Please note that some people might find the content of this blog triggering. If you’re planning to act on the thoughts you’re having and take your own life, make an emergency appointment with your GP or call 111 right away.
Have you ever been through a difficult or stressful time and had thoughts like ‘I can’t do this anymore’ or ‘I wish it was all over’? These are some examples of how intrusive thoughts about suicide might sound.
Intrusive thoughts are unwelcome thoughts that can pop into your mind at any moment. They might take you by complete surprise or they might be triggered by a specific problem you’re facing.
Intrusive thoughts can be about any number of things and usually we don’t intend to act on them, but this doesn’t mean that they’re not disturbing or distressing, particularly if they’re about dying or suicide.
There’s a big difference between fleeting thoughts about suicide and being suicidal, where you’re actively making plans to unalive yourself (we’ve written more about this here). However, in both cases, depression isn’t the only potential cause of suicidal thoughts.
If I’m depressed does that automatically mean I will experience suicidal thoughts?
Intrusive thoughts about suicide can be one of the more challenging side effects of depression. Negative and repetitive thoughts can feel overwhelming and make you feel scared or confused which can have a severe impact on your day-to-day life.
Thinking about death or wishing that you were no longer alive can be a sign that you’re depressed. Depression can make you feel hopeless, worthless or like life isn’t worth living. This can lead to you contemplating taking your own life as a way to end the pain and escape difficult feelings.
Just a note to say… if you keep feeling like there’s no way out and you don’t want to be here anymore, it’s important that you get professional help. At this moment, it might be hard to believe that you’ll ever feel happy or content again, but with the right support, things can and will get better.
Some other symptoms of depression include:
Whereas suicidal thoughts can sometimes feel like:
Behavioural changes might include avoiding others or becoming withdrawn, experiencing extreme mood swings, disrupted sleep patterns, changes in appetite, or engaging in riskier behaviour.
While it can be a symptom, depression isn’t the only reason that you might think about suicide all the time. Suicidal thoughts can also be caused by:
Does depression increase the risk of suicide?
Yes, depression does increase the risk of suicide, but it’s by no means an inevitability. Depression is treatable and with the right support, people can manage their symptoms and move forwards. Most people who have depression won’t take their own lives.
Research shows that people who struggle with substance abuse are also more likely to have thoughts about and attempt suicide. When you have an addiction or an unhealthy relationship with drugs and alcohol, you can feel like you’re losing control over your life, which can be extremely difficult to cope with and lead to depression. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, you can find local support groups via Talk To Frank.
Suicidal thoughts and self-harm
If someone is severely depressed, they might self-harm. Self-harm is when somebody intentionally hurts themselves. There isn’t just one reason why someone might self-harm, but it could be as a response to intrusive thoughts or coping with and relieving emotional distress. There’s a clear link between suicidal thoughts or suicide and people who have previously self-harmed. However, not everyone who self-harms want to end their own life.
Managing intrusive thoughts about suicide
Get support for your mental health
If you’re feeling anxious, down or distressed because of intrusive thoughts, or if you’re struggling with depression, speak to your GP or a mental health professional. Let them know about the symptoms you’re experiencing and find out about what help is available.
One of the options that might be suggested to you is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is an effective way to treat depression and other mental health disorders. At ieso, you can self-refer for online CBT with one of our experienced therapists. It’s remote, flexible and confidential. Find out more here.
Useful helpline numbers:
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