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"What's wrong with your life" is not the same as "Why do you want to kill yourself?". And even then I would categorize these reasons as quite irrational reason

"What's wrong with your life" is not the same as "Why do you want to kill yourself?". And even then I would categorize these reasons as quite irrational reasons to kill yourself. People who are not currently in that particular state of mind don't see these reasons as rational and valid. My point is to not argue with some one who is suicidal about his reasons. Even not with yourself, if you do have suicidal thoughts. Take the symptom seriously, start treatment, but don't take the thoughts and reasons themselves too seriously.

rifung 11y ago
I'll have to disagree with you. I don't speak for everyone who was suicidal obviously, but one of the answers to "Why do you want to kill yourself" is that you are unhappy and don't think you'll ever be happy again. I am not suicidal or as you say "in that particular state of mind" right now, but I can definitely see this as being rational or valid. If you have been depressed for as long as you can remember, I can certainly see why you would feel as though things are hopeless. I like to think they aren't, but I wouldn't disregard their feelings and opinions as irrational. Like an aspiring musician or athlete whose prospects don't seem to be getting better, sometimes you feel like it's time to give up. Have you ever been suicidal? Not trying to be rude; I'm just curious whether your opinions were formed because you had a different experience than I did is all.
- bayesianhorse 11y ago
  My point is that "It will never be better" is objectively wrong for most people. There is a very small portion of patients who indeed don't improve after years of treatment, but for the absolute majority depressions can be treated in weeks or months. I don't disregard anyones "feelings" if I call these feelings irrational. But these feelings are obviously caused by a temporary state of the mind. I did have those feelings, but I learned early on to not take them as seriously as they looked at first. But it's hard to get to this perspective, I know. A Depression undermines the patient's ability and will to fight it. Some patients develop elaborate delusions about why they are this way. Most patients have less obvious "delusions" where they believe something not completely extraordinary but still wrong and harmful, like not being worthy of life. I can recomment the youtube video "Sapolsky on depression", he explains depression from a biological viewpoint.

rifung 11y ago

I'll have to disagree with you. I don't speak for everyone who was suicidal obviously, but one of the answers to "Why do you want to kill yourself" is that you are unhappy and don't think you'll ever be happy again. I am not suicidal or as you say "in that particular state of mind" right now, but I can definitely see this as being rational or valid. If you have been depressed for as long as you can remember, I can certainly see why you would feel as though things are hopeless. I like to think they aren't, but I wouldn't disregard their feelings and opinions as irrational. Like an aspiring musician or athlete whose prospects don't seem to be getting better, sometimes you feel like it's time to give up. Have you ever been suicidal? Not trying to be rude; I'm just curious whether your opinions were formed because you had a different experience than I did is all.

bayesianhorse 11y ago
My point is that "It will never be better" is objectively wrong for most people. There is a very small portion of patients who indeed don't improve after years of treatment, but for the absolute majority depressions can be treated in weeks or months. I don't disregard anyones "feelings" if I call these feelings irrational. But these feelings are obviously caused by a temporary state of the mind. I did have those feelings, but I learned early on to not take them as seriously as they looked at first. But it's hard to get to this perspective, I know. A Depression undermines the patient's ability and will to fight it. Some patients develop elaborate delusions about why they are this way. Most patients have less obvious "delusions" where they believe something not completely extraordinary but still wrong and harmful, like not being worthy of life. I can recomment the youtube video "Sapolsky on depression", he explains depression from a biological viewpoint.