There are many ups but sadly the downs cause many to bottom out and cloud one’s ability to reach back for the goodness and work toward a greater purpose. “This life has become too difficult for me”, were the words, a written acknowledgment or confession of sorts, by someone close to us, who five years ago took his own life. Two others taking the same fate, that were close to us, must have felt a similar scenario in their lives’ as they “played out”. One was a well educated, creative and hugely talented artist with grand ideas and designs that must have seeped from every crevice of his bumpy brain mass. He was always searching. Distracted by “life". It happens and it is an ugly transformation, overwhelmed with extreme disappointment and unable to restore order in one’s life— unable to seek their way or share their work/purpose in a productive satisfying way, they seek to relieve the pain. Unable to accept one’s self in such weariness, unable to feel loved or love themselves, thus unable to adequately love others. Like a hidden treasure they feel at times to go unnoticed and unfulfilled. Full of goodness, gifts, talents and delicate fragility these people (many creative people) suffer from a disease, depression, with many versions, it is “real” pathological illnesses. Sufferers compare themselves with others, who seem to skip along their life-paths with ease and little trepidation over their next step. While those trembling in motion within the confines of their own imprisoned minds suffer in agitation, apprehension, hoping and longing for answers that seem to go unanswered and unfulfilled. Some seek help while others suffer endlessly, struggling to disguise or deny their weakness. Secretly yearning for help they exhaustively mask their pain and suffering. Fed up and beyond weary at some point they cross a line that may not be visible to others, compulsive, confirmed, a thoughtless point of end…. “The last act”.
The reasons for any suicide are certainly very complex, and research acknowledges that no one can fully explain with certainty what is behind the rise that we have experienced in recent history. Quote in an article from: The New York Times online. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/health/suicide-rate-rises-sharply-in-us.html?_r=0 “It’s vastly underreported,” said Julie Phillips, an associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University who has published research on rising suicide rates. “We know we’re not counting all suicides.” Some studies and estimates suggest that approximately 800,000 Americans attempt suicide every year. Suicide rates can be difficult to measure or interpret but over the twenty-year period from 1990 to 2010, suicide rates in the U.S. decreased, and then rose again. Between 1990 and 2000, the suicide rate decreased from 12.5 deaths by suicide to 10.4 per 100,000 people in the population. However, over the next ten years the rate seemed to go back up and by 2011 the rate was at 12.3 deaths per 100,000.
I have not been able to find the suicide data for 2012 thru 2013 but given what seems to be so many lost to this, I fear it is still very high. Many people openly criticize those that take their own lives as selfish or say that is a last selfish act. Can we really walk in another person’s shoes? I agree that it seems to be a self absorbed, selfish act but a disease of the mind, we surly cannot fully understand the chemistry and what happens with such imbalances within the brain. And certainly we cannot judge. I believe that these individuals are such a disappointment to themselves and they believe that they are a disappointment and burden on others, so much so, that it is unbearable for them to think.
Comprehensive psychiatric evaluations have to be sought and medication management addressed. But I do not believe that we do an adequate job of addressing and accessing an individual’s mental issues or illness. I have dealt with depression and dementia with loved ones and know first hand what that is like. Some possibly many physicians are simply prescription writers and they prescribe a cocktail of drugs and begin practicing with hope of a manageable outcome. It is such a balancing act of trial and error. And the actual changes in the chemistry of the brain can be both dangerous and devastating with or without drugs in these cases.
In addition, when someone has been on a medication, many individuals taking the medication as well as caregivers do not understand the dangers of starting and stopping a medication. I do not believe that there is enough time or knowledge to address individual cases or the desire to delve into each individual’s case by many healthcare professionals. Never mind be abreast of all the drug interactions and effects both immediate and long term on each individual because, we are all so different. In my opinion adequate care is lacking for reasons of time constraints with physicians and lack of “real” interest as well as, individuals unable to recognize their own need for help (healthcare) or unwillingness to get help for fear of a negative stigma or due to other limitations. Maybe there is no cure? But individuals with these illnesses need a healthcare advocate to monitor them often and make note of changes and things that need addressing. I am no doctor but I have dealt with these topics on a personal level with loved ones for over two decades.
In the general population, another thought, observation or question might be that we as a growing Internet and “techno” population, are lacking the personal communication skills to care for and deal with individuals suffering with mental illness, “problems”. By this, I mean, we have less and less person-to-person contact and communication in our daily lives. So much about the way we communicate is changing. Many individuals may need to simply share themselves and their gifts to recover a healthy life of fulfillment. Many are in need of encouragement and need ways to find a purpose in life but do not have fulfilling communication. The communication that I speak of involves looking into someone’s eyes, seeing expressions and even touch from others, hugs, pats on the back and etc. Some people are for whatever reason, possibly unable to lift themselves up or be lifted up to achieve their own goals or expectations, people need people. Mental illness has no boundary—can seem silent, all the while one can be struggling in poverty or middle class and another be very successful because they have plenty of money but all equally susceptible to mental illness. Problems have no boundaries either. They may be brought on by environmental or spiritual situations or both and/or a serious genetic mental disorders or by other health problems. This has got to be difficult to address. We have got to communicate better with others and be aware of warning signs in individuals that suffer so greatly within. It is easy to tell someone to be happy like a child for no reason. But that is what we should be, right? If you are happy for a reason, you’re in trouble, because that reason can be taken away from you at any moment. Let’s reach out to others. A “normal” person should be able to control their thoughts and even change them, but what if some cannot and it is their, “Last Act”?
