Mind or body?

[radiantquest]

Kennys question reminded me of a debate that I have been having with myself. So I will ask all of you.

If you had to choose, which would you rather go first? Your mind or your body?

I have always thought that I would prefer my mind to go first because it would be so frustrating if my brain was still sharp, but my body wouldn''t cooperate.

 

[elrohwen]

I think I''d want my body to go first! I would hate to go through memory loss and dementia.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I would say body, as my mind is the most important thing to me. However, I would be conscient of all the degeneration and I would have to accept that I would no longer be able to do things myself and rely on others for even basic things like eating or have someone else bathe me.

If my mind goes, however, I would no longer be aware of the process, which might be a blessing. It would be a huge burden on my family, though.

As I read once, "Whyc an''t we stay 20 until the end, and then just drop dead?"

 

[Burberrygirl]

Body. I watched my grandmothers body failed her while her mind was still there. I also watched my grandfather suffer from Alzheimer''s for years, and I would much rather pass like my grandmother. He was so scared and confused all the time, he seemed so tortured.

 

[lyra]

After reading Still Alice, I''m quite sure I''d rather my body go first. I can make peace in my mind if I still have it, so that would be preferable to me.

 

[Squirrly]

can both at the same time be an option? i''ve seen both and like the dieing in my sleep idea more than ever

 

[dragonfly411]

definitely body. I''d hate to suffer from mind related ailments

 

[Tacori E-ring]

mind.

 

[somethingshiny]

I have family members with dementia and it seems the worst way to live. I''d rather my body be riddled with cancer and know the smile of my son than to have perfect physical health and wonder who the heck he is.

Another reason I don''t want my mind to go is religious. I think it would be awful to know that you''re going to die and not know where you''re going or to lose sight of God.

 

[Selkie]

Body, I think. I can handle the idea of physical deterioration, because the mind allows us to adapt and compensate for our physical disabilities to some extent, or at least to remain rational about them. As long as I had assistance with daily needs, I think I could handle it. Alzheimers runs in my family, and my mother takes care of a man with dementia, so I''ve seen what it''s like to be physically able but mentally GONE, and it scares the hell out of me...especially the idea of my loved ones having to cope with me not being myself anymore.

 

[Steel]

I am with the crowd on this one.

I prefer to be physically able at the loss of mental ability.

It would be too sad to be trapped in a husk.

 

[cellososweet]

i''d like to say my body because i value my mind so much. but, if i was off my rock or suffering from demetia, maybe i wouldn''t notice all the things that bug me on a daily basis. i also wouldn''t realize that i couldn''t remember who people are, what i did yesterday, etc. it would be more sad for everyone else i think. but i might not even notice the difference if i was really far gone. i have to think about this one.

 

[diamondringlover]

Body!

 

[wsu12]

Date: 12/9/2009 12:42:34 PM
Author: lyra
After reading Still Alice, I''m quite sure I''d rather my body go first. I can make peace in my mind if I still have it, so that would be preferable to me.

I read that book as well as Tuesday with Morrie (Lou Gehrig''s disease). I think it is a lose-lose situation.

 

[oddoneout]

If my mind went first I wouldn''t have the presence of mind to care about if/when my body goes or what was even going on with it.

 

[Lilac]

I think I would want my body to go first. I would rather be able to continue to think with a sharp mind and speak with loved ones.

 

[purrfectpear]

I just looked in the mirror and I''m pretty sure the choice has already been made. Whose body was that anyway?

I really didn''t age at all from 18 to 49. Now I see a stranger and I don''t really relate to what I see. It doesn''t bother me enough to do anything about it, since I realize age gets us all in the end

I don''t much care what happens to my body as long as I have my eyesight and my mind. The day I can''t read is the day I''ll check out.

 

[ksinger]

My mother died last year from ALS, so my perspective on this is pretty set. There may be some diseases that equal ALS for sheer horror, but there are very probably none that are worse.

From a personal standpoint, I''d choose to go mind-first. For those around me, I''d choose body. It''s actually easier and kinder for them. It''s shorter duration. With the mind gone and a healthy body, you can stay around for decades past when your mind has fled. I''d hate to do that to my loved ones.

But either way pretty much sucks. Horrible choice.