If You Shot Yourself in the Head Would You Feel It?

[TriflinThomas]

I've been watching a lot of horror movies lately. In a few of them, people have committed suicide by shooting themselves in the head. Do they feel pain? Does pain travel faster than a bullet to the head?

 

[pjoa09]

Yeah. Don't you hear about people getting shot in the face? They have a survival rate. Tupac was shot in the head and he survived.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

It entirely depends on what you mean by head. If you mean a direct shot to the temple, chances are you won't feel a thing. Shooting someone in the throat or mouth won't kill immediately unless the bullet has enough kinetic energy. (higher caliber/velocity bullets)

Some people have survived direct shots to the brain, but they are very rare. (The courier does not count as a valid example) The "Chunky Salsa Rule" is a useful rule of thumb.

 

[TriflinThomas]

Yeah. Don't you hear about people getting shot in the face? They have a survival rate. Tupac was shot in the head and he survived.

I meant in a suicide situation.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

I meant in a suicide situation.

It entirely depends. If the brain instantly shuts down as a result of shock, then yes. If you only succeed in damaging a part of the brain, YMMV. You could just lapse into unconsciousness, or you could be a screaming pile of neurons, unable to move or hear.

 

[TriflinThomas]

It entirely depends. If the brain instantly shuts down as a result of shock, then yes. If you only succeed in damaging a part of the brain, YMMV. You could just lapse into unconsciousness, or you could be a screaming pile of neurons, unable to move or hear.

Fascinating. Personally, I think a heroin overdose would be the best way to go.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Fascinating. Personally, I think a heroin overdose would be the best way to go.

Really? I'd eat a quarter stick of dynamite. Or a double barrel to the forehead.

 

[Cognisant]

Consciousness as we experience it is the tip of a very large proverbial iceberg, if fragmented your fragments of brain wouldn't experience anything, granted they may still be undergoing the processes that in a whole brain would be indicative of suffering but without context these processes are moot, it's a tree falls in a forest kind of thing.

The phone's ringing but there's nobody to answer it.
Technically there never was, else we would have a Homunculus Argument.

I'd tell you not to dwell on that but that's about as helpful as telling you not to think about elephants

 

[Architect]

Paradoxically there are very few nerves in the head, just some near the surface on the skin. This is why during brain surgery the patient is usually awake, with just a local to numb the skin, so the surgeons can be sure the patient is still lucid while they work. Historically people have had horrific head injuries and not suffered, for example Phineas Gage. So getting shot in the head is probably one of the less painful ways.

 

[Solitaire U.]

I'd wager the concussion effect from the impact would render you unconscious before you felt anything.

 

[nanook]

it's one of those things i have dreamt about more than once. being shot in the head, usually from behind. didn't hurt. but the experience of dying that follows is somewhat scary. it appears that having your brain split by a bullet is an interesting symbol for that experience, because the experience has two contradictory aspects that are experienced almost at once, you get an overview of what dying meant relative to life and as a culmination of it, and a sneak preview of the mind-fuck that is the eternal identity with non existence, which somehow includes life, but well it's still a contradiction ...

in my last dream i was a female black woman, i belief she was a police officer, who got shot by a burglar, in her american apartment after coming home from work. weird dream to have, for me (male, living in germany)

 

[DeadonDreaming]

If I shot myself in the head, I'd want .45 ACP or .357 Magnum at the minimum. A large caliber hunting rifle would be even better, or those exotic revolver loads that are too powerful for practical self defense.

I read a story where a competitive pistol shooting champion was approached by a group of muggers. He shot one nearly point blank between the eyes with a 9mm hollow-point. The man survived.

Food for thought.

 

[Beholder]

it's one of those things i have dreamt about more than once. being shot in the head, usually from behind. didn't hurt. but the experience of dying that follows is somewhat scary. it appears that having your brain split by a bullet is an interesting symbol for that experience, because the experience has two contradictory aspects that are experienced almost at once, you get an overview of what dying meant relative to life and as a culmination of it, and a sneak preview of the mind-fuck that is the eternal identity with non existence, which somehow includes life, but well it's still a contradiction ...

in my last dream i was a female black woman, i belief she was a police officer, who got shot by a burglar, in her american apartment after coming home from work. weird dream to have, for me (male, living in germany)

WHAT?!!!

