Intrusive suicidal ideation is a type of suicidal thinking that pops into your head against your will. It can be incredibly distressing and overwhelming, leaving you feeling like you’re out of control. If you’ve been experiencing intrusive suicidal ideation, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what intrusive suicidal ideation is, how to deal with it, and where to find help.
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What Is Intrusive Suicidal Ideation?
Intrusive suicidal ideation is described as having persistent and unwanted thoughts about suicide. These thoughts can be accompanied by mental images or an urge to self-harm. Intrusive suicidal ideation is a symptom of depression and other mental illnesses and can be extremely distressing.
Intrusive suicidal ideation can be incredibly distressing and overwhelming. Because it is a symptom of depression and other mental illnesses, it is important to seek professional help if you are experiencing these thoughts. There are many treatment options available that can help reduce the intensity and frequency of intrusive thoughts.
Moreover, it is important for you to understand that having intrusive thoughts does not mean that you are actually going to act on them. Many people with depression or other mental illnesses have intrusive thoughts but never attempt or succeed in harming themselves. However, you must not take this lightly as intrusive thoughts can be a sign that you are in danger and need help.
Therefore, you or someone you know with this intrusive suicidal ideation necessarily need treatment and professional help. Reach out today to get help!
How To Recognize Intrusive Suicidal Ideation?
It is really important to recognize intrusive suicidal ideation in order to get the proper help. Here are some signs:
- Can’t stop thinking about death or ways to die
- Have a specific plan and means to carry out suicide
- Obsessively think about your funeral or what will happen to your body after you die
- Feel like life is not worth living or that everyone would be better off without you
- Think about death or suicide all the time, even when you’re not actively trying to
Intrusive thoughts about suicide are often accompanied by:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Anger
- Irritability
- Loneliness
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Despair
So the symptoms can be both mental and emotional. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to reach out for help. There are many ways to get help if you are struggling with intrusive suicidal thoughts. But at first, you need to reach out to someone who can understand and support you. This can be a friend, family member, therapist, or any other support system.
Once you have found someone to talk to, they can help you develop a plan to deal with your intrusive thoughts. Eventually, with help, you can lessen the frequency and intensity of your intrusive thoughts. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. There are many people who want to support you. You are not alone.
What Are Some Causes And Risk Factors?
There are several possible causes of intrusive suicidal ideation. Some research suggests that it may be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Other possible risk factors include:
A history of mental health problems
This is one of the most common risk factors for intrusive suicidal thoughts. If you have a history of depression, anxiety, or another mental health disorder, you may be more likely to experience these thoughts. This happens because when you’re not feeling well mentally, you’re more likely to dwell on negative thoughts and have a harder time coping with stress.
Exposure to violence or trauma
It is believed that exposure to violence or trauma can also lead to intrusive suicidal thoughts. This is likely because when you experience a traumatic event, it can change the way your brain processes information and make you more prone to anxiety and depression. For example, if you’ve been the victim of a crime or have witnessed a traumatic event, you may be more likely to have intrusive thoughts about suicide.
Substance abuse
Substance abuse is another common risk factor for intrusive suicidal thoughts. This is because drugs and alcohol can change the way your brain functions and make you more likely to experience mental health problems. Additionally, if you’re abusing substances, you may be more likely to act on your suicidal thoughts.
Family history of suicide
This might sound like a strange risk factor, but if you have a family member who has died by suicide, you may be more likely to experience intrusive suicidal thoughts. Moreover, this is likely because suicide is somewhat genetic. Studies have shown that if someone in your family has died by suicide, you’re more likely to have the same thoughts yourself.
Chronic physical illness
It is believed that chronic physical illness can also lead to intrusive suicidal thoughts. This is because when you’re dealing with a long-term or terminal illness, you may feel like you’re a burden to those around you. Additionally, chronic pain can also lead to suicidal thoughts. In fact, it is believed that chronic pain is one of the most common risk factors for suicide.
