Sy Borg wrote: ↑February 24th, 2023, 3:47 pm
JackDaydream wrote: ↑February 24th, 2023, 3:22 pm
Sy Borg wrote: ↑February 24th, 2023, 2:51 pm
JackDaydream wrote: ↑February 24th, 2023, 9:16 am
The term suicide is so loaded to describe so many complex situational choices surrounding the end of life. In the case of the terminally ill, euthanasia may be more appropriate although that would probably involve another partaking in the decision. Even though you say there are logical reasons in the case of the terminally ill, it may be that those who do decide to commit suicide feel at that moment that there is no hope at all, in the words which are attributed to Van Gogh, 'the misery will never end.'
Yes, lack of hope that things will improve. Being terminally ill is a bad enough situation without do-gooders interfering with their ability to deal with the situation.
The momentary aspects of loss of hope can sometimes obscure judgements. I have known a few people who have made suicide attempts after a romance going wrong, as it was 'the end of the world'. Sometimes, with bad experiences in general it is hard to know the full impact at the time. There have been times when I have had some unpleasant social drama and 24 hours later it seems insignificant and other times where the problem may have long term consequences.
I like to give myself some reflective space and often go out meandering around. I can remember a few years ago I was walking round and round in HMV music shop to the point where a member of staff queried what I was looking for. Unwinding is important and I always find listening to music to be one of the best ways and, see it as being one of the best antidotes for feelings of deep despair. I even have an album by Slipknot titled, 'When All Hope is Gone'. I don't play it that often as it is terribly heavy, but I have my Slipknot and nu metal blues moments, and even days when The Doors are so cathartic.
Even with some people who are on the point of dying with terminal illness there may be some transformational moments. I believe that hospice care works with that assumption, although it may be idealistic in some ways. There is, of course, the Timothy Leary option of psychedelic transformation at the borderlands of death, but it may intensify pain, so it may be more hazardous rather than helpful.
I admit to laughing at the idea of giving trips to dying people. OMG isn't dying weird and psychedelic enough without going all out? Still, I would not deny it (or anything ) to those who are dying and request it. Personally, if I was in that situation, and euthanasia was off the table, I'd want painkillers delivered to the point of either stopping the pain or unconsciousness, whichever comes first. Plus a mountain of weed, which can achieve some of what psychedelics do, but without the weirdness.
Music is probably underused in medical and psychological treatments. It's well-known that dementia patients can show remarkable enlivening when played their favourite songs. For whatever reason, we humans simply enjoy air molecules sculpted by vibrations. But Slipknot would only make me seek a faster exit
I am definitely aware of the transformational effects of music for people who have dementia. That is because I have run activities in elderly mental health care and found that listening to music seemed to have such a profound role with people who have dementia and emotional difficulties, especially songs which they knew at earlier stages in their lives. It probably lies in brain wiring of memory and neurochemistry.
At one stage, when I was studying art therapy, I went through such a big phase of nu metal and 'emo' music. I used to go and see live bands in Camden a couple of times a week and even went to a 'Kerrang' magazine metal festival. I was really upset when the lead singer of Linkin Park committed suicide. I still have some of the discs from that time but don't play them very often. I saw that exploration as being my own working with my 'shadow' side. I do also really like Kurt Cobain's Nirvana but, intuitively, feel that it is probably not best to listen to such music all the time, for its subliminal effects.
Music has such a profound effect on the mind. Even though it is a little bit too classical for me I have seen the sound healer, Tim Wheater, perform. A few times I was at music festivals where there were dream machines, which involved headphones and goggles which affected brain waves, equivalent to deep meditation and I found this an amazing experience.
As far as psychedelic experience goes, psyche rock ranging from the 60s to the current time is probably my favourite genre, and I find that enough to be mind expanding, and probably enough without any hallucinogenic substances. The last few times I tried weed it wasn't that wonderful for me, especially as I don't smoke and smoking it seems to give me a sore throat. The one over the counter herbal tablet which I find particularly relaxing is Passiflora. I tried tablets containing Valerian a few times and they made me feel terrible and I have read that the drug Valerian is chemically related to Valium. But, music may have power equal to medicines in the transformation and healing of emotions, including the depths of despair. Meditation may also have important potential, even though it may be an art which has to be learned.