The Dino-Aspie Ex-Café (for Those 40+... or feeling creaky)

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*gasp* There's talk on the general forum of herding cats, of formal leadership and plans to exploit!

Enter cue for me to run. And so falls another great community.

OOOh,I have to check that out,sounds like my cupa'

I had a roommate once, who killed herself, by overdosing on her prescription meds. Leaving me to deal with it. I was angry and guilty about it for a very long time. I am over it now, but it was really hard to get over it.

I'm glad you are finally over it, Hartz. I thought I was over it until yesterday when I heard the news about one of our members and then it all came back.

I don't think that people who are depressed are consciously choosing a selfish or easier strategy when the reach a suicidal point, any more than I think that people who are AS are consciously choosing to be socially awkward.

None of us can determine how powerful another's pain is, for them as an individual. I respect everyone's choice to do the very best they know how, until they know better. I can't be angry with someone for not knowing how to take the next breathe of life. And it really does get to that point, for some. Other's have known pain, yes. But if you have come through it, it means it wasn't felt to the same degree as the person who needed to escape it so badly that death seemed the only way.

If people in that state were capable of thinking rationally or could see a way to get better, they wouldn't choose suicide. It would be wonderful if they could ask for help sooner, but asking for help doesn't come naturally to some people, especially depressives. So, if anything, if you know anyone who really seems to be in control most of the time, never asks for help, and then goes into a depressive state...the key is to encourage them to ask for help.

Of course, we then get into the debate about what kind of help is available. Someone who is suicidally depressed may not be able to engage in therapy. But anything that gives them a gap to get over the worst of it, even short-term medication, I figure at least gives them a window to then go back into the world and work on other strategies, like 12 step groups if they are drinking or using drugs (very often goes hand in hand with suicide) or finding meaning in their lives (logotheraphy comes to mind).

These strategies will hopefully replace the medication, and the suicidal person has given themselves a chance to live another day. I guess that's why I'm not immediately anti-medication in certain situations - but obviously not as a cure-all for bad days or down moods. We all have those. But to be suicidal, there is far more happening for that person that just a bad day.

(pondering mode)

On the one hand we have much brave talk of cat herding and world domination, and on the other... enough despair to bring the world to an end.

How to reconcile? How to balance?

(/pondering mode)

One does not herd cats. One entices them to think that what you want them to do is what they, themselves thought of first and want to do.

Ocean whitefish and tuna dinner helps. They are mercenary little b****rds.

Nan, the Cat Whisperer. Truly. This is a genuine compliment.

Last edited by blessedmom on 29 Oct 2007, 7:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Some of the most influential and seemingly happy people are the ones that feel depression and pain the deepest.

Precisely. Actually, I prefer not to entice them either. They entice me, and I love it.
The forum headed herding cats was all about how to get US on this forum to HERD and have leaders. Thus my next sentence...if that happens, I'll be out of here quicker than a cat leaving a room full of barking dogs.

Quoting Sapphix:

Really? I didn't get that intention from the thread. I thought it was a discussion about whether or not a group of Aspies could work together for a common goal. Some thought it was difficult, but I didn't see it as being a "how to" .Maybe I missed something.

Here is a LINK to the thread for anyone who's curious. Someone posted a YouTube of a Russian guy with a circus of performance cats. The guy's dental work is a marvel to behold, and P.S. the cats are amazing as well.

Seriously, though, I don't think the OP was proposing that Aspies should rise up as one, and challenge existing authority. You'd have better luck with lizards, I'm guessin'. JMO.

Oh hello? I don't THINK so. I do not follow well. Nor do I have any reason to even consider that route. I'd rather follow my own head than trust it to someone who could well be a blithering idiot (present reader excepted).

Oh my. Then how ever will I explain this scratch down the end of my nose. I'm not even sure how this one got there, but it's definitely "cat"... must have been from one of the kitty-cat rodeo sessions.

Next time, I think I'll just keep canaries. No claws.

Just been lurking and reading "Hey Yall" (from Kentucky origninally so I can get away w/ it.)
Have to wait for lab results from the Dr.s
Went and saw my "financial advisor" at my bank. Thanks again Richie. I put my daughters PFD into "Calvert Global Alternative Energy Fund".(saw them on PBS, they only invest in green and socially responsible companies. I LOVED that about them) So everybody "Go Green" so I know my daughter will be o.k. if anything bad happens to me.
Maybe "Go Green" for the sake of the planet too huh? Just checking in, thanks for your kind thoughts Merle.