So, if you’re dealing with intrusive suicidal thoughts, what can you do? Actually, there are several things you can do to help ease your thoughts and make them more manageable. You just need to be aware of the resources that are available to you.
How To Deal With Intrusive Suicidal Ideation?
As we have discussed this situation is not something that you should try to ignore. It can be very painful and scary when intrusive suicidal thoughts start to take over your mind. But there are things that you can do to try and lessen the hold that these thoughts have on you.
Talk to someone who will understand
It is important to have someone to talk to who understands what you are going through. This could be a therapist, counselor, or even just a close friend. Talking about what you are feeling can help to lessen the intensity of the thoughts and make them more manageable. In fact, sharing your can actually make the thoughts less likely to occur. Because it is no longer such a big secret that is taking up space in your mind.
Challenge your thinking
Another way to deal with intrusive suicidal ideation is to challenge your thinking. For example, if you are thinking “I’m such a burden to everyone, they would be better off without me” try to come up with three reasons why that thought is not true. This can help to lessen the power of the thoughts and make them less believable. Moreover, studies have found that if you are able to do this effectively it can actually reduce the frequency of suicidal thoughts.
Write down your thoughts
There are times when you might not be able to challenge your thoughts on your own. In these cases, it can be helpful to write down what you are thinking. Once it is written down, you can look at it more objectively and see that the thoughts might not be as accurate as you first thought. Studies have found that this technique can actually help to reduce the frequency of suicidal thoughts. Because you are more likely to spill your guts to a piece of paper than you are to a person, it can also be a way to get your thoughts out without feeling like you are burdening someone else.
Focus on self-care
When you are dealing with intrusive suicidal ideation, it is important to focus on taking care of yourself. This means incorporating some healthy habits into your daily routine. Some below-listed things can be really helpful in overall mental and physical health. These include:
- Enough sleep
- Healthy foods
- Get active
- Exercise and Yoga
- Deep breathing
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Spend time in nature
Taking care of yourself is crucial when intrusive thoughts are present. In fact, these healthy habits can be a form of self-care. If you are not sure how to implement these changes, consider speaking with a therapist. They can help you develop a plan that works for you and your lifestyle.
Seek professional help
If you are struggling to deal with intrusive suicidal thoughts on your own, it is important to seek professional help. A therapist can provide you with the tools and support you need to manage these thoughts in a healthy way. There are several types of therapy that can be effective for treating intrusive thoughts, such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Exposure therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
The therapy is used to help people learn how to manage their intrusive thoughts in a healthy way. In fact, the main goal of therapy is to teach people how to live with their thoughts and not be controlled by them.
For example in exposure therapy, people are exposed to their thoughts and learn how to cope with them in a healthy way. This can be done through imaginal exposure, which is when people imagine their thoughts, or in vivo exposure, which is when people are exposed to their thoughts in real-life situations.
When it comes to intrusive thoughts, remember that you are not alone. Many people struggle with these types of thoughts, and there is help available. If you are struggling to cope with intrusive thoughts, please seek professional help.
Conclusion
To conclude, intrusive suicidal ideation is actually a very common occurrence and is often a normal part of the grieving process. However, if you are struggling with intrusive thoughts about suicide, it is important to seek professional help. In fact, therapy can be extremely beneficial in managing these thoughts and helping you to cope with your grief in a healthy way.
Moreover, you must understand that having intrusive thoughts about suicide does not make you a bad person. It is important to be gentle with yourself and to remember that these thoughts are not your fault. With time and treatment, you will be able to manage your intrusive suicidal ideation and live a happy, fulfilling life.
If you or someone is struggling to find the right help, please contact Therapy Mantra for expert guidance. We have a team of professional therapists who can provide you with the support and guidance you need to recover from this condition. Contact us today to learn more about our services. You can also book an online counseling and therapy session or download our free OCD treatment app on Android or iOS.
