Voluntary assisted-euthanasia for severe depression and social isolation

[PinkFloydFan67]

I'll give a brief description of my life:
Severe (suicidal) depression for decades , very isolated life , don't see my 'friends' anymore. Unable to work or socialise.
On medication which after 8 years probably isn't working anymore.
Struggle to get out of bed. Sometimes don't get up until it's dark outside - which is an absolutely horrible feeling, especially in winter. Increasingly not even leaving the house.
We have terrible mental health trends in Britain and also terrible social isolation problems. I am begining to feel that modern life is so vile and that some people get dealt a hand that is so terrible that they should be entitled to voluntary assisted-euthanasia , as they are in a few other countries like Belgium. I believe that this would make it easier to live knowing that we wouldn't have to chose a violent exit method that may fail and may lead to terrible disabilities. We have hundreds dying on railway lines every year and that also impacts many people in a profoundly terrible way.
I know the powers-that-be don't want too many 'slaves' exiting but I know many in society hate or resent the poor, the helpless and weak anyway. Why don't they just let us exit this hellscape?
I'm aware that this is a radical proposition but I truly think life can be a fate worse than death. If what I'm going through is anything like common then I just think this is evil to make people suffer like this.
Thanks for listening.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

Yes there are certainly many fantastic things in the world to live for (music especially for me!) but if like me you feel you're being driven slowly to insanity by isolation and there is no solution it's an absolutely terrifying thing to suffer and the thought of it being widespread is heartbreaking.

I 100% support euthanasia and campaign for it here, join Dignity in Dying if you want to get involved.

I also think it should be allowed for mental health, if it's been prolonged for more than say, 10 years. People simply cannot access the help they need on the NHS. I can also say that I have been extremely fortunate to have had the very best private care for the last 7 years (thanks to excellent insurance, I'm not a zillionaire) and still feel pretty dreadful despite working with the very best experts. I think some things simply can't be fixed- just ways to help you live.

I've had unsuccessful suicide attempts, the only thing that stops me trying again is I wouldn't want to hurt anyone else ie train/bridge jumping and the ways without that aspect could lead to lifelong disability if it doesn't work.

My life is very similar to yours and i wish euthanasia was legal, as Ive tried but cannot get it right.

I agree but I don't think it will ever happen.

I don't see a way out. I might have to ask for electro-convulsive therapy because my depression is so deep and debilitating. Obviously this is something nobody wants to risk having. They won't ever help us unless things become so terrible on the railways that they have no choice so my only future is antipsychotics or suicide. I had someone helping me but they ended up very ill through narcotics abuse. Then my remaining parent died which was another lifeline ended.

I'm sorry for the loss of your parent, and the person who was supporting you.

ECT can be helpful- I have 2 friends who had treatment resistant depression and it has helped them.

Going on antipsychotics has changed my life for the better too.

I cannot actually believe that it's possible to be this depressed.
I have been unable to get out of bed all weekend apart from a few hours on Saturday night. The fear and shame is terrible. It's as if I'm being punished for not being active, as if it's laziness, when actually what it is is a complete inability to cope with reality. Obviously if you're isolated the internet is a lifeline but that too is riven with conflict and the endless terrible news.

@PinkFloydFan67 I think the problem is that suicidal ideation is a symptom of illness that can be treated so how would you ever be confident that someone was deciding with full capacity to opt for euthanasia for mental illness?

I’m biased as I’ve suffered on and off with severe depression and wanted to die for decades. But I’ve also had several courses of ECT and it’s helped me so much. Also antipsychotics. With treatment, I’m able to live well, enjoy my family, carry on my career. I have my life back. I might well have chosen euthanasia for depression had it been an option though.

I can understand why people join Dignitas. I feel that I've suffered so much isolation, disappointment and depression that I can never recover. And I know that I have nothing to look forward to but much more of the same. Life is getting meaner for almost everyone. Obviously euthanasia is an ethical and legal minefield. But at this point I just do not care. I just vehemently need to be freed from this torture. Society doesn't care about us so why should we care about society. They just see us as weaklings regardless of the lip service they pay to wanting a greater awareness of mental health.

This sounds unbelievably tough for you OP. However I don't agree that this should be possible because we need to make life better for people, not let these awful trends get worse..

@elizo what does 'make life better' look like to you?

Proper support at the right time, more community etc. I'm not saying I have answers, but I just think if this happened then mental health support would be even less of a priority than it is now..

For me it would be investment in the mental health service and more support for those suffering with mental health problems not killing them.

Be interesting to see what happens
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwylpvjp78jo

ECT may be worth the risk. In fact I have heard that ECT's risks are exaggerated based on historic practice, and that it can greatly and quickly improve severe symptoms of things like psychotic depression and suicidal thoughts. Good luck OP.

Well I'm certainly on the edge of psychosis
I've started to believe that we are ruled by evil psychopaths who hate us which is obviously nothing like the truth

Try for the ECT lovely, it's really effective when people become treatment resistant.

It used to be barbaric but today's methods are not. You're heavily sedated and the difference in people who have been chronically depressed for years is amazing.

If you are aware you are on the edge of psychosis then you still have insight and capacity. This is good.

When I see somebody who ultimately needs to be detained under the Mental Health Act, it is because they have lost capacity so we step in and act in their best interests. They don't know they're ill and that the delusion isn't real. They truly believe it is.

That is reasonably close to the truth op. Corporations do rule the world, headed mostly by sociopaths. That's a fact - it doesn't mean you're psychotic. Unless I'm also psychotic - which is a possibility. However, this wouldn't matter so much to you if you were ok x

I'm sick of how blatantly evil British politicians are becoming. The radicalisation in the Conservative Party for example is frightening and Labour is also full of wretched individuals. Society dehumanises people and there are so many deeply cynical angry and resentful people, you only have to look at social media to see the hatred and bitterness. And bloodlust frankly. Seems like the whole world is suffering this cycle of history where the 1930s are being re-enacted and it seems that only a massive bloodbath will change things.

You have see the greatness in yourself, being there for others has helped me get through similar feelings.

We are ruled by awful people.

But it's affecting your life so much that you ruminate?

Yes I suppose it underlines my powerlessness that we have to tolerate these toerags despite them being amoral creeps.

I'm taking steps to change my situation.
Seeing GP tomorrow hopefully.
Feel like I'm seriously cracking up. It's truly evil that people have to live like I do, having to shut myself away because I cannot handle the viciousness of the world and being seen as a waster because I cannot be part of the 'survival of the fittest'. Slowly getting more and more unwell.