Those who know me personally know that I have dealt with serious illness for a very long time. That challenge has been compounded by serious illness with my wife and son. I suspect that most individuals who wake up day after day, year after year feeling poorly are going to consider suicide at some point. One of the interesting comments I read some time ago on this subject defined suicide as what happens when one's coping resources exceed the level of pain in their lives. From this perspective the solution appears clear and straightforward - reduce the pain or increase the coping resources - either can work.
Unfortunately, there are some individuals with circumstances that cannot be improved and in fact are deteriorating - generating more and more pain with the progression of time. This is both heart breaking for the person and those around them.
The one remaining alternative in these situations is to increase coping resources and there are plenty of examples we can point to where individuals have successfully been able to do this despite dealing with incredible amounts of pain in their lives. At some point quality of life comes into the picture but that is another post.
I am reminded of something written many years ago that expresses my feelings quite well:
"John Quincy Adams is well but the house in which he lives at the present time is becoming delapidated. It's tottering on its foundations. Time and the seasons have nearly destroyed it. Its roof is pretty well worn out. Its walls are much shattered and tremble with every wind. I think John Quincy Adams will have to move out of it soon. But he himself is quite well, quite well."
John Quincy Adams 1767-1848
Be well,
Lee