The 'Plan B' Paradox: How the Idea of Suicide Can Sustain Life

The 'Plan B' Paradox: How the Idea of Suicide Can Sustain Life

In July 2018, an online debate about suicide methods brought up an uncomfortable paradox: for some people, the possibility of taking their own life acts as an anchor that allows them to keep living. The exchange, which mixed personal experiences with philosophical references, revealed two opposing currents: those who see suicide as a lucid act and those who consider it a symptom of mental illness.

The 'Plan B' as a Survival Strategy

One of the most striking testimonies in the debate was from a person who, years earlier, had stockpiled several boxes of psychotropic drugs with the intention of using them to commit suicide. They never got around to choosing the moment, but having that possibility open helped them carry on. They described it as «the most lucid idea» they had ever had. This experience illustrates a paradox that clinical psychology has documented: the mere existence of an exit can reduce existential anguish, even if that exit is never taken.

Philosophy and Suicide: From Schopenhauer to Camus

The debate quickly rose to philosophical ground. Schopenhauer was cited, who wrote that «he who blames others for his misfortunes is a poor fool, he who blames only himself begins to learn». Cioran also appeared, with his maxim that «that life has no meaning is the only reason to live it», and Camus, whose myth of Sisyphus invites us to laugh at the absurd. These references served to defend that suicide can be a rational decision, not a mere impulse. On the other side, it was argued that suicide is almost always a side effect of a mental disorder, and that the idea of «courage» or «lucidity» is a later construction.

Methods Discussed: From Pentobarbital to Carbon Monoxide

The conversation also touched on methods, though without going into operational details. Substances such as pentobarbital, carbon monoxide inhalation or drowning in remote places were mentioned, such as an 18-metre-deep lagoon cited by one of the participants. The case of Jonghyun, a K-Pop star who died in 2017 by inhaling carbon monoxide, a method that has become common in South Korea, was also recalled. The mention of these examples was not intended to instruct, but to illustrate the diversity of options circulating in popular culture.

The Impact on Loved Ones

Against the coldness of the methods, another participant brought a more human perspective: they knew two families who had suffered a suicide. In both cases, the pain of the survivors persisted years later, with the nagging thought of «if only they could have done something more». This intervention reminded that suicide is not an isolated act, but an event that leaves a deep mark on those around.

The discussion remained open: while some defended personal autonomy and the right to decide, others pointed to the suffering that suicide leaves behind. Neither position managed to prevail, and the debate faded without conclusion. The plan B paradox, however, remains: for some, the idea of death is what makes life bearable.