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Wow
Jul 14, 2008 20:50:31 GMT -5
Post by Ouch on Jul 14, 2008 20:50:31 GMT -5
I do agree. 99% of the time, I'm a ridiculously optimistic, jovial person... and in that other 1%, you'd still think I was if you saw me. And I think I'd be that way regardless. I was a smiling, happy baby. I was a happy kid. And I'm a happy adult. Our situation doesn't define our happiness. It never has. It never will. And here's what I wonder... Every now and again, I fall into that 52%. If I was walking about ably, would I still have those moments just for some other reason? Probably. E makes an excellent point! I had been thinking about that as well, and hence why I think the numbers may not be as loyal to the truth. Even someone that doesn't live with a form of major disability, could very well drift into thoughts of self-destruction, because of something else. So while the numbers look bad among those with a disability, it doesn't necessarily mean it is because of a disability that suicide is the result of disability and not because of something completely different. For example: Myself; I had made an attempt to take my own life due to a reason completely unrelated to disability.
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Wow
Jul 15, 2008 6:45:24 GMT -5
Post by Chan on Jul 15, 2008 6:45:24 GMT -5
An unexpected finding was that the suicide rate in the group of marginally disabled persons was nearly twice as high as the group of functionally complete tetraplegic individuals. Has it not been taken into consideration that quadriplegics are less physically able to actually off-themselves and that this could be a confounding variable in the statistics?
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Wow
Jul 15, 2008 7:04:56 GMT -5
Post by Claire on Jul 15, 2008 7:04:56 GMT -5
That would make sense! I have no clue if they thought of that.
I actually have a friend who wanted to commit suicide, but didn't know how, because she wasn't physically able.
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Wow
Jul 15, 2008 9:19:38 GMT -5
Post by E on Jul 15, 2008 9:19:38 GMT -5
An unexpected finding was that the suicide rate in the group of marginally disabled persons was nearly twice as high as the group of functionally complete tetraplegic individuals. Has it not been taken into consideration that quadriplegics are less physically able to actually off-themselves and that this could be a confounding variable in the statistics? Wheelchair into the pool with the seatbelt on. That's how I've always thought I'd do it.
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Wow
Jul 15, 2008 14:47:24 GMT -5
Post by mrjefffurz on Jul 15, 2008 14:47:24 GMT -5
during my darkest times ive not carried thru because of my personality quirk that makes me do my very best to not leave a mess for somebody else to clean up...and im dead dog serious...yanno...i really should throw away the "dr kervorkian" kit ive been keeping for years...besides ive discovered i can get past those self-destructive feelings with large infusions of tequila...i cant help but get happy from drinking that evil stuff...
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Wow
Jul 20, 2008 17:00:24 GMT -5
Post by raybonda on Jul 20, 2008 17:00:24 GMT -5
I TOTALLY AGREE
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Wow
Jul 20, 2008 23:37:22 GMT -5
Post by devogirl on Jul 20, 2008 23:37:22 GMT -5
But the data seemed to suggest also that a lot of quads reported feeling satisfied with their lives; to me it seemed like the data suggest the lower suicide rate is because they are not as depressed as people assume. Interesting...do the studies say that quads are less depressed and suicidal than paras? And I wonder, is that related to the actual experience of the injury, or the rehab process? I mean, if you have a very severe injury, you might feel happy you can do anything at all, whereas with a relatively minor injury, you expect life to go back to the way it was, and having to do anything differently could be more frustrating.
Also, I read a study once that tracked several people post SCI and found not surprisingly that they were basically the same people before and after the accident, and those with positive outlooks and strong social supports did better. What the study didn't mention is the relative number of people who sustained SCIs while engaging in suicidal behavior. I've met more than one person who was injured while sort of passively trying to kill themselves with drugs, alcohol, drunk driving, other reckless behavior, and were certainly even less happy post-injury. I wonder if people with preexisting suicidal tendencies make up a statistically significant part of the total number of SCIs.
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Wow
Jul 21, 2008 0:49:11 GMT -5
Post by Triassic on Jul 21, 2008 0:49:11 GMT -5
excellant point, devogirl...there probably is such a thing as a 'semi-suicide'; where somebody gets real drunk and goes out speeding around, tempting fate.
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Wow
Jul 22, 2008 14:47:29 GMT -5
Post by Pony on Jul 22, 2008 14:47:29 GMT -5
Devogirl's post is very interesting, wish there was some studies on this, but I can tell you from all the dudes I saw after spending almost a year in a rehab center that how messed up in the head about the injury has little to do with the level of injury. It's all in the head, and sometimes outside circumstances, like where you'll live. I knew a weightlifter that was lower level then me, but cried a LOT!! I knew another quad that tried to throw himself down the stairs, but was stuck in a state hospital. I knew another quad that shot himself in head with a shotgun, and another lower level that drank to death. but I know another quad higher than me that has a wife and two kids (post injury). There is something to what Devgirl said about what you expect. After I got hurt, the first year I amazed myself, and others, about what a great attitude I had, but it was partially because every little improvement seemed like 'success', so I kind of felt this 'coming up' feeling. I won't deny there were very low points, but it became routine. Plus, I was cushioned from the REAL WORLD in the institution. I remember a hard slap of reality when I was separated from other chairdudes and the 'people who understood.' The real Society requires a different attitude, and must be developed - almost like growing in a new body!!
As for those 'quasi-suicidal cowards', I might have been one, but didn't display it until drunk. Intoxication distorts things and loosens mental barriers that are normally closed off. Deep-seeded depression can come out of hiding much easier when drunk off your ass.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Wow
Jul 22, 2008 16:12:11 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2008 16:12:11 GMT -5
Ahhh yes the liquid courage. Well thats one reason why I stopped drinking. I was up to a two six of rum by the time I stopped.
So I smoke pot as my chosen vice. It doesn't let me entertain those darker thoughts. I just throw on something funny and eat a bowl of cereal.
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Jul 24, 2008 18:00:54 GMT -5
Post by yoell on Jul 24, 2008 18:00:54 GMT -5
i read the article a while ago, but I do not take any stock in this study. When I was AB and asked this question I would have answered it similar to the others. The truth is that there is limited knowledge and clarifications. The study really does not provide a lot of details as to what it means to be disabled. The reality is that this study leaves a lot of unknowns. No one can answer those question with true knowledge and understanding of what it means to be disabled. So, this study is BS and has no real value to it. That is just my thoughts
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Wow
Jul 24, 2008 18:59:31 GMT -5
Post by E on Jul 24, 2008 18:59:31 GMT -5
i read the article a while ago, but I do not take any stock in this study. When I was AB and asked this question I would have answered it similar to the others. The truth is that there is limited knowledge and clarifications. The study really does not provide a lot of details as to what it means to be disabled. The reality is that this study leaves a lot of unknowns. No one can answer those question with true knowledge and understanding of what it means to be disabled. So, this study is BS and has no real value to it. That is just my thoughts The point is it shows how some AB folk view you. Ever wonder why you get pity and awkwardness? Because they'd rather be dead than be like you. From that point of you... the study's pretty interesting.
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Wow
Jul 24, 2008 21:22:01 GMT -5
Post by matisse on Jul 24, 2008 21:22:01 GMT -5
We are all fucking rays of sunshine for the world!!!!!!!!!!
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