”Give-up-itis” describes people who respond to traumatic stress by developing extreme apathy, give up hope, relinquish the will to live and die, despite no obvious organic cause.” …”it’s the expression of mental defeat.”-sciencedirect.com.8/9/2018.
“The wish to die had either been triggered suddenly after traumatic life events or had developed gradually after a life full of adversity, as a consequence of aging or illness, or after recurring depression.”…People considered themselves “in a situation they considered unacceptable, yet they felt they had no control to change their situation and thus progressively “gave up” trying. Recurring themes included being widowed, feeling lonely, being a victim, being dependent, and wanting to be useful. Developing thoughts about death as a positive thing or a release from problems seemed to them like a way to reclaim control.”-pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov./ 2011.
“This phenomenon (of give-up- itis) occurs when someone experiences a trauma they feel they cannot escape, making death seem like their only option.” There is a distinction between this condition and suicide.
“Psychogenic death is real…it isn’t suicide, it isn’t linked to depression, but the act of giving up on life and dying usually within days, is a very real condition often linked to severe trauma.” -usnews.com. 9/27/18. According to Prof. John Leach, “the condition has 5 stages. First is social withdrawal. Following a trauma, people may become self-absorbed and indifferent and show a lack of emotion. The second is apathy, an emotional or symbolic “death.” Apathy is a demoralizing melancholy different to anger, sadness or frustration. The third stage is an extreme lack of motivation paired with a weakened emotional response, known as aboulia. It makes it difficult to make decisions and take initiative. People in this stage usually lack cleanliness and frequently stop eating. The fourth stage is psychic akinesia. Although, this person is conscious, they are in a state of extreme apathy and do not react to extreme pain. The final stage is psychogenic death. Prof. Leach states this is the “disintegration of a person.” He said “nothing can make them want to live.” …”motivation is essential for coping with life and if that fails, apathy is almost inevitable.” …”The condition is reversible, however. Intervention can be taken in any of the various stages. Such interventions include physical activity and a person regaining a sense of control of their life.”-usnews.com. 9/27/18.
Conclusion: This condition, called “Give-up-itis,” can occur to anyone, regardless of age, at any point in life. It doesn’t mean the person will actually try to kill themselves, but it’s a deterioration of one’s mental well being. It can be just as deadly, although less common, than suicide. All it takes is just one traumatic event to start this chain reaction of a person’s mental state, sliding downhill. If this person has concluded that life isn’t worth living, due to the mental suffering, death becomes the only alternative that will relieve the suffering; and puts control of one’s’ fate back into their own hands. / Done
Don’t give up. The bastards aren’t worth the effort!
One in 4 young adults have struggled with suicidal thoughts since the coronavirus hit, CDC says. Most young children and young adults are finding the isolation from their friends very difficult.