Discussion Can suicide be psychotic AND selfish?

[Forever Sleep]

I think suicide is often seen as the result of a psychotic episode- or- the result of mental illness. Someone who is not in a stable enough frame of mind to make decisions for themselves.

Still- it's also described as selfish. CAN someone REALLY be acting selfishly if they don't know what they're doing? Maybe the ACT can be seen as selfish but surely- the intention can't anymore. Unless they think the 'illness' is making the person act deliberately selfishly. Like- that was the actual motive.

It kind of feels to me like it's one or the other though. Either I'm psychotic- in which case- NONE of what I do is my responsibility. Or- I'm acting selfishly out of choice.

I suppose the latter tends to be used when people are talking about doing it- to try and dissuade them and the former is used after the act- there's nothing anyone could have done because by then, they were in a crazy state of mind.

I expect many people here think it's neither crazy, or altogether selfish. I just find it another one of those contradictory boxes people seem to like to dump suicide in to.

 

[WorthlessTrash]

Suicide can be selfish for the one doing it, however selfishness is not necessarily a bad thing. There has to be a healthy balance between doing things for others and doing things for yourself.

 

[codedarchaeologist]

I think actions need to be made in sound mind to be selfish. But really, I don't think it matters - both the idea of suicide being selfish and the idea of suicide usually being caused by some mental illness-induced compulsion are bullshit. Both are excuses used to justify not acknowledging the social, societal and economic causes of suicide. There are lots of reasons to kill yourself that are rational, altruistic, or both.

 

[hellispink]

It is not selfish to put an end to one suffering. No one owes being alive to another person at all. Everyone must decide for themselves without worrying about others. And most people that do it I am pretty sure they aware of what they doing, they just tired and in all their right to.