What Are Suicidal Thoughts And Suicidal Behaviors? What Causes Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors?

one's life intentionally. It is a tragic reaction to stressful life situations. However, suicide can be prevented. Learning what are suicide warning signs and how to reach out for immediate help and professional treatment could save your life or someone else's.

It may seem like there is no way to solve problems and that suicide is the only way to end the pain. But steps can be taken to be safe and start enjoying life again.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, suicide is:

1. The act of taking one's own life.

2. A person who commits such an act.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Suicidal Thoughts?

A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor notice. For example, drowsiness may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.

Suicide warning signs or suicidal thoughts include:

• Being preoccupied with death, dying or violence
• Changing normal routine, including eating or sleeping patterns
• Developing personality changes, such as becoming very outgoing after being shy
• Doing risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving recklessly
• Feeling trapped or hopeless about a situation
• Getting the means to commit suicide, such as getting a gun or stockpiling pills
• Giving away belongings or getting affairs in order
• Having mood swings ( for example, being emotionally high one day and deeply discouraged the next)
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs
• Saying goodbye to people as if they will not be seen again
• Talking about suicide, including making such statements as "I'm going to kill myself," "I wish I was dead" or "I wish I hadn't been born"
• Withdrawing from social contact
• Wanting to be left alone

Warning signs are not always obvious. They also vary from person to person. Some people make their intentions clear, while others keep suicidal thoughts and feelings secret.

Getting Help

Get help right away if you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide:

• Call local emergency number immediately.
• Call a suicide hot line number to reach to a trained counselor. There are telephone help lines with specially trained volunteers who will listen to you, understand what you are going through, and help you through the immediate crisis.

If you are feeling suicidal but you are not immediately thinking of hurting yourself:

• Call a suicide crisis center hot line. Those services are available 24 hours a day for people who want to talk in confidence to someone about their distress, including self-destructive thoughts.
• Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community.
• Make an appointment with your primary care doctor or other health care provider or mental health provider.
• Reach out to a close friend or loved one (even though you may feel reluctant to talk about your feelings). Contact a friend, family member or someone you trust.
• Seek help from a doctor, a mental health provider or other health care professional.

If you start by seeing a family doctor or general practitioner, you may be referred immediately to a psychiatrist. If you are in danger of committing suicide, your doctor may have you get emergency help at the hospital.

It is absolutely normal to occasionally feel sad, upset or unhappy with situations in life. However, if these feelings remain for a long time or provoke thoughts about killing or harming yourself, seek medical help as soon as possible.

Suicidal thinking usually does not get better on its own. It is important to get help. 

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