Ready to die

Ready to die

QUESTION:

your avatar   Richard, 53-year-old man

I'm a 53-year-old executive who has concluded it is time to kill myself. The reasons are complex and convoluted, but very real to me. I looked at some information from the Hemlock Society but it lacked necessary specifics. My question is, how large a dose of barbiturates is necessary to ensure doing the job? I am six feet tall and weigh 180 pounds, Caucasian, and in good health. I have acquired over-the-counter sleeping pills, and have some prescription sedatives and barbiturates (i.e., Halcyon, Phenobarbital, etc.) that I have acquired. Should I eat a light meal first to minimize the chances of vomiting and choking to death? I don't own a gun and am afraid of heights, so a bridge is out of the question. Jumping in front of a train would probably hurt, I cannot imagine hanging myself, and a knife leaves too much cleanup.

I am sure this is an unusual question but I appreciate the answer, and as soon as possible. I am ready to die, but I don't want it to be unpleasant.

ANSWER:

    Elana Terry,

You came here because you needed a person with some qualifications to respond to your request. Considering your need, I will say that a Physician, Physician's Assistant, or Clinical Nurse Practitioner are the only medical professionals that are authorized to give prescriptions. I am none of these. But, having worked with many, I feel confident when I say that none would be okay with giving you a prescription for death. They would provide a prescription for sustaining "life."

I also have a mild feeling that you came here because you have some will in you to live, right now you just can't see how it's possible. I do not know if the experience of death is pleasant or unpleasant, But, I do know that life can be worth living if you remember one thing. IT ALWAYS GETS BETTER. We have "up" times and "down" times. Even when the down times are REALLY down. They don't stay that way. Keeping this in mind is helpful for many people as a first step to moving beyond complex, life-altering situations.

Seek assistance, with someone, to get help with how to "live" through troubling times. Take the first step by contacting a professional immediately! This is an urgent situation.

Start by calling your local crisis hotline or by dialing "911." If I knew what city you lived in, I would provide the number for you. But, I don't, so I'm asking you to do it for yourself.

Elana Terry

This question was answered by Elana Terry, MEd, LAPC. She is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor in the State of Georgia and specializes in women's issues, work conflicts, communication skills, and mental self-care. For more information visit: http://www.mytherapistsays.com/

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