Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 4)

SUICIDE

continued from part 3

An important manifestation of depression is anhedonia. Anhedonia is a psychological or medical term that means "loss of pleasure for life". Generally, it pertains to a loss of interest in everyday living. Because clinically depressed people experience anhedonia, they are also likely to withdraw from society and increasingly spend their time alone. An increase in their alone time also increases the possibility of them committing suicide. This is because there is no one in their environment who could stop them from doing so.

But why do people engage in such desperate measure? Researchers agree that there are a variety of reasons for the occurrence of such behavior. Some think suicide is caused by chemical imbalances in the person’s system. Others theorize that it is a maladaptive behavior that people learn from their environment. A person then who grows up in a community where suicide is rampant may resort to the same thing when problems arise. Still, there are theorists who say that the act of suicide is passed from one person to another on a multigenerational level. Therefore, even when the parents of a suicidal person do not show the same behavior, it is possible that somewhere in his family tree, the pattern is repeated. Whatever is the triggering factor of suicide, the cause is usually different from it. Hence, the skirmish that Dan had with his professor may have been the trigger for his action, but he had been feeling depressed way before his suicide occurred. (to be continued...)



Related stories:
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 1)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 2)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 3)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (part 5)
Understanding and Defying SUICIDE (last part )

♥♥