Discussion Is continuing to live always a reversible decision?

[Exiled spirit]

I used to think that the decision to stay alive is reversible while the decision to end my life isn't. What does that mean? It simply means that if you decided today that you wouldn't take your own life, you can always change your mind tomorrow and end everything. On the contrary, if you decided today to end your life, and you were successful, you can't change your mind. Once you're gone, you're gone. You wouldn't be able to reverse that.

I'm longer convinced by this idea.

I have realised that even the decision to stay alive can be irreversible or very costly because it can make suicide's plans very difficult or impossible to achieve. Consider, for example, a person who planned to die by jumping off a bridge or a high building. If that person postponed his suicide attempt, he might have leg injury, which will make it really hard for him to carry on with his plan. He also may have a stroke or suffer from other health issues that affect his ability to walk. And in this case, it would be impossible for him to die by jumping off a height, and that method may be the only method available to him.

Delaying suicide makes a person vulnerable to all kinds of bad events that can lead to a notable physical and mental deterioration, which can make a person's suicide impossible or extremely difficult and painful and risky.

 

[FuneralCry]

I find it terrifying how there is no limit as to how much one can be tortured in this futile, cruel and dreadful existence, at any moment existing can easily get way more unbearable and what is so horrific to me is how there isn't the option to just be euthanised even know existence causes all this harm and suffering. There's just so much cruelty in how the suffering and torture of existing is seen as to force and prolong no matter what, all I want is to be gone, I just want to never suffer again with this deeply undesirable, torturous existence no longer my problem

 

[EmptyBottle]

That is an interesting point, I never thought of continuing life as being potentially irreversible (beyond external death), tho in many cases, VSE (voluntary stopping of eating) is likely still available, and unless a literal "act of God" happens, life will thankfully be finite (thankfully because while I don't mind existence, existence may eventually become something I grow tired of).

 

[Exiled spirit]

That is an interesting point, I never thought of continuing life as being potentially irreversible (beyond external death), tho in many cases, VSE (voluntary stopping of eating) is likely still available, and unless a literal "act of God" happens, life will thankfully be finite (thankfully because while I don't mind existence, existence may eventually become something I grow tired of).

As far as I know, Voluntary stopping of eating isn't a "real" option because most people, healthy and ill, wouldn't be able to endure the torture that comes with that method and they will find themselves compelled to eat. Moreover, many people with certain health issues are bed-bound and under the mercy of their caretakers who can force them to eat.

 

[EmptyBottle]

As far as I know, Voluntary stopping of eating isn't a "real" option because most people, healthy and ill, wouldn't be able to endure the torture that comes with that method and they will find themselves compelled to eat. Moreover, many people with certain health issues are bed-bound and under the mercy of their caretakers who can force them to eat.

oh yes, it may require isolation from others, etc... something not guaranteed.

 

[PI3.14]

I think you will enjoy watching a series of videos made by a Yale professor concerning the philosophy of suicide, look it up on YouTube.

Indeed, you might have the choice today, but you might lose it due to some unfortunate events.

It's not only that for me though. If I choose to live today, then the question is, what is the cost? Also, what can I achieve by continuing to live? Am I able, for example, to live a good life? Or will it be just a life on surviving mode?

For me it all goes back to a central question, can I live a life of good quality where I can at least have a good paying job, have a partner, an affordable housing, perhaps a family? Also have a good health, both physical and mental?

If the answer is no, or let's say unlikely, then I have no interest in life.

I've made the decision to continue to live since I first got severely depressed at 2017. A set of unfortunate implications followed, including me losing a full-ride scholarship that came what a monthly stipend. Life kept getting worse and worse.

My thinking was that I was still young and I thought it's best to try therapy, meds, and try whatever I can to get back on my feet to start working on building the life I wanted for myself.

I failed, very miserably too. The cost? 8 years of suffering, that have I chosen to suicide in 2017, I would have saved myself the extra trauma.

So, whether one chooses to suicide or not, there is always a price to be paid, more importantly, one can never know the outcome of their decision for sure.

 

[pthnrdnojvsc]

I used to think that the decision to stay alive is reversible while the decision to end my life isn't. What does that mean? It simply means that if you decided today that you wouldn't take your own life, you can always change your mind tomorrow and end everything. On the contrary, if you decided today to end your life, and you were successful, you can't change your mind. Once you're gone, you're gone. You wouldn't be able to reverse that.

I'm longer convinced by this idea.

I have realised that even the decision to stay alive can be irreversible or very costly because it can make suicide's plans very difficult or impossible to achieve. Consider, for example, a person who planned to die by jumping off a bridge or a high building. If that person postponed his suicide attempt, he might have leg injury, which will make it really hard for him to carry on with his plan. He also may have a stroke or suffer from other health issues that affect his ability to walk. And in this case, it would be impossible for him to die by jumping off a height, and that method may be the only method available to him.

Delaying suicide makes a person vulnerable to all kinds of bad events that can lead to a notable physical and mental deterioration, which can make a person's suicide impossible or extremely difficult and painful and risky.

Yes this is true. i have thought very similar things .

also . every day i procrastinate and don't kill myself is another day :

1. that i risk extreme torture. why should i for what reason?
2. i risk losing my means or ability to even have a chance at suicide . for example i could get a stroke today and then be in extreme suffering and not be able to kill myself.
3. i continue to be a slave to my body having to feed it all the time , drink water, do chores , work a job. also a slave to my mind , and to other people and the government and society .
4. i continue to suffer.
5. i have to risk all kinds of threats from accidents, attacks, parasites, diseases, injustice, etc. : for what reason?

if i do kill myself today then : Non-existence forever :

1. i don't exist so i can't suffer unbearably ever. why is this so bad?
2. i don't have any problems , responsibilities , needs , can't suffer ever , no chance of suffering pain problems bad memories.