Things seem to move in waves on SP. The day I felt a strong desire to do my deed, that was day before yesterday, I noticed that on SP also many people have starting talking about committing suicide seriously. It wasn’t like that for last few months, and suddenly in a day it happened. Our consciousness seems to be linked and seems to move in waves. This was probably the beginning of dark wave, or trough.
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That’s an interesting observation. Maybe you’re on to something. I wonder if the time of year has anything to do with I t? It’s colder, the days are shorter, less sun/uv exposure, and of course stress/pressure of holidays.
Yes it may be due to time of the year. I myself suspect it is related to what we call astrology.
I haven’t given any of it much thought recently- I’ve been too tired/closed off- but you may be right.
Who really knows what’s going on beneath the surface? Either way it’s always interesting to realize a pattern of sorts.
Woah great observation. I agree.
quaero, I’m wondering if your username reflects the Latin meaning, and if it alludes to a search for purpose.
A seasonal pattern can definitely be present in depression and may be a contributory factor. Although, as SP includes members from all regions, in varying climates, I think that suicidology has to give consideration to all influencing aspects. Some studies have pointed to a correlation between increase ambient temperature and suicide rate. Comparing suicide rates and the relationship between region specific temperatures is revealing, and indicates that perhaps the largest contributory factor and one that requires the most focus is not temperature.
Not to downplay individual psychological and physiological causes which lead to suicidal thoughts, the trigger for the spate of attempted suicides (and possibly real suicides) here of late could be in part down to suicide contagion rather than a perceived notion of rational suicide or suicide based of illogical reason. Suicides, and how they are described (including method) can have a negative effect on others and may act as a trigger, known as the Werther effect.
The opposite, known as the Papageno effect, where effective coping mechanisms and alternatives are discussed can have a positive effect.
It’s interesting the role we play, and how we can positively or negatively impact others, even though it may not be our intent to do so. Maybe the reason why method discussion is prohibited here takes the Werther effect into account, and perhaps the philosophy behind this website (alluded to in the “read this first” section) reflect the Papageno effect.
and FAQ / Help section.
I wanted to add; I think we learn about suicide, and begin to see it as a real option when someone takes their life, especially someone close. We become dangerously desensitized, and suicide, to those contemplating it becomes normalised. A rational and singular response in our mind.
It’s an infectious phenomenon.
I myself have been feeling more shitty than usual as well, maybe it is just the time of the year?
Yes, quaero is latin for seeker. The name is redundant for me now though.
You pointed out interesting phenomenons. And they seem very plausible, especially on SP where people are emotionally connected and open to others. I wonder if the Werther effect derives its name from Goethe’s Sorrows Of Young Werther.
But I have noticed these waves several times. Some days only regulars post their posts and some days there comes a wave of new posters who just post one time and disappear. Some days there are all emotional posts and some days there is such a wave of intelligent and awesome posts that I just marvel at them and read them with open mouth. It may be just statistics, but my metaphysics obsessed part suspects that there is an underlying pattern.