Is It Possible To Will Ourselves To Die?

Yes. My Great Aunt Tillie was in her mid eighties and suffered a mild heart attack after spending the day baking apple streudels. The doctors told her she would be fine but had to stay off her feet for 6 weeks. This was the sixties before bypass etc. She said she didn't have time for that. She had better things to do elsewhere and passed away within the hour, saying to her sister, my Grandmother, that she'd see her later and would give her regards to the family.

First, I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. I think that not only can people will themselves to die, but also to live.

Simon, as a caregiver I have seen many people struggle with fatal illnesses. Most of them didn't want to die, and struggled to hang on. I've only known a few who really wanted to leave this world and it seems to me like they went very fast.

Lyn, your Aunt Tillie sounds like she was a real character. I love her attitude!

Thank you Jen. That's a good point.

Thanks Liz. I've recently heard a theory that we have five exit points in our life, and we can either choose to live or die at that time. I don't know if that's true or not, but it makes sense to me.

Yes, I am not sure if it is called will yourself to die, but I think you cannot want to live any longer. My husband had a surgery that went wrong in Sept. of 2005, and although he was supposed to get better, was sent for rehab in a nursing home, and although he lived another year almost to the day, he always said he wasn't going to come home. I think he lived as long as he could stand it for me, but then just let go, as he began to ask me questions like am I going to be all right, stuff like that. I knew something was going on and when they called me to tell me he was unresponsive, after I had left him fine, only a few hours ago, I knew he had just given up or in, whatever, but I knew though I miss him terribly, he was released from where he didn't want to be. So yes, I think you can give up your will to live or will yourself to die, I don't think there is a big difference.

Elsie, I am sorry for your loss. It sounds like he knew he was about to go. Do you think he was trying to prepare you for it? You've made a good point.

I am so so so sorry to hear the loss of a good man and good friend.

Yes, I do believe so. If someone lost the will to live, he/she will die. But I wonder why. It sounds like he had a lot going on for him and he would want to live... But I wasn't him. I wouldn't know.

Thanks Selene. I believe that he was just tired and wanted to go see Jesus. I will miss him terriby.

I definitely believe we can choose to sever the bonds of this earth. The will to live is strong and so is the will to die. I know from personal experience - I have a bad thyroid and my clinic messed up on my check-ups - I had a level off 98.4 and it should have been 0.2 - I was so ill and couldn't get out of bed - I decided I preferred to let go. Luckily the mistake was discovered just the next day - so now I am a chipper, annoying little old lady again. But I would have died otherwise.
So never give!!

I do believe it is possible to hold out until you are ready. It happened to my mother. She also had last rites given to her three times in the past few years before she finally left us. Each time she gave the priest a look that my sister and I both knew and it was not good! She finally left us in Oct 2005.

OMG! I'm so glad that your still here, Sherry. I should write an article about my brush with death.

I'm sorry for you loss Karolyn. My Mom died five months ago, so I know how you feel. Please tell me that it gets a little easier to deal with as time goes by.