Simple answer, no, suicide is not wrong, morally or otherwise. And I'm another who believes context is everything.
I've been sad enough I've thought about committing suicide. Never got very far past a passing notion. Here's why: Whatever else happens to me in life, I'm going to die. My time here is so laughably short, it seems silly to make it one iota shorter -- with some exceptions. Why hurry the process along?
I've known a number of suicides in my life. One was my uncle, who was 3 months younger than me and killed himself on Halloween night when we were both 24. No clue it was coming, though in hindsight, we (the family) figured some things out. Another was my best friend. This was more recent -- only about 2 1/2 years ago. She spent the entire afternoon with me the day before and we had plans to meet for dinner on the day she did it. (Needless to say, she missed dinner.) Both of these were anger-driven, revenge-type suicides. Very unfortunate, very sad for me -- but in each case, their decision to make.
Another was a good friend, some years older than me who had suffered cancer earlier in his life. He'd gone through the treatments and swore if it returned, he'd never go through that again. The cancer returned; he killed himself. That one was very understandable to me, and an avenue I would consider myself.
Who am I to say that emotional pain is not worse than physical pain? I have experienced terrible emotional pain in my life but for me, it has always been transitory. I hang my hat on that when I experience it. I'm not sure how I'd feel if the emotional pain just went relentlessly on. I might consider suicide under those circumstances, too. But so far, I'm too interested to find out what happens.
I don't consider it wrong, only sad in many cases. I do think the more one thinks about it, the more one fixates on it as the only solution to an array of one's problems. If the only tool you've got in your kit is a hammer, then all your problems look like nails. Always best to explore other options -- those offered, perhaps, by someone outside of one's own psyche. Trust them and try them first. The hammer solution is always available.
I've been sad enough I've thought about committing suicide. Never got very far past a passing notion. Here's why: Whatever else happens to me in life, I'm going to die. My time here is so laughably short, it seems silly to make it one iota shorter -- with some exceptions. Why hurry the process along?
I've known a number of suicides in my life. One was my uncle, who was 3 months younger than me and killed himself on Halloween night when we were both 24. No clue it was coming, though in hindsight, we (the family) figured some things out. Another was my best friend. This was more recent -- only about 2 1/2 years ago. She spent the entire afternoon with me the day before and we had plans to meet for dinner on the day she did it. (Needless to say, she missed dinner.) Both of these were anger-driven, revenge-type suicides. Very unfortunate, very sad for me -- but in each case, their decision to make.
Another was a good friend, some years older than me who had suffered cancer earlier in his life. He'd gone through the treatments and swore if it returned, he'd never go through that again. The cancer returned; he killed himself. That one was very understandable to me, and an avenue I would consider myself.
Who am I to say that emotional pain is not worse than physical pain? I have experienced terrible emotional pain in my life but for me, it has always been transitory. I hang my hat on that when I experience it. I'm not sure how I'd feel if the emotional pain just went relentlessly on. I might consider suicide under those circumstances, too. But so far, I'm too interested to find out what happens.
I don't consider it wrong, only sad in many cases. I do think the more one thinks about it, the more one fixates on it as the only solution to an array of one's problems. If the only tool you've got in your kit is a hammer, then all your problems look like nails. Always best to explore other options -- those offered, perhaps, by someone outside of one's own psyche. Trust them and try them first. The hammer solution is always available.
