continuing that is the seed of suicide not the depression. Depression just makes you want to sink into the hole. Anxiety makes you want to run away from life.

I don't think that suicide is hereditary because it is a descision that you consciously make. It isn't like it is inevitable that you wake up one morning and do it because family members have. We had a family member kill herself and what we eventually saw was that depression, mental illness, and hormonal dysfunctions run in the family. Now, about the people that say suicide is selfish...why, yes it is. However, most people who are contemplating suicide are in such pain and so exhausted from the constant struggle of trying to live in that pain, that all they really CAN think about it how to get out of that pain. It is like a mouse caught in a trap and he chews his own leg off to free himself. I mean, obviously not just like that, but you know what I mean.I know that all of the women in our family have at one point thought about suicide. We didn't plan it out but we all thoguth about it. Life does get better though. Situations get better. You can get help. YOu can have people pray for you. Just last night I had my pastor pray for me and I feel so much better. PS God loves you even if you commit suicide. It breaks his heart because you are his child and he loves you, but he will not turn his back on you for committing suicide. Anyway, I hope this long post helped you in some way. I am praying for you right now.

Lonely1,

I'm thinking and praying for you today. God is with you too. It says in the Bible that he crys when you cry. Nowhere in the Bible does it say you won't go to heaven if you committ suicide. I've heard other people say that and that's ridiculous. God is loving and knows how bad your hurting. We may not ever know if suicide is inherited, but we do know that depression runs in families. My mother was Bi-Polar, etc. and so am I.

I go hide in my bathroom when I'm not feeling good or crying. I don't want my little girl to see me (9 years old). That is why we feel so lonely because we have to hide it from so many people. I told my husband this morning I wasn't feeling good and he asked me if I was going to go turn in a job application today. That shows me he doesn't get it.

Anyway, please don't listen to these selfish people telling you that you are the one that's selfish if you committ suicide. All they are thinking about is themselves in case they find themselves left after someone has committed suicide. Now who's the one that's selfish. Depressed people are not selfish. They are lonely, hopeless, desparate, and want the pain to stop. Heaven looks good to them instead of this life of pain. I'm don't want anyone to committ suicide, but it's funny how fast people judge. They don't like to be judged about their depression, but they slam you for taling about suicide. Much love, Jayna

You can e-mail me @ mjmaharidge@sbcglobal.net

I dont think its hereditary, the animal kingdom was built solo on one purpose in life, that is its own survival... I think that thoughts of suicide is classical conditioning where you learn different ways of dealing with it, you've adapted to your environment.

Since suicide is a key symptom of major depression--a biological illness--to call suicide simply a choice is c p!

I do not believe suicide is hereditary, but I do believe the depression that leads to suicide,sometimes can be passed on within a family, when the family issues related to depression are not dealt with. That is how I am seeing it in my own experience. I can it "The dead elephant syndrome"! People get used to walking around the issue (the dead elephant) and never do anything to deal with "how do we get rid of this dead elephant, and soon it begins to effect everyone in the room, and/or family. Does that make any sence?!

First of all, noone can completely understand what someone else is going through or feeling. I know first hand that you can indeed die from a broken heart. You can also get to a point where everything is black and the hole you are falling into has no bottom. If you feel the urge, if you have the thoughts, all I can say is talk to your doctor. If they don't take you seriously then find another Dr. If you can't afford therapy or a Dr, there are plenty of toll free numbers you can call for help. Hereditary?? Why not, they are finding out that a lot of things are. BTW my brother committed suicide almost two yrs ago May 30th. I have tried it 3 times now in my adult life and many many times in my youth. I was also participating in self-abuse. I know why I did these things, I am not, however, ready to talk about them yet. The past is the past. To tell someone to Stop talking about it is unreal to me. To talk about it is the best way to defeat it. lonely1 keep talking about it. Keep hearing the stories of those who have life experiences with it. Maybe someday hopefully you will receive the answer you are looking for.