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There
is no single suicidal "type". People who commit suicide exhibit a variety of
different personalities. Suicidal moods may range from a frenzied passion to
a very sober and calculating rationalism. Even
though it is hard to identify suicidal personalities, extensive studies
have attempted to catalog the types of reasoning that can lead a person
to try and kill himself. |
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I
used to believe in dreams until all the colors in my rainbow went gray.
One morning I awoke and realized my greatest fear is
me... |
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Types
of Suicidal Thinking |
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Type |
Thinking
Process |
Example |
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Catalogic
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A
person is depressed, despairing, self-destructive, and incapable of
thinking rationally. |
A
man who cannot conquer his alcoholism, who has lost his job and destroyed
his marriage because of it, and who commits suicide in order to escape
his loneliness and self-condemnation. |
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Logical |
A person makes a
rational decision to rid himself, through death, of an unbearable burden
that he cannot rid himself of otherwise. |
A
woman who, after being told that she has terminal cancer, commits suicide
in order to save her family the medical expenses and save herself the agony
of dying gradually. |
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Contaminated |
A person's beliefs in
the spiritual ennoblement attached to death lead him to kill himself
rather than endure dishonor or some other situation he perceives as
intolerable. |
A
Japanese army officer who through his own error has sent a battalion of
soldiers to an unnecessary death and commits suicide to save his family
and himself from the disgrace.
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Paleologic |
A person commits
suicide in response to hallucinations and/or delusions.
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A psychotically
depressed woman who is convinced that she has killed her parents and obeys
a voice telling her to kill herself so as not to pollute the world with
her sins any longer. |
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Myths
About Suicide |
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One
of the most unfortunate myths about suicide is that a person who threatens
to kill himself will not carry out his threat; only the "silent type" will
actually pull it off. This notion is utterly mistaken. The fact is that
in approximately 70 percent of all completed suicides, suicidal intent
was communicated at some time within the three months before the fatal
attempt. |
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ANY
VERBALIZATION REGARDING SUICIDE
IS A CLEAR DANGER SIGNAL AND SHOULD BE
TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY!
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Another myth
is when a person has attempted suicide and has failed, this means that the
person was not serious about ending his life. In this view, a mild
self-inflicted injury, such as a superficial cutting of the wrist, suggests
that the would-be suicide was just faking or looking for sympathy. |
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On the contrary,
studies show that approximately 12 percent of those who make nonfatal
suicide attempts will make a second, successful attempt within two years. In
fact, roughly 75 percent of all completed suicides have made a previous
attempt or threat. It may be that the initial attempt serves as a trial run,
enabling the person to prepare more adequately for a later, more efficient
attempt. |
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It is often
very difficult to predict a suicide; however, it is possible to pick up
"clues" to detect suicidal plans, such as a person suddenly drawing up
a will or exhibiting secretive behavior.
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Sometimes a suicidal
person will make a very direct verbal statement such as "I'm tired of
hurting and don't want to go on anymore" or "I know I'm a burden to
everyone." |
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Once a person has
decided to commit suicide, they may withdraw into an almost contemplative
state. They may refrain from conversation or drastically reduce food intake.
They may sleep more soundly than usual, or suffer insomnia. |
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Often this person acts
as if they were going away on a long trip. In what is presumed to be their
last days, the suicidal person may give away their most highly valued
possessions. |
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A type of calm may
follow a decision to commit suicide. If you know of someone who has showed
signs of being suicidal, do not let your guard down if they suddenly become
tranquil. |
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Often times, this
danger signal is misinterpreted as a sign of improvement. Since the person
seems better, he is watched less carefully. |
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Causes
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Are You Depressed
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Symptoms
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Random Thoughts |
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