 

[DeadonDreaming]

WAS?!!!

I think he is saying that he has dreams where he dies and has visions of dying relative to living plus visions of dying as a culmination of life. Then he gets a sneak peek, before dieing, of what non-existence means.

Then he imagines being a black woman.

The end.

Die Traumvisionen von Nanook

@nanook Es tut mir leid. Er versteht nicht, doch ich verstehe. Wollen Sie eine schwarz frau werden?! Scherz beiseite, was ist los? Wie Sie ihr traum interpretieren?

 

[snafupants]

@TriflinThomas

This is pretty morbid but I'd imagine taking some substance antagonistic towards acetylcholine (e.g., Mecamylamine) and using a shotgun would be pretty painless and absolute.

Spoiler

Hey, you asked.

 

[Cognisant]

I read a story where a competitive pistol shooting champion was approached by a group of muggers. He shot one nearly point blank between the eyes with a 9mm hollow-point. The man survived.

Food for thought.

Oddly bullets don't reach their maximum velocity until they're a few feet from the barrel (the pressure wave that expelled the bullet in the first place is still there and roughly nozzled in the bullet's general trajectory so even though it decreases exponentially after leaving the barrel it's still a significant factor in determining the bullet's maximum velocity and finial kinetic energy) and the point between the eyebrows is one of the skull's thickest places, so hypothetically it is possible to catch a bullet with your forehead and survive (strictly speaking) if the perfect conditions are present and you really are that damn lucky (or unlucky as the case may be).

 

[DeadonDreaming]

Oddly bullets don't reach their maximum velocity until they're a few feet from the barrel (the pressure wave that expelled the bullet in the first place is still there and roughly nozzled in the bullet's general trajectory so even though it decreases exponentially after leaving the barrel it's still a significant factor in determining the bullet's maximum velocity and finial kinetic energy) and the point between the eyebrows is one of the skull's thickest places, so hypothetically it is possible to catch a bullet with your forehead and survive (strictly speaking) if the perfect conditions are present and you really are that damn lucky (or unlucky as the case may be).

I'm pretty sure that man's face, and probably portions of his skull and brain, were incredibly messed up. It a personal decision whether you want to be alive or dead after that, but I read the shooter switched to .45 ACP or .40 S&W, so I know which he'd prefer the mugger to be. The guy was running around with a bullet in his forehead when cops arrived, much to the amazement of everyone.

 

[snafupants]

Apparently women are more likely to attempt suicide and men are more likely to actually succeed. Women, bless their hearts, half-assedly attempt the deed, with pills, wrist cutting, and so forth whereas men are more apt to employ heavier firepower.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

I'm pretty sure that man's face, and probably portions of his skull and brain, were incredibly messed up. It a personal decision whether you want to be alive or dead after that, but I read the shooter switched to .45 ACP or .40 S&W, so I know which he'd prefer the mugger to be.

If possible, using this weapon would be a a guaranteed kill.

Spoiler

 

[snafupants]

If possible, using this weapon would be a a guaranteed kill.

Spoiler

That weapon has an Acme (TM) Looney Tunes flavor to it. Overcompensation much?

 

[Dr. Freeman]

That weapon has an Acme (TM) Looney Tunes flavor to it. Overcompensation much?

You know what they say, "there is no kill like overkill." When it comes to making sure something is dead, that is a pretty good rule to follow.

 

[DeadonDreaming]

I would start a business that professionally straps sticks of dynamite to specific places on your body that, when detonated, make you into a fine bloody mist. We could take a slow-motion video of it and send it to your family if you want that. A suicide guaranteed to work 100% of the time, or your money back!

 

[TriflinThomas]

I would start a business that professionally straps sticks of dynamite to specific places on your body that, when detonated, make you into a fine bloody mist. We could take a slow-motion video of it and send it to your family if you want that. A suicide guaranteed to work 100% of the time, or your money back!

Hahahahaha good idea.

