A Broken Mind by Motte Brown on 09/28/2006 at 10:30 AM

As it turns out, the Dallas Cowboys' embattled receiver Terrell Owens' reported suicide attempt was all a big misunderstanding. Apparently, he didn't take 35 pain killers or confess to his publicist that he was depressed. Owens himself said in a news conference the day after the incident that his brush with death was the result of an allergic reaction.

Ben's post Love and Death on this strange episode raises some serious questions for us to consider, particularly given that suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. He writes that "suicide is a profoundly selfish act" and assumes that those who do it "hate life itself." I suppose there is truth in these statements but without some qualifications there is more misconception than reality.

Not many people understand depression and how it can lead to suicide. It's different for those who have experienced it. In Roberto Rivera E Carlo's Boundless article Mood Disorders and A Reason to Live, he writes, "I know all about the infelicitous brain chemistry than can make it almost impossible to get out of bed." He understands it. And I do too, if only a little.

For a period of 8 months in my twenties, my mind was as best as I can describe, clouded. The only peace I had was when I was asleep (Oh how I loved sleep). The problem was that, in a blink, it was over. Every morning despair would return like a thick haze after only a few moments of waking clarity.

There is nothing more frightening than suffering depression to the point where you look forward to going to sleep in order to escape a broken mind. It is exactly at that point when you begin to see the peace that death offers.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I would hesitate to call this profoundly selfish or life hating.

Focus on the Family has a staff of more than 20 licensed Christian counselors available to talk with you. If you are struggling with depression or mood disorders and would like to talk with one of them, please call (719) 531-3400 Monday-Friday 9-4:30 (Mountain time), and ask for the Counseling department at extension 7700. One of the counselors' assistants will arrange for a counselor to call you back at no charge to you.

A Broken Mind by Motte Brown on 09/28/2006 at 10:30 AM

As it turns out, the Dallas Cowboys' embattled receiver Terrell Owens' reported suicide attempt was all a big misunderstanding. Apparently, he didn't take 35 pain killers or confess to his publicist that he was depressed. Owens himself said in a news conference the day after the incident that his brush with death was the result of an allergic reaction.

Ben's post Love and Death on this strange episode raises some serious questions for us to consider, particularly given that suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. He writes that "suicide is a profoundly selfish act" and assumes that those who do it "hate life itself." I suppose there is truth in these statements but without some qualifications there is more misconception than reality.

Not many people understand depression and how it can lead to suicide. It's different for those who have experienced it. In Roberto Rivera E Carlo's Boundless article Mood Disorders and A Reason to Live, he writes, "I know all about the infelicitous brain chemistry than can make it almost impossible to get out of bed." He understands it. And I do too, if only a little.

For a period of 8 months in my twenties, my mind was as best as I can describe, clouded. The only peace I had was when I was asleep (Oh how I loved sleep). The problem was that, in a blink, it was over. Every morning despair would return like a thick haze after only a few moments of waking clarity.

There is nothing more frightening than suffering depression to the point where you look forward to going to sleep in order to escape a broken mind. It is exactly at that point when you begin to see the peace that death offers.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I would hesitate to call this profoundly selfish or life hating.

Focus on the Family has a staff of more than 20 licensed Christian counselors available to talk with you. If you are struggling with depression or mood disorders and would like to talk with one of them, please call (719) 531-3400 Monday-Friday 9-4:30 (Mountain time), and ask for the Counseling department at extension 7700. One of the counselors' assistants will arrange for a counselor to call you back at no charge to you.