Is happiness really a choice???

Paco Dennis said:
Choosing happiness does not mean that we expect to be happy all the time, or that we compare ourselves to others who seem happier than us. Happiness is not a destination, but a journey, and it can vary depending on the circumstances and the context. Choosing happiness means that we appreciate the joy and satisfaction that we can find in the present moment, and that we use it as a fuel to move towards our potential.
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Wow, I really like that. Yes! It is an intention to be happy, and to be grateful for what we do have. It is appreciation. It is love of life. And it is the attitude that I choose to have towards life, no matter what happens. Life is too precious to waste fretting over what displeases us when each new day is filled with promise, opportunity, and potential. Thank you Paco!
 

DaiwaGuy said:
It should be noted, an unsuccessful suicide attempt is nothing but an attempt to attract attention. Everyone knows how to do it, successfully, but failed attempts are just people seeking attention.

I know this because when my brother succeeded in his suicide, there was no "attempt" about it. He blew his brains out. I scoff at suicide "attempts."
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I"m sorry to hear of your loss.

I don't think this is right, though. There are countless examples of people who tried to commit suicide through poisons, guns, and jumping from buildings that have, somehow, survived. They then have to go through their life with whatever injuries they're done to themselves - some of which are horrific.

It's true some examples may be attention seeking, but to state it, as you seem to, that all failed suicide attempts are simply attention seeking, is way off the mark. People try once, twice, three times before they succeed - the first and second time wasn't attention seeking, it was failure.

IMO
 
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DaiwaGuy said:
It should be noted, an unsuccessful suicide attempt is nothing but an attempt to attract attention. Everyone knows how to do it, successfully, but failed attempts are just people seeking attention.

I know this because when my brother succeeded in his suicide, there was no "attempt" about it. He blew his brains out. I scoff at suicide "attempts."
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That's an incredibly insensitive statement to make, I totally disagree.
Of the few who have survived jumping off the Golden Gate bridge the common theme seems to be that they realised they'd made a mistake before they hit the water.
 

Rakaia said:
That's an incredibly insensitive statement to make, I totally disagree.
Of the few who have survived jumping off the Golden Gate bridge the common theme seems to be that they realised they'd made a mistake before they hit the water.
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Buck up, Binky.
 
DaiwaGuy said:
It should be noted, an unsuccessful suicide attempt is nothing but an attempt to attract attention. Everyone knows how to do it, successfully, but failed attempts are just people seeking attention.

I know this because when my brother succeeded in his suicide, there was no "attempt" about it. He blew his brains out. I scoff at suicide "attempts."
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What???You couldnā€™t be further from the truth. Failed attempts are just people seeking attention?? I canā€™t believe Iā€™m reading this.
You are so wrong on so many levels but Iā€™m NOT getting into this conversation.
 
Is being calm a choice, because I'm a nervous wreck most of the time and I can't calm down. I don't know what comes first, am I always physically shaking because I'm nervous, or am I nervous because I'm always shaking?

Today I must arrange AccessARide. A part of me would rather die, it fills me with such fear........
 
Pepper said:
Is being calm a choice, because I'm a nervous wreck most of the time and I can't calm down. I don't know what comes first, am I always physically shaking because I'm nervous, or am I nervous because I'm always shaking?

Today I must arrange AccessARide. A part of me would rather die, it fills me with such fear........
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ā¤ļøšŸ’• I only know that for me it is a choice. Sometimes in bed I remember to check myself and I am as stiff as a board! So I empty my lungs, take a slow deep breath through my nose. For me it is distracting to exhale through the mouth, so I exhale through my nose, relaxing, relaxing every muscle. It always works until the next time I check. I hope you have an unexpected and amazingly lovely day tomorrow, Pepper.
 
There are individuals with CPTSD who dissociate. This leads to flashbacks, which all too often result in suicide attempts. Been there, done that. A cry for attention? No, I gapped out. It is terrifying to wake up in ICU with no memory

of what happened to you. Some of us keep dragons in boxes. Sometimes they escape. Even with my Doctorate in the science of human behaviour, and decades of work as a trauma therapist, this spectre has haunted my life.

Currently, I am taking a new med which blocks flashbacks and ensuing suicidal ideation. If it works long term, and the side effects are manageable,

my life will be vastly improved. If not, I walk the high wire without a net. Many with mental health triggers live this way. The fear that one day uncontrollable suicide attempts will be successful can be paralysing.
 
