Reckless behaviour anyone?

[Lol]

Hi All it's me again 

Do you believe there is a connection between reckless behaviour and depression?

If so what are your views on why people behave recklessly when they are depressed?

Why would a person flaunt the reckless behaviour or the products of it for others to see?

(To some this is obvious, to others not so, so please bare with me  :))

Thank you for your help. Lol

[Zaf]

A month or two ago I think I wrote somewhere in here that I was concerned that although I didnt feel suicidal, iI had felt that death would be welcome, from what I can remember I had thought of going for a walk in the woods and then I had a little conversation with myself saying it wouldnt be a good idea to go because it was windy and there was a chance of a branch falling on me and then the other voice saying what did it matter as it might nice being dead.

Not quite the same as being deliberately reckless but I think possibly going along those lines.

I certainly didnt advertise my feelings to others and I did wonder whether or not to post it in here but I could see it possible for someone to flaunt it for others to see for several reasons

[cornish]

yes im fairly sure there is.   actually im 100% sure there is

[Munchroom]

Yeah, I certainly think there is. Whether its connected to the feeling of numbness that so often comes with depression I don't know... but I've quite often found myself being completley unaware of the danger involved in things I have done.

[Lol]

Thanks Zaf, what several reasons are you thinking of?

Thanks Cornish, why are you 100% sure there is?

Thanks Munch, nice to have you back  :) why do you think it would be connected to numbness and were you actually unaware of danger or secretly aware of it?

[Munchroom]

Possibly we feel like we are so numb we can't feel any emotion - and I guess the sense of danger falls into that. I've done things like place my entire hand face down onto an electric hob to see if it was on, without even thinking and only in that split second afterwards seen the danger. Perhaps there has been times when using a razor/knife etc when I have been secretly aware of what would happen if I 'slipped' and yet have continued to anyway, maybe in a way its allowing myself to self harm wihout the guilt that comes with it.

I did have this conversation with my doctor a few weeks ago - before I went to see him I had caught my hand on the iron and I asked him if he thought I could be doing things like this subconcously. He said no -  he would just put it down to being exhausted and possibly a little clumsy (I can't deny that I am incredibly clumsy at times!) I'm not convinced though...

[Zaf]

These are only my theories and have no medical basis lol and I think it also would depend if the person in question was showing the behaviour and/or the results to everyone or only a few people or to only one person

1.  Not being able to admit the depression to themselves and/or others but allowing the recklessness and/or injuries to do the talking for them so to speak.

2.  Being ashamed of the depression or some of the behaviour it has caused and trying to show this without being able to apologise or possibly even admit it openly.

3.  Trying to shock people for some reason.

I have thought about the possibility of doing it to get rid of numb feelings but I think most people that do it for that reason hide the evidence rather than flaunt it

[Lol]

thanks so much for your honesty Munchroom. I find this "maybe in a way its allowing myself to self harm wihout the guilt that comes with it." particularly interesting.

I understand the concept of releasing/expressing the turmoil from within re self harm, but, from my limited experience (sorry if I'm sounding like a complete twonk guys) the sufferer has largely hidden it afterwards, which is understandable. But, if the person goes out of their way to deliberately accentuate it and make sure its seen, convenient excuses aside, is it a simple cry for help or more complex than that do you think?

(I am aware that this is a debate, I'm not taking everything you say as gospel, just need opinions)

[Lol]

Thanks so much Zaf they are eye-opening opinions and very important to me thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Do you mean point #2 as in self punishment?

[Munchroom]

I wouldn't say I've ever really flaunted my self harm. I always do it where it can't be seen by people - although I'm very aware that Chris will see it wherever I choose to do it and it can't always be passed off as an 'accident' (even being as clumsly am I am!) I find that when I do self-harm, it is for me and not any sort of cry for help. Its trying to get all of the turmoil I'm feeling OUT.... doesn't really make any sense when its discussed in a logical mindset and I guess in a way it would make more sense if it was somewhere people could see because then it would be more of a cry for help....

[Zaf]

Thanks so much Zaf they are eye-opening opinions and very important to me thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Do you mean point #2 as in self punishment?

Only partly lol, also partly to gain attention although I'd think different people might be doing it for more of one reason than another if that makes sense?

[Lol]

Yes it makes sense Zaf thank you

[Dobbie]

Interesting topic. After my father died, which is when the depression really kicked in I bought a motorbike. Always thought them to be dangerous and never really liked them. At the time I thought I was beng rebelious or having a early midlife crisis. If I am honest I kind of liked the risk involved and often thought that if I were to have an accident then many of my problems would solved.

[Lol]

I wouldn't say I've ever really flaunted my self harm. I always do it where it can't be seen by people - although I'm very aware that Chris will see it wherever I choose to do it and it can't always be passed off as an 'accident' (even being as clumsly am I am!) I find that when I do self-harm, it is for me and not any sort of cry for help. Its trying to get all of the turmoil I'm feeling OUT.... doesn't really make any sense when its discussed in a logical mindset and I guess in a way it would make more sense if it was somewhere people could see because then it would be more of a cry for help....

No far from it it makes total sense! Self harm does seem like a personal thing, it wouldn't necessarily make any more sense for it to be a cry for help, because, as I understand it, self harm is normally personal and releaving, necessary even, not a cry for help?...

[Lol]

Dobbie it is a bit of an eye opener isn't it? there are obviously many reasons why an element of risk and recklessness manifests in all of us, I'm interested in the personal knowledge of what one is consciously or subconsciously doing, versus the public flaunting of the behaviour and the reasons behind this. I think what I might be asking is.. how do you know if it's true self harm? I think I'm thinking, if it were true it would be hidden and if it were a cry for help it would be flaunted maybe?