Depressed person Quote by Stacy Pershall
““This is why I feel frustrated now when I hear people referring to suicide as a self-centered act: of course it is. Nobody would commit suicide if the pain of being inside her self, the agony of the sleepless, tortured hours spent watching the world get smaller and uglier, were bearable or could be relieved by other people telling her how they wanted her to feel. A depressed person is selfish because her self, the very core of who she is, will not leave her alone, and she can no more stop thinking about this self and how to escape it than a prisoner held captive by a sadistic serial killer can forget about the person who comes in to torture her every day. Her body is brutalized by her mind. It hurts to breathe, sleep, eat, walk, think. The gross maneuverings of her limbs are so overwhelming, so wearying, that the fine muscle movements or quickness of wit necessary to write, to actually say something, are completely out of the question.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Personal Reflection on Suicide, 2023
Suicide is often labeled selfish, but it stems from overwhelming mental pain that feels inescapable, making self‑preservation impossible.
In simple terms: Suicide feels selfish but is driven by unbearable mental suffering.
Offer compassion, not judgment, to those in pain.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- counseling sessions
- support groups
- crisis hotlines
- personal journaling
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we better support those in mental agony?
- What societal changes reduce feelings of hopelessness?
Compassion alone may not relieve suffering; systemic support needed.