I'm not certain this is the right category, but here's the random thought that occurred to me this morning in the shower: if you were to die today, but you could choose the method, what would you choose?
I recently read an article that claims that we are aware of what is happening when we die, which makes sense to me because there is still oxygenated blood in your brain when your heart stops. That being said, I'd prefer an instant and complete ending, like what I imagine being at the center of a nuclear explosion would be like, but I wouldn't want to be the cause of so many more deaths by choosing such an option. So I suppose I'd choose to jump out of an airplane without a parachute.
How about you?
It's not my intention to be morbid here. This is just a random thought.
"I'm not afraid of death. I just don't want to be there when it happens." Woody Allen
I suppose a fatal hypoglycemic episode would do. I'm in a very deep sleep, perhaps snoozing on the couch. My blood sugar had been dropping (which is good if it was high) but it starts getting too low. My CGM sensor has lost connection with my insulin pump. Since the CGM cannot tell the insulin pump that it should stop for a while because my blood sugar is too low, the pump just keeps on pumpin' -- forcing the blood sugar even lower. Usually, I would wake up, but this time I don't, sleeping through it instead (it's happened before, but someone was there to save my ass.) Blood sugar keeps dropping until, finally, there is not enough glucose in my blood to fuel my brain, it shuts down, and I die. No trauma, no bloody mess, no pain, just me expiring in my sleep.
And, even after that, the pump just keeps on pumpin' until it runs out of insulin or someone takes the battery out of it.
My late partner had the perfect death. Fully cognizant for 2 months, no real discomfort, time to be with the community and family, time to take care of things, time to communicate her wishes and, most importantly, time to take charge. Our state is one of 5 with a Death with Dignity program and she chose it immediately upon hearing of her condition (brain tumor).
I learned a lot and am trying to get more involved in bringing about more awareness and extending the program. One thing she did was to donate her body to our University and I have done the same. Problem is there is a 24 hour period that the University has to be notified. This precludes some forms of death and adds an extra layer of complexity.
How to end it when the time comes yet still be able to meet my wishes! Not so easy and will take thought.
I wouldn't want to jump off any height or shoot myself in the head because I wouldn't want there to be a great mess for others to clean up. I like the dying peacefully in your sleep thing.
Good point. I guess I'd jump out of a plane over the ocean. No clean up.
I could do this all day...
Write a book?
Of all the times I've teetered with death , I would have to go with a laced cigarette or joint . You get high , then dizzy , then you black out . The only thing you have to worry about , is the primal urge to live , for the simple sake of living . Regardless of what method you would choose , you will always have that to deal with . Good conditioning for it is a big day at the amusement park , riding thrill rides , that way , you enjoy the thrill of actually dying .
Jumping out of an airplane without a chute would be haphazard & you would freeze to death before landing .
There is also a Euthanasia Rollercoaster Designs , but none of them have been built yet .
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Video :
There’s this particular body of water....
Having been in a near fatal motocross crash...
Your brain can be not aware even while your heart is still beating. Any major head trauma as you go and you'll miss the entire thing.
I promise you, had I died before regaining consciousness, I wouldn't have witnessed a thing.
So, your plan for skydiving is pretty solid. You'll be unconscious before you feel a thing.
A couple months ago I watched someone die in three weeks. I am sure the last time he went to the hospital he expected to come back. He went from 100 to 0. I will never forget my sister calling me at around 6:15 AM to call me and tell me "It just happened". I used to say to him (my brother in law, 7 years my junior)... "and that is why I will dance on your grave" I don't say that anymore... is not a joke to me anymore. I will quote Richard Pryor now that said "When I die, I will like to die... after fucking, because to me that is Recycling". Yep... I will like to go like Richard said and not in a hospital bed surrounded by my loved ones waiting on the turn of events. So I spent time with my tree children as if is the last time they will see me... I say let's Live Large. Because when they take us in... Sometimes we are not coming back.
A fatal hypoglycemic episode sounds good to me. And I think that the Philosophy category was probably the best place for your post.
In my sleep. Every night we become unaware we are even living. We wake up the next day with hours of time that passed that we are not even consciously aware of. I would just stay asleep, and I would be ok with that.
If I were by myself than excessive inebriation probably, if I had company I cared for a slow and preferably painless poison, so I had time to interact with them.
And to the best of knowledge you stay coherent for approximately 8 seconds before your consciousness fades, after decapitation.
I've long felt I'd prefer dying in my sleep. I sure don't want to go in a car wreck.