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Anthony Bourdain has died

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101–110 of 344 posts

Re: Anthony Bourdain has died

#101
post #20

The CNN article about his death had this: >Suicide is a growing problem in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a survey Thursday showing suicide rates increased by 25% across the United States over nearly two decades ending in 2016. I remember a while back that the general public's tone on suicide was a lot less sober. More of a "man up" sort of attitude. With a growing list…

Everyone points to mental Illness. You can't want to die if you're not mentally ill right? But "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society" -Jiddu Krishnamurti

The illness is not all in the heads of the people killing themselves.

Re: Anthony Bourdain has died

#102
post #96
post #60

>, I can only hope that people as a whole start seeing it as a complex issue and the stigma of mental issues and stress can lessen so that people can get help Possibly inappropriate - but why do people immediately link suicide and mental illness? Why do we stand in judgement declaring it wrong to decide ones own fate? Am I not the master of my own existence and do I not have the right to make a decision on it without…

1. The universe is largely void and hostile to life. 2. Sure, there may be times where a person may rationally chose to die. That doesn’t negate the fragility and value of life for its sake. Two things can be true. Some people may have a rational reason to wish to end their lives, and some people who would end their lives would do much greater harm to themselves and loved ones than good. 3. It is my firm belief that…

I don't believe there is a valid rational reason to justify suicide. But I'm open to being wrong.

This have been explored philosophically in the school of existentialism, see Camus and his work.

EDIT: i guess a valid reason is significant physical pain and suffering that has no hope of being cured.

Re: Anthony Bourdain has died

#103
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll qualify that with - only if you know what you are doing. If someone is struggling in the deep sea, dive in to help only if you have experience swimming in the deep sea. This stuff is not simple and can have lifelong negative effects on both parties if done wrong.

I have not found evidence to support this hypothesis. Unless you are grossly and spectacularly insensitive, I do not see a plausible mechanism by which simply starting a conversation could have "lifelong negative effects". There is reasonably strong evidence to suggest that social connectedness has a substantial protective effect on suicide risk. Just asking "Hey, how are you?" and making time to listen can make a me…

I guess Bourdain didn't have anyone around him who could say 'how are you' right?

Re: Anthony Bourdain has died

#104
A powerful quote that may resonate with many of us and sum up his humility and fight with depression, from an interview with Biography.com (via reddit):

"I should’ve died in my 20s. I became successful in my 40s. I became a dad in my 50s. I feel like I’ve stolen a car — a really nice car — and I keep looking in the rearview mirror for flashing lights."

Rest in peace.

Re: Anthony Bourdain has died

#105
post #60

>, I can only hope that people as a whole start seeing it as a complex issue and the stigma of mental issues and stress can lessen so that people can get help Possibly inappropriate - but why do people immediately link suicide and mental illness? Why do we stand in judgement declaring it wrong to decide ones own fate? Am I not the master of my own existence and do I not have the right to make a decision on it without…

Suicide is inherently a selfish act, and I think that’s where the perception of it being “wrong” comes from. Sure you have the right to decide your own fate, but you should consider that you affect other people. In taking your own life you’re also fucking up the life of everyone who cares about you, forcing them into a state of grief and possibly causing them to blame themselves for what was ultimately a selfish act…

I'm pretty sure if you told that to anyone who was suicidal, it would only quicken their departure. These people need some compassion and medical treatment, not more guilt.

Re: Anthony Bourdain has died

#106
post #59
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to volunteer at one. Its part of a national network. Ask away.

What's the best way to encourage someone to call when they're showing outward signs of depression but you don't know them? I saw someone who was very clearly depressed streaming the other day. They weren't responding to chat. Crying. Fetal position on the floor for 7+ hours. Very depressing social media posts, etc. But I did not know this person. I did encourage them to call, however it was a difficult message to com…

I think this is where social platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat) should allow friends to suggest anonymously to contact such a helpline (probably show it as an ad/post). Any other way would be considered judgmental/confrontational by the one who is already suffering. An inanimate / non-human thing like facebook suggesting to contact the local helpline may be very very effective in such cases.

Re: Anthony Bourdain has died

#107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The drugs can be really, really helpful to some people though. There is no doubt in my mind that Prozac saved my life 25 years ago.

Yep, my wife was on Zoloft for ~18 months after a pregnancy (postpartum depression), and it absolutely made a massive difference.

I first felt the genuine desire to seek out and socialize with strangers after a dose of kava. I now can’t take it as it conflicts with other medication. But before then and after then, I genuinely experience discomfort around all people.

Re: Anthony Bourdain has died

#108

http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

Has anyone called these before? What's it like? Thanks.

Without saying the same as others, they are there to listen for the most part. A lot of the times, that's what someone under stress and who might be considering taking action needs.

What a lot of people don't understand is that a friend who might be considering suicide doesn't need to be "fixed", or to be given a bunch of quick solutions, or worse to be told "just get over it". What they need is someone who is willing to listen without passing judgement. And if necessary, to provide that friend guidance in getting to a safe place where those with experience can provide care.

For disclosure, I am not a trained counselor. I've had various, very short, training sessions for several close friends and relatives so that I would know what to do, and more importantly what not to do or what not to say.

Re: Anthony Bourdain has died

#109
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. The universe is largely void and hostile to life. 2. Sure, there may be times where a person may rationally chose to die. That doesn’t negate the fragility and value of life for its sake. Two things can be true. Some people may have a rational reason to wish to end their lives, and some people who would end their lives would do much greater harm to themselves and loved ones than good. 3. It is my firm belief that…

I don't believe there is a valid rational reason to justify suicide. But I'm open to being wrong. This have been explored philosophically in the school of existentialism, see Camus and his work. EDIT: i guess a valid reason is significant physical pain and suffering that has no hope of being cured.

That’s one point I have personally experienced. I’ve faced the reality of 30-31 migraines per 31 days a month. Luckily medical treatment is helping cut that number back significantly (though every day is a careful balance). But those medical treatments have been around less than 10 years. There’s even a class of headache, cluster headaches, which are also known as suicide headaches. Not every chronic pain can be dialed back.

Re: Anthony Bourdain has died

#110
post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Suicide is inherently a selfish act, and I think that’s where the perception of it being “wrong” comes from. Sure you have the right to decide your own fate, but you should consider that you affect other people. In taking your own life you’re also fucking up the life of everyone who cares about you, forcing them into a state of grief and possibly causing them to blame themselves for what was ultimately a selfish act…

Isn't it also a little selfish to expect someone to live out their life in misery simply because you would feel bad if that person ended their own life? I have people in my life who have been struggling with mental illness for many years. If any of them decide that they no longer have the will to fight, I would not think less of them (or call them selfish) if they decide to end their own life. If I did, I would be se…

Both of these things are selfish, by definition, right? Suicide is an act performed by a person to remove them from a world they don't want to be in any longer (self focus). Being upset at a person for doing so is putting your feeling above theirs (self focus).

Selfish is inherently a negative word, though. Maybe self focused or self motivated is still accurate and less negative.

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