End of life choice - mental or physical health?

I expect to become somewhat weaker with old age. That doesn't bother me so much. But losing my mental abilities is like the loss of self. I would rather die.

 

What kind of a F'n choice is that!

Either way you would be a total burden on somebody. The only difference is in the first choice you wouldn't know about it. Point is, if that's my only two choices it's less about me and more about the loved ones around me who would have to take care of me.

I want to die in my sleep with my passengers screaming.

 

I'm only 54, which isn't considered that old, but over the last few years I have learned to deal with physical problems caused by a genetic disease. I've gone from a pretty active, and one time competitive long distance runner, to "I can get out of my own way". My vision is nearly totally gone, legally blind, can't drive and won't be able to do my work for much longer even with the help of computers. I can live with that and learn to compensate, but please leave my mental facilties alone.

 

i was about to weigh in on this, but i dont think i can top that. i will certainly be stealing it for future use. so: ditto.

 

Exactly. I could live with not being able to walk, or not being able to see. I wouldn't like it, but I could learn to cope. But without the ability to carry on a decent conversation or communicate or even think coherently? That doesn't sound like a life I would find tolerable.

 

If it comes to it, I will find a way.

 

Thats it in a nut shell, in ways I am finding it mentaly stimulating in learning how to deal with the physical side effects. For instance, I am actually enjoying learning braile. Although, listening to books will take some doing, I find it another outlet of enjoyment just different than the enjoyment of reading. I'm kind of lookig forward to reading some books I've read before in braile. I also find that the physical things I am still able to do, I do smarter (like making one trip up the stairs to empty the waste can in the upstairs bathrooms), and that is strangely gratifyin that I "out" thunk the damn thing.

If the mind goes, I want to go with it, not to offend anyone.

 

You and me both, brother!

 

oh, in that case, then i vote for mental faculties, with the caveat that i am physically able to play music.

at 25 ive already sustained a permanent injury that has made some of the things i once did impossible, and some of the things i still do much more difficult. id rather end up in a wheelchair on all kinds of medications enjoying family gatherings and whatnot instead of not knowing whats going on. i think losing ones mental faculties would be much more emotionally and monetarily taxing on others than a physical disability, provided it is not so extreme that you are on life-support in a hospital or something.

 

jerk!! LOL hahaha i was trying to go to sleep and you made me laugh so hard that now i'm wide awake.

 

Definately physical health. If I lose mental faculties and I'm loading my pants, I won't care. If I lose mental health I won't know or care when I lose physical health.

I've been hell thus far in my life on the world, having a physical disability. Might as well go out with a Bang and lose my mind too.

God Bless, Ray

 

I have lost 75% of my physical abilities already and am in constant pain. I would take the loss of mental capacity, that way you don't know what you are missing.