My grandfather committed suicide at 84 years old. He was dying of emphasize and was NOT going to recover. I was 17 at the time. He had always been an extremely active man, and being bed ridden was literal torture for him.
Would you also call my Grandfather a coward?
I wouldn’t. I found his choice brave, and I’m really proud that he was able to take control over his own death like that. He had always been a man of action. “Fuck this shit. I’m out.”
It forever changed my views of suicide, particularly when it comes to the chronically ill (and depression is, indeed, sometimes chronic and will never be able to be “cured” in certain individuals).
Perhaps you wouldn’t classify my Grandfather’s suicide as “selfish”, but then perhaps you would need to realize that you need to choose your words more carefully. Or maybe you do find his choice “selfish” in which case: His family doesn’t, so you can fuck right off, as it’s none of your business. AT ALL.
