What causes thoughts of self-harm and suicide?

Question

Hello doctor,

I deal with issues of self-harming and really strange feelings. I have been told I should go to my GP. I have had these thoughts about death, by no means I am suicidal. I do not want to kill myself but they are more like fantasies. I often have intense feelings of sadness or I feel nothing it is weird. Life seems like an impossible mission right now. I feel that I might have depression. I am unsure what is wrong with me. Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The first step towards improvement is to diagnose and acknowledge the problem. Depression is characterized by symptoms like persistent sadness of mood, loss of pleasure in previously pleasurable activities, irritability, indecisiveness, lack of energy and enthusiasm, and sleep disturbances. Do you feel you are having these problems for more than two weeks? If yes, you might be suffering from depression and need to to treated accordingly. Secondly, I need to know whether you are facing the problem of repeated intrusive thoughts which you find absurd but are unable to get rid of them. Thoughts, images, or impulses that keep you preoccupied? Such a problem is suggestive of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) which is fairly common among patients suffering from depression although can occur without depression. Both depression and OCD can be treated using the same medicines and with the help of psychotherapy. I suggest you visit a psychiatrist. I hope you find this helpful. Any further queries are welcomed.

Thank you.