 

[snafupants]

I would start a business that professionally straps sticks of dynamite to specific places on your body that, when detonated, make you into a fine bloody mist. We could take a slow-motion video of it and send it to your family if you want that. A suicide guaranteed to work 100% of the time, or your money back!

Gosh, the money back might not be adequate compensation for the mangled body.

I'd rather quickly engage in round two of the experiment.

 

[DeadonDreaming]

Imagine your family watching the video!


"Okay guys, I know we haven't seen Jennifer in a week, but I just got this DVD from her so lets pop it in and see what we get"

Mom puts the DVD into the player nervously. Jennifer had been acting strange lately, when all of a sudden she just disappeared last week. The family hadn't see her in ages, but she felt a bit of relief after receiving a package from her. It was postmarked the day after she disappeared, so she hoped it might shed some light into her disappearance.

The DVD goes through the usual FBI warning, then comes to a menu "Jennifer's Exploding Goodbye!" in balloon letters. There is options for "Play at Normal Speed", "Play at Half Speed", "Play at 1 Million Frames Per Second". Mom nervously fingers the controller, accidently hitting "Play at 1 Million Frames Per Second" without noticing.

The screen go blank for a second, then suddenly Jennifer appears on screen, strapped to a chair while wearing a bulky white outfit, like a giant parka-type suit. The entire family watches in hushed silence, except for uncle Jack who says "Uh... what?" confused.

"Hi guys! I just wanted to let you know I'm fine! I've never been one for a lot of words, but I just wanted to let you know I love you all, and this is what I really want! I love you Mom!"

Moments later the sound shifts as the program switches to 1 million frames per second. A white flash begins to grow out of Jennifer's parka suit, growing more and more brilliant as the seconds go by. Jennifer's expression changes from smiling to a deep scowl, as her entire body is covered in a mixture of white and yellow light. She begins to grow larger as her body separates due to the explosion, a red mist emerging out of the white fireball that once was her.

"Oh..my..fucking god..." Aunt Jamie says as a giant piece of bloody pulp rockets towards the screen.


...And so on and so on... I think if Jennifer scowls like that it shows that in the future we need to put an explosive helmet on their head, to blow up their brain before they feel pain.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHg8-3wr2KU

Hopefully not for long.

 

[Secv]

This post is really, really long. I'm also very sorry for my first post on this site being on this topic, but it is one that applies.

I HAVE SURVIVED A .45 HOLLOWPOINT SHOT TO THE HEAD.
I know on the internet we all bs a lot with each other and make things up. This is not one of those times. I have pictures, websites, and medical studies published from research on me at the time, if reference is needed.

The background story is that I have had major depression for as long as I can remember back, probably since I was 5 or 6. When I learned what death was, I yearned to reach it quickly, for if that's what we were all destined for, why wait?
I struggled for years with it, with feeling suicidal yet still loving those around me to the extent that I couldn't part with them. Not like that atleast. When I was 17, and going through a heavy rebellious phase I caused my frustrated stressed, and scared parents to tell me I was just like my uncle. This flipped my switch. He was an astounding scholar and athlete, who had fallen into drug abuse and offed himself a month before my birth by injecting 15 grams of cocaine all at once. It was intentional. Anyways, back to my story. When they texted me that, I loaded my smith and Wesson .45 1911 with a hollowpoint, walked into my parents bedroom. I spray painted fuck you on their wall and texted them I'm just like him. I then proceeded to shoot myself in the head, from the underside. After, it was almost like I blacked out. My body was functioning, but my mind wasn't. My younger brother and sister had coming running at the sound of the shot, because they were probably only 10-20 feet away, with just a thin door between us. My sister ended up screaming till she passed out from lack of oxygen. My brother immediately called 911 And started first aid (we were both highly trained Eagle Scouts). I just kept screaming "fuck off, I want to die" and was punching him. Granted, I was fairly weak from blood loss. The paramedics had to tie my hands down when they picked me up. 911 had heard my brother struggling with punches, so they thought it was a gang violence issue and stopped the paramedics from going in until swat had cleared the house. The first response in every report from that day, was that I shouldn't have been alive, much less still moving and speaking. The entire upper floor was as covered from floor to ceilings with blood, it was in the air vents and every nook and cranny. My brother and sister looked like survivors of a massacre, covered from top to bottom in blood. I was still fighting, hence why I was tied down. The paramedics said I lost more blood than was possible for me to still be alive. At the hospital after they gave me sedative for the surgeries I was about to endure, I was still in control and pulled out my IV and stabbed two nurses with it.

