Discussion Are suicidal thoughts contagious?

[peternotnice]

Hi, I'm asking this question and would like to discuss about it because my bf used to write here. He definitely tried to suicