What is going on in the world?

[Tin]

Today I just received some sad news from my best friend. His girlfriends' father just hung himself. This is the eighth parent (all fathers) in the past three years of friends I graduated high school with who have committed suicide. A few of these men were making well over 250k a year (her dad was one of them), and three of them were asked for divorces right before they decided to end their lives.

I just don't understand it and why so many have taken their lives in such a short time. It's a very sad and very disturbing trend.

[J Francho]

I've never understood suicide.  I've been through some pretty dark and painful moments, but I just can't comprehend ending yourself as a better solution to picking yourself back up.

I'm real sorry to hear that, man.  Very sad.

[Tin]

I have taken several courses on it as a psych major but I'm sure I will never really be able to understand it. It just seems that eight men all around the same age, all were making more money than they could count, had kids in the same age group, all in college, just too many of the same traits if you ask me.

[senile1]

Wow, Dude.  Sorry to hear that.  That is disturbing.  I can't imagine a parent taking their life when they have kids that it could totally destroy. 

I've dealt with depression, especially in my younger days, but the thought that always helped me was what kind of pain would suicide cause for my family. As a parent I would never drop that burden on my children, no matter how old they are.  Of course I was never so deluded as to think that my death wouldn't hurt someone.  I wasn't a psychology major, but just from my own anecdotal experience, when I was deeply depressed my thoughts centered around myself and my pain.  It was almost a pity party in my case.  I had to take my eyes off myself and think about the other people in my life. 

[brushhoggin]

     So sorry to hear it man. My prayers will go out to his family. Not really much to understand. The world can be a dark place, but the joyous things in life greatly out weigh the dark things. We just have to cherish each moment we have together and conquer our dragons when evil seeks us out.

[Redlinerobert]

Blame the economy. I know of several people that have lost everything with this downturn. The feeling of starting all over again is overwhelming for many.

God gives, and God takes. You can always make more. Some people just dont see it.

[Grey Wolf]

An illness that is growing with leaps and bounds....DEPRESSION

[bigfruits]

8 in 3 yrs? wow. thats insane. where any of them on Chantix (quit smoking pill) by any chance?

i didnt know children did the same thing until my ex-girlfriend's cousin hung himself from his bunk at 12 yrs old.

depression is alot more serious than most people think.

[grimlin]

An illness that is growing with leaps and bounds....DEPRESSION

Simply put. 

[FishingBuds]

its a go, go, go world. there is no rest. Just about everyone is on some kind of emotion pill. Its flat out competition and make more money, you gotta have the stuff, well at least thats what the media teaches, they do a killer job of that by the way.

LOT of pressure and BS out there, you can claim it all you want, you just haven't cracked yet and thats what happens to these people.

I lost a brother to suicide. It still hurts, I miss him

[Raul]

all were making more money than they could count

Money isn 't everything.

Three years ago I lost my lil cousin to suicide, he was 15. That little boy I helped raise, that slept in my room when I was single, that woke me up in the middle of the night asking for water simply ( just like my kids do ) put an end to his life. His brother found him at the bathroom ( he hung himself ).

Everybody has demons, they can take you to very dark places.

[B-Dozer]

Sorry to hear about your cousin, Raul. Sometimes people can find no happiness in life, it's not enough to just survive. I think everybody has had those bad thoughts in their life. Sometimes we can hold out til they pass, and sometimes not. Waking every day not happy is no way to go through life. If there was an answer we wouldn't have that problem.

[Jigfishn10]

I'm really sorry to hear about that, Tin. News of people passing due to illness is one thing, but when people are passing due to suicide, it's a totally different issue. Especially when the suicides are from a lot of people you know. That's gotta be tough on you. My heart goes out to you and the families who are dealing/dealt with this issue.

[Root beer]

Sorry to hear about your cousin, Raul. Sometimes people can find no happiness in life, it's not enough to just survive. I think everybody has had those bad thoughts in their life. Sometimes we can hold out til they pass, and sometimes not. Waking every day not happy is no way to go through life. If there was an answer we wouldn't have that problem.

