paddyahern: You're an ass! Yes, that was a flame.

Creeper: You are entitled to have the feelings that you do. I very much feel the same as you, suicide is a cowards way out. But, there are just so many factors to it that eventually you have to put things in their proper perspective.

Several years ago, my brother tried to commit suicide. He was having difficulties in college, I think he was a little home sick, and he wasn't feeling like he could accomplish anything. One night, he got drunk and decided to park his car in the path of an oncoming commuter train. Thank God, a police officer was in the area, lit him up, and a short chase ensued. My brother was taken into custody (not arrested) and transferred to a hospital for evaluation.

When my family and I first heard this, we all felt the same way. "What the fuck is going through his head", "He's a punk to do something like that", etc. But when we finally had a chance to talk to him and get him to open up, we found out so many things that he had never shared...he was simply to embarrased or ashamed to tell us.

At that point, all of those negative feelings were gone. We realized that he was given a second chance and we had to help him. From anger to support is how we went. And he still had troubles for a couple of years after that, but we kept supporting him and trying to be there for him. I am so happy and proud to say that he's on the right track, close to finishing school for accounting, and is taking charge of his life. He still goes through his periods but he is also more apt to talk to us about what is bothering him and he has accepted that sometimes he needs help, so he's sees a social worker reguarly, just to talk.

Had my family and I held on to those negative feelings, it is my belief that he would have eventually attempted suicide again and made good on it. But we took advantage of that second chance. All this to say that, again, what you're feeling is normal, but you may never know all of the circumstances that led up to it. Everyone is not as strong as everyone else. Like with my brother, sometimes people don't know how to ask for help.

Feel what you're feeling, but keep it in perspective. You gotta stay strong, bro. Just hold on...