Anyways, onto your question. Sorry for rambling, this is just something I never get to discuss with people. If you have any further questions, please forgive my necromancy on this dead thread.
Did it hurt?
Yes. Also no. What really hurts is majority of the expanded hollowpoint is still stuck to my brain. That hurts a lot.... The rest? I'd love to answer but they put me on essentially unlimited pain meds so I was happy just going till I was high.

My total recovery included learning how to walk, how to talk, regaining enough muscle to be able to stand. I lost two inches off my tongue, one eye, and a reduction of intelligence from genius to just standard. My first doctor who performed surgery was an atheist, coming out after his turn on the surgery shift, walked directly to my parents and told them that he now believed in god. He said he's never seen so much damage and survive, much less still be conscious and fighting. They put me into a medically induced paralysis and coma so I wouldn't fight while my body needed to heal from my multiple brain surgeries and cosmetic surgeries to rebuild my head. About 4 weeks after that, I made it out of Craig Hospital for Traumatic Brain Injuries. I set the record for speed through that hospital, swear to god. Most patients drop millons upon millions to stay there for months. Either way, though I remain an atheist, I still see the mysterious nature of the universe.

Please, if you have questions or need verification please lemme know. Also, sorry for posting on the dead thread

 

[The Gopher]

Anyways, onto your question. Sorry for rambling, this is just something I never get to discuss with people.

You know somehow this is the most unbelievable part of the story. Why not? I mean maayybee not as an icebreaker I grant you but that has to come up fairly often. Do you like self deprecating humor? Because that's gotta result in some killer jokes.

 

[Sinny91]

A friend of mine shot himself with a generic hand gun through the eye to the head. It took him a very long time to die, and he was all alone.

Previously to that, gunshot would always have been my suicide method, since then it's not.

 

[_intp]

Usually anything through the hypothalamus is a guaranteed death You will feel the pain of your skull being shattered, your conscious centers will stop almost instantly, usually enough for that pain to be rather brief.

 

[NSINTP]

I have pondered this numerous times.
I think Dr. Freeman has the right idea - explosives in the mouth, but maybe closer to the power of a golf ball size chunk of C-4 surrounding a remote detonator and covered in white chocolate, I like white chocolate.

I do have to say that life sucks and does not seem to get better, merely oscillating between shitty and less shitty, but shitty still the same. In a 24oz Monster Energy and 5Hr Energy fuelled psychotic episode at a job where I was free from human interaction, I was given a vision of my own suicide success in a wooded area with my Sig P226, a beautiful pistol with night sights. I have to say that it was the saddest thing I had ever seen and have since seen, to the point it brought me to tears, hating to admit that. I have also had a dream, not nightmare, of my own death at what I will refer to as the "hands of the state." This was an extremely interesting sensation because at the moment of death I felt as though I was "sucked" from my physical being into a place of empty darkness simply floating in space with no sense of direction, and no physical feeling, not even numbness. While floating and looking around I thought "well this is interesting," soon after I decided "okay, now I'm getting bored." Hopefully that is what death is like because I get bored easily, and get bored while being bored, so it would be a normal state of mind, which I believe is manageable. Of course I believe that the adage "Death is but a door, time is but a window, I'll be back" is the real eventuality of the death of death, of which I am quite ambivalent.

 

[PaulMaster]

Here are some interesting statistics:

http://lostallhope.com/suicide-methods/statistics-most-lethal-methods

 

[peoplesuck]

The speed of these signals depends on how fast the exchange of charged ions is inside and outside of the cell membrane. The main ions involved are sodium, potassium, chloride, and calcium. Without going into details, I can say that messages in the brain can travel at speeds up to 268 miles/hour. convert to fps for your answer