Many vulnerable creatures take evasive actions. The butterfly flies in wacky fashion. Never a straight line like the ability of a crow. Crows don’t act vulnerable. They’re kinda bossy. Taking on all sorts of predators in an annoyance roll. They sound the alarm about snakes and cats. They can try to drive a hawk to distraction.
Some people are like crows. Nothing much phases them. But then there’s the butterflies. People who are desperate to not be eaten by something much bigger than they are. Sometimes they wind up eating themselves because they’re tired of evading the “predator”, mental illness.
Suicide is the mental equivalent of a terminal physical disease. It’s not a willful act to “commit” suicide. “Commit suicide” is a misnomer because it indicates that the victim was in control.
At that emotionally extreme point, the victim is not in control. The illness is in control. Suicide is the triumph of a disease just like a death from cancer.
Cancer is traceable. Suicide symptoms can be hidden from others making it difficult to diagnose and track.
The suicidal victim is overwhelmed with terrible and excruciating mental pain and sees no other apparent means of relief. Suicide is not a rational act. It’s a breakdown stemming from an internalized mental battle.
Sometimes God intervenes. Sometimes He just opens His arms.
Victims of suicide include all the people surrounding someone with the disease. The survivors “guilt” believes that they could have done something to prevent it or even that they contributed in some way.
The surrounding loving ones fall prey to their own mental illness in a state of depression and anxiety. This depression can last a lifetime because the grieving victim feels emptied and frustrated. “I could have done something!”
Probably the best medicine is talking. Losing a loved one to suicide is devastating. The suicide victim’s loving ones need help. There’s comfort in sharing with others. There’s comfort and hope in supportive human contact.
As for me, I have danced like a butterfly, but now I sing like a crow.
Testament/Suicide
Previous Bipolar / Next AllSpark
Suicide dedicated to my older brother Joe
