owen wilson

Apparently I should be expected to commit suicide. At least that’s the data my micro brain processed after I heard an educated person claim that Owen Wilson’s suicide attempt was uncalled for since he was rich and famous. Of course I’m only assuming the registered nurse I heard say this was educated because I had to go to school for five years to get my nursing degree. In that education I learned that suicide affects all races, ages, sexes and economic levels. I also learned to not be judgmental, an attitude supplemented by my relationship to a higher source, (Yes I mean God, the one and only God, no other God so help me God).

I’m sorry that Owen Wilson attempted suicide but it brought the issue to public attention again. I’m very grateful he has supportive family and friends who won’t let journalists make a profit from elaborating on the why-fors, it’s not our business. Those close to him are preventing this from becoming another tabloid sensation, their “no comment” means just that. I’m just delighted to hear he’s attempting to recover and getting help. I don’t think his attempt was a publicity trick since his brother found him with slashed wrists and overdosed. That’s a double whammy, one you don’t ordinarily just walk away from. As in Owen’s case an ambulance was necessary. My sympathies are also with the brother who discovered him in such a devastated condition, I can see counseling for post traumatic stress involved in the future. I, myself, was hit between the eyes when I found my husband crawling on the floor from a sodium deficiency produced from an increased prescription of diuretics. The trauma was just as real for me as for my nearly departed husband! I relived his drama frequently in the ensuing months.

Suicide can be fatal. If it isn’t successful it’s a call for help. I’m thankful that Owen is getting that help and in private with an apparently fantastic support system. Making it a spectator sport will add to his pain and esteem issues and generate unfounded gossip and /or myths. Something in his life is missing and I hope he finds it and it’s not something that can be bought contrary to the belief of the above mentioned nurse. The pain that leads to sudden death is so excruciating it can’t be captured on paper or in someone else’s psyche,. It is heart wrenching. I remember many times when I was younger, falling to my knees after emotionally traumatic events with pain so intense that stabbing my heart out with a dull butter knife would have been more tolerable. But I was poor and unpopular so if I had killed myself it would have been expected, even understandable according to Compassionate Nurse’s theory, fortunately she doesn‘t work in mental health. And I wouldn’t be here to share Owen’s pain and support him with the prayers of a soul sister, someone whose been through the fires before him and lived to tell about it, yes Owen, you can live also. It may not seem like it at the moment but the light at the end of the tunnel isn‘t a train, it‘s another day with new promise. I’m glad just enough information leaked out to the public to make us aware of his pain and to offer spiritual support to him and his family, via prayer.

In my chemistry class, yes I still remember chemistry after 30 years, I recall learning that all flesh is created equal, with the exception of course of inherent DNA which is totally outside of our control. We have the same beginnings, body chemistry, neurological wiring, vascular system, same potential for malfunction. The rich and famous and the destitute and unknown. We all pretty much have the same original schematics; therefore the potential for depression is pretty evenly distributed.

One myth that clearly got debunked is that happy, funny people are immune from self destructive thoughts. I’ve heard so often Owen played the funny guy that lived next store, carefree and fun loving, how could he do this to himself. Well, still waters run deep! Owen will help me to realize that the person sitting next to me laughing may only be covering up pain behind a mask (false front, fake bravado) created over a life time, I myself have many mask. That the laughter we hear coming from strangers, or friends, may be hiding a soul besieged with grief they are too proud to share or seek help for. Or maybe they really are happy. Flip a coin. It’s safer to treat everyone the way we’d want to be treated, don’t you think, than to deal with the guilt of pushing someone over the edge. Oh, sorry, I’m assuming, we all have feelings of guilt, I guess that’s a judgment call: Guilty!

Suicide Warning Signs:
Appearing depressed or sad most of the time.(Untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.)
Feeling hopeless.
Expressing hopelessness.
Withdrawing from family and friends.
Sleeping too much or too little.
Feeling tired most of the time.
Gaining or losing a significant amount of weight.
Making statements such as these:
"I can't go on any longer."
"I hate this life."
"There's no point to this stupid life."
"Everyone would be better off without me."
"Life is not worth living."
"Nothing matters anymore."
"I don't care about anything anymore."
"I want to die."
--And any mention of suicide--
Writing notes or poems about suicide or death.
Acting compulsively.
Losing interest in most activities.
Giving away prized possessions.
Writing a will.
No sense of humor.
Facing a perceived "humiliating" situation.
Facing a perceived "failure."
Feeling excessive guilt or shame.
Acting irrationally.
Being preoccupied with death or dying.
Behaving recklessly.
Irritability
Frequently complaining about headaches, stomachaches, etc.
Neglecting personal appearance.
A dramatic change in personal appearance.
A dramatic change in personality.
Performing poorly at work or in school.
Abusing alcohol or drugs.
Inability to concentrate.
It should be noted that some people who die by suicide do not show any suicide warning signs. Many people hide their depression because there is still a strong social stigma against mental illness. Also, many people believe that they will be perceived as weak, so they also hide their depression.
But most people do show suicide warning signs, so we need to be aware of what the suicide warning signs are, and try to spot them in people. If we do see someone exhibiting suicide warning signs, we need to do everything that we can to help them.
If you or someone you know exhibits several of the suicide warning signs listed above, immediate action is required. Always take suicide warning signs seriously.