When I was young and stupid, I called people who committed suicide selfish. Instead of kind words, I turned their very real medical condition into a violation of my feelings. How very pathetic - and selfish - I was for that. Im so sorry to those I unknowingly disrespected when I didnt get it. I eventually began to experience close encounters with suicide: a friends husband, another friends ex-boyfriend, and an uncle, to name a few. I am the type of person who wants understanding. I demand reasonable explanations, not speculation, blaming, or hyper-religious BS. So I sought education, and it made me realize how very wrong I was about this thing called suicide. It is a fatal symptom of a psychological and often physiological condition that the victim wouldnt wish on anyone. Weve all had an ailment that required medical attention, havent we? They didnt choose their illness anymore than we have chosen ours. This is not make-believe. People cant just be positive or do charity work or simply think of those they love in order to snap out of it. Theyre not making up their problems, nor can they wish them away. We will never fully know the pain someone else lives with, but for the love of God, can we look past ourselves long enough to have a thread of respect for the patient? Only a scumbag would insult someone who is sick. Dont be that person. Dont be the person I was when I was young and dumb. Mental illness is just that - an illness. Sometimes, and in the case of Robin Williams, people who are sick seek help. He was in the hospital not even three weeks ago. He wasnt a coward, he wasnt in denial, and he wasnt prideful. He asked for help. But sometimes, just like a physical illness, the treatment doesnt work. That is reality. May God have mercy on our ignorance.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 01:21:20 +0000
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