I agree. Mountain biking has help me more than fishing. It's hard to have negative thoughts when you are ripping through the mountain and dodging trees. I guess more endorphins are released through biking than fishing. The other day I went hiking at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and I stood at top of the mountain and felt happiest I felt in quite some time. The cool mountain air, the walking, and just sitting on top of a rock overlooking the valley and the lake I fish in the far distance really made me feel great.

[Fishing Rhino]

Sorry to hear about your cousin, Raul. Sometimes people can find no happiness in life, it's not enough to just survive. I think everybody has had those bad thoughts in their life. Sometimes we can hold out til they pass, and sometimes not. Waking every day not happy is no way to go through life. If there was an answer we wouldn't have that problem.

I agree. Mountain biking has help me more than fishing. It's hard to have negative thoughts when you are ripping through the mountain and dodging trees. I guess more endorphins are released through biking than fishing. The other day I went hiking at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and I stood at top of the mountain and felt happiest I felt in quite some time. The cool mountain air, the walking, and just sitting on top of a rock overlooking the valley and the lake I fish in the far distance really made me feel great.

And you have struck upon something that is very important. 

It is not necessarily money or success that bring joy (as opposed to happiness) into life.  It is the ability to appreciate those things we can have at little or no cost. 

Looking out over the majesty of nature, or God's creation, if you will, and being overwhelmed by its splendor.  That's something no amount of money or success can bring.  And, it's nothing that can be taken away from you.

There are days when I will lie on my back, beneath a canopy of tree branches, and be mesmerized by them stretching toward the sky.  It can be watching a school of bluegills swimming in shallow water near the dock where I put in.

Priceless and precious.  It's there for all.  Sad that so few learn to appreciate the treasures that cost nothing.

[Pond Hopper]

Sorry to hear that Mike, I went through the same thing three years ago, for a 2 year period where young kids(21) that I knew started hanging themselves, starting with my sister. 

It is hard to ask why, or think of what could be so grim that someone could do that kind of thing to not only themselves, but the ones they love.  Because suicide is easiest on the one who commits it, and devastating to those that it affects.  Either way it is nothing fun to joke about, or deal with.

Anyone that thinks about it for one second, can feel free to contact me, as I have dealt with several friends or acquaintances since then who "saw the light".

[SPEEDBEAD.]

That's terrible man.  I have not gone through it, but I feel for ya.

You have the number...

[Fishes in trees]

Thanks for the wake up call.  On some level its good to know that I'm not the only one totally perplexed by suicide.   Over the past few years I've had to deal with it a few times  ( one good friend - a couple of passing acquaintances)

As a permanent solution to a temporary problem, it just doesn't make sense.  It is a subject I don't like to think about because I don't have any answers.  I just go with the notion that sometimes things don't have to make sense and leave it at that.

[lynyrdsky1]

Im very sorry to hear this.

Im in high school and ive known a few people who have attempted at suicide but none have accomplished it which

is a good thing. I have been in my dark places before and have thought of it but i realize it wouldnt solve anything. Now most of the time when im depressed i found that fishing helps me.

People, if they feel like they are in a position to even think about suicide, they should talk to someone. I understand its hard for kids to talk to people especially their parents but they should at least find someone.

I understand older people like parents, who have thought  of suicide because sometimes people like that feel like they have failed at something in their lives when they are supposed to be completely succesful so they can lead in example for their children. But, they need to realize failer isnt the end its just an ordeal that happens that they have to soldier through with.

Life is hard but it wouldnt be worth it if it wasnt

[gobig]

Sorry to hear another tragic story. I have had a few that hit close to home also. From the reading I have done on the subject. I have come to believe that prescription drugs are a large part of the increase in suicides. If you google the subject you will find a laundry list of studies, incidents and claims. Some drugs have suicidal tendencies listed as a potential side effect on the insert. With out writing a book on the subject here is just one mainstream article.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,414862,00.html