Pepper said:
Is being calm a choice, because I'm a nervous wreck most of the time and I can't calm down. I don't know what comes first, am I always physically shaking because I'm nervous, or am I nervous because I'm always shaking?

Today I must arrange AccessARide. A part of me would rather die, it fills me with such fear........
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Dear Pepper, anxiety is not a choice. Many of us battle it. Sending you love and support. I will be thinking of you. šŸ¤—
 
Pepper said:
Is being calm a choice, because I'm a nervous wreck most of the time and I can't calm down. I don't know what comes first, am I always physically shaking because I'm nervous, or am I nervous because I'm always shaking?

Today I must arrange AccessARide. A part of me would rather die, it fills me with such fear........
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I can relate to this.

Without going into details, I had a lot of medical appointments and began to seriously dread each one. I would look for any excuse to call and postpone for just one more week.
 
VaughanJB said:
I"m sorry to hear of your loss.

I don't think this is right, though. There are countless examples of people who tried to commit suicide through poisons, guns, and jumping from buildings that have, somehow, survived. They then have to go through their life with whatever injuries they're done to themselves - some of which are horrific.

It's true some examples may be attention seeking, but to state it, as you seem to, that all failed suicide attempts are simply attention seeking, is way off the mark. People try once, twice, three times before they succeed - the first and second time wasn't attention seeking, it was failure.

IMO
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A friends granddaughter was despondent and shot herself in the head. It didn't kill her but left her paralyzed in a wheelchair. Sadly, she died in a house fire a few years later because she was unable to get out.
 
VaughanJB said:
I"m sorry to hear of your loss.

I don't think this is right, though. There are countless examples of people who tried to commit suicide through poisons, guns, and jumping from buildings that have, somehow, survived. They then have to go through their life with whatever injuries they're done to themselves - some of which are horrific.

It's true some examples may be attention seeking, but to state it, as you seem to, that all failed suicide attempts are simply attention seeking, is way off the mark. People try once, twice, three times before they succeed - the first and second time wasn't attention seeking, it was failure.

IMO
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This is completely true and has happened in my family more than once but at least they did not have to live with horrific injuries. :cry:
 
Shalimar said:
There are individuals with CPTSD who dissociate. This leads to flashbacks, which all too often result in suicide attempts. Been there, done that. A cry for attention? No, I gapped out. It is terrifying to wake up in ICU with no memory

of what happened to you. Some of us keep dragons in boxes. Sometimes they escape. Even with my Doctorate in the science of human behaviour, and decades of work as a trauma therapist, this spectre has haunted my life.

Currently, I am taking a new med which blocks flashbacks and ensuing suicidal ideation. If it works long term, and the side effects are manageable,

my life will be vastly improved. If not, I walk the high wire without a net. Many with mental health triggers live this way. The fear that one day uncontrollable suicide attempts will be successful can be paralysing.
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I am not a psychologist, and, please, I mean no offense, but I believe that the mentally ill person not only deserves, but has an essential need for an emotionally healthy, detached professional to guide him through his troubles.
 
Pepper said:
Is being calm a choice, because I'm a nervous wreck most of the time and I can't calm down. I don't know what comes first, am I always physically shaking because I'm nervous, or am I nervous because I'm always shaking?

Today I must arrange AccessARide. A part of me would rather die, it fills me with such fear........
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I'm so sorry, Pepper. I had no idea you were experiencing such a challenge. Of course you can't just choose to not have a medical condition, but haven't you sought professional medical help with it? It sounds like a very treatable condition and there is no need for you to have to just suffer through it. Please, talk to your doctor about and see what can be done. I wish you well
 
Toxic positivity
chic said:
True, but I think we need to watch out for toxic positivity and be in touch with our true feelings at all times. It can help to accept yourself, love and forgive yourself no matter what. None of us is perfect.
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Toxic positivity? That's a new one on me. I don't see how having a positive outlook on life can be a bad thing. But maybe so. Maybe it's like when I was young and dumb and got arrested for having too much fun. I did learn from that experience that sometimes it is prudent to not allow myself to appear to be happier than everyone else in the room. I certainly wouldn't want to poison the people around me with pleasantness. That would just be disgusting, and so insensitive of me.
 
DaiwaGuy said:
It should be noted, an unsuccessful suicide attempt is nothing but an attempt to attract attention. Everyone knows how to do it, successfully, but failed attempts are just people seeking attention.
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if that's the case
At the very least..... it's a cry for help
 

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