QuoteWe go through therapy to see whether we really want to transition. If everyone who wanted to take their life went through therapy how many would come out still wanting to do it? Too often suicide is a knee jerk reaction. Many times they are drunk or on drugs. They aren't thinking clearly.
I agree that impulsive thinking is very harmful in ANY decision.
I agree that irrational thinking is very harmful in ANY decision.
I do not agree that suicide is always the result of impulsive and/or irrational thinking.
Therefore, suicide is not always wrong.
In some cases, it is the result of a long, very carefully thought out, and very well executed plan.
Quotewhat is needed is Education ! to show these people that Life is worth liveing in the first place... that is a tall order when the persons Life is a liveing hell.
.... all I can say is Life does get better ! it realy does... it can get worse ofcorse but it usually gets better, because we strive to make it better every day.
Bob, consider this, that in some cases, to that person, life will never be worth living. Of course, your life is worth living to you, or you wouldn't be here. But, it is impossible to understand someone else from that persons point of view. You can imagine how you would feel in their situation, but it's not possible to truely understand exactly how they feel.
My point to all of this, is it is impossible to judge the act of suicide.
Yes, it's possible to point out the ones that attempted it and regret it.
Of course it is also possible to point out the ones that impulsively decided to do it.
Stupid decisions are made all of the time.
However, my point is, suicide is not always the result of a stupid decision, therefore, it is impossible to judge the ACT of suicide as always being selfish.
To tell someone that has thought it over for a long time, has developed a plan, is in the process of executing that plan over the course of years, and then after years of contemplation and planning executes the final maneuver to that plan, that suicide isn't worth it, it's selfish, and that he or she will regret it is not only futile, it is also extremely self-rightous. In effect, it's saying that you know how to live their life better than they do.
Furthermore, I would argue the following point.
Therapy requirement for transitioning should also be required for suicide!
The parallels are important.
Transitioning is a life altering, non-reversible (for all intents and purposes) proceedure.
If you could transition on a whim and it were irreversible for example you drink something and it's done, no way back, I am certain that there would be PLENTY of people who would do it and regret it.
However, there would be a few, like you and me, who would do it with no regrets whatsoever.
Unfortunately, suicide is something that can be done on a whim and people attempt it and regret it all the time. However, to dismiss all of those that suicide as whimsical, spur of the moment decisions. It's important to remember that before judging the act as stupid, or selfish, or any of the many adjectives used to describe suicide.
Jessica
