5 ms·

The best description I've seen of depression-induced suicde is "a permanent solution to a temporary problem."

jetti 14y ago
The thing I always hated about hearing that phrase is that it completely invalidates what the person is feeling and makes the person saying the phrase. In some cases, it truly may be a temporary problem, in some cases it may not be. How can you say something like that to somebody with Fibromyalgia? Surely they would be apt to feel depressed and unlikely to continue wanting to live. While that may not be a common situation, it is something that could happen and, again speaking from my experience, from what I've encountered the people spouting off that line are the ones who don't know 100% what the person they are talking to are going through. That phrase also has implications as to what happens after one dies by stating it is a permanent solution. Sure, they won't be here any more but that doesn't mean they won't exist anymore (though that is a discussion for another time).
- drumdance 14y ago
  For certain situations like the one you describe, I agree. But for straight-up depression with no other exacerbating factors (and which responds to treatment), I think the statement still stands. It certainly helped me when I was suicidal.
abruzzi 14y ago
For someone who has suffered depression for 35 years continuously (almost all my life) and had tried talk therapy, CBT, and over a dozen different drugs ranging from SSRIs like Prozac and Paxil, to Tricyclics like Tofranil. I'd hardly call it temporary. The only meds I haven't tried are MAOIs, but I've been resistant because side effects.
- drumdance 14y ago
  I'm truly sorry to hear this. Have you looked into ketamine? NPR had a story about it in January: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/01/31/146096540/i-wanted-to-live-new-depression-drugs-offer-hope-for-toughest-cases http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/01/31/146096540/i-wante...
saraid216 14y ago
Why would you ever want a temporary solution to any problem? It might be an accurate description, but to someone like me, the first reaction is, "Sold!"

jetti 14y ago

The thing I always hated about hearing that phrase is that it completely invalidates what the person is feeling and makes the person saying the phrase. In some cases, it truly may be a temporary problem, in some cases it may not be. How can you say something like that to somebody with Fibromyalgia? Surely they would be apt to feel depressed and unlikely to continue wanting to live. While that may not be a common situation, it is something that could happen and, again speaking from my experience, from what I've encountered the people spouting off that line are the ones who don't know 100% what the person they are talking to are going through. That phrase also has implications as to what happens after one dies by stating it is a permanent solution. Sure, they won't be here any more but that doesn't mean they won't exist anymore (though that is a discussion for another time).

drumdance 14y ago
For certain situations like the one you describe, I agree. But for straight-up depression with no other exacerbating factors (and which responds to treatment), I think the statement still stands. It certainly helped me when I was suicidal.

abruzzi 14y ago

For someone who has suffered depression for 35 years continuously (almost all my life) and had tried talk therapy, CBT, and over a dozen different drugs ranging from SSRIs like Prozac and Paxil, to Tricyclics like Tofranil. I'd hardly call it temporary. The only meds I haven't tried are MAOIs, but I've been resistant because side effects.

drumdance 14y ago
I'm truly sorry to hear this. Have you looked into ketamine? NPR had a story about it in January: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/01/31/146096540/i-wanted-to-live-new-depression-drugs-offer-hope-for-toughest-cases http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/01/31/146096540/i-wante...

saraid216 14y ago

Why would you ever want a temporary solution to any problem? It might be an accurate description, but to someone like me, the first reaction is, "Sold!"