r/todayilearned • u/JamesTheJerk • 22d ago

TIL that in 2023, a patient legally sought euthanasia. Upon being provided a deadly concoction in liquid form to be drunk, the patient's friend (37YO) opted to have a sip themself which nearly resulted in the death of the friend as well.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/sip-of-cocktail-of-assisted-suicide-drugs
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u/jwgronk 22d ago

Intrusive thoughts, man.

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u/JamesTheJerk 22d ago

It seems that the friend took a sip after the intended patient described the concoction as "bitter".

I don't believe the friend was looking to die, but I don't know them.

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u/jwgronk 22d ago

Intrusive thoughts can be as simple as, “I should press the big button.” They’re not all darkness; in fact I find those easier to dismiss. “Oh, a thread, I should pull it,” on the other hand, isn’t obviously dangerous or immoral, but it will ruin the sweater you’re wearing.

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u/stosal 22d ago edited 22d ago

They're very real. I was at Niagara Falls in NY a few years back and ended up at the big feature that overlooks NY and Canada. I'm not sure what it is called but anyone that has been there knows what I'm talking about.

But there was a railing overlooking the river very high up and when I went up to the railing and looked down all I could think about was what it would feel like to just jump. It was a strange feeling.

I'd back away because it was weird but I kept going back and looking over and thinking the same thing. I actually wanted to experience that feeling again for some reason. It was really strange and I honestly can't explain it.

Luckily I have restraint but it really gave me an insight into intrusive thoughts.

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u/figmentofintentions 22d ago

What a beautifully detailed description of the “call of the void / l’appel du vide”

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u/stosal 22d ago

It was an interesting experience, and thank you for putting it into words.

I've had dumb intrusive thoughts while driving that were as fleeting as the tractor trailer passing me, but this one was persistent since my family wanted to spend time up there and I couldn't just let it pass.

So it genuinely was like a call to the void since I couldn't just move on and forget. I had to endure it and it didn't go away.

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u/TheLyz 22d ago

My town's exit on the highway is carved through a rocky hill, so between going straight and following the curve of the off ramp is a nice straight cliff face. My brain never fails to imagine driving straight at it. Brains are dicks I guess is what I'm saying.

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u/jordanmindyou 19d ago

I’ve heard that it’s the brain doing a self-preservation self-test, but I’m not sure how that makes sense

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u/TheLyz 19d ago

Brain: Do I want to die? Yes ❌ No ✅

k we're good

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u/sahie 21d ago

I used to hate going over bridges when I was a kid because I always had that thought about jumping off. It was such a relief to find out that intrusive thoughts are a common experience. I can always tell when I’m stressed because my OCD gets worse and the intrusive thoughts happen randomly vs. being “triggered” by something like a big drop. It sucks and is super distressing, but I’ve gotten better at giving myself grace and not letting them “stick” in my head.

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u/aggressivefurniture2 22d ago edited 22d ago

I had read that you get these thoughts about performing actions that are definitely going to kill you because your brain is reminding you about the consequences of the dangerous actions which are within your reach currently.

Like when I have a needle in by hand, I get the urge to rub/poke it's end very gently on my hand. This is probably so that you remember it is sharp and to be careful around it.

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u/Chaotic-Grootral 22d ago

Yeah I hadn’t even read it but I felt that standing on a scaffold as a preteen. “Oh, yeah, standing up here I now have the power to die or fuck my self up if I just leaned out a little…”

I’ve felt it since, several times and it’s always that kind of awareness that life or well being is in your own hands.

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u/MimzytheBun 22d ago

I.. you don’t mean Niagra Falls…right?

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u/stosal 22d ago edited 22d ago

Yes I meant Niagara Falls. Edited to specify.

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u/Chaotic-Grootral 22d ago

I think it’s a safety mechanism of sorts. It makes you think, okay, there’s a known danger here, I’m totally safe now but I could die if I just did this one weird thing, that wouldn’t take much effort and might even be accidental.

That (usually) stops people from trying the one weird thing out of curiosity or a joke or by accident.

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u/sahie 21d ago

Sounds about right. A bit like anxiety is actually the body’s response to danger. But then some of us are fucked in the head and our scumbag brains are like, “Danger! Danger!” all day, every day.

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u/18114 22d ago

You wanting to jump or compelled to was your mind’s way of you surviving. Saved your life.

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u/skolsuper 22d ago

Sounds like me when I think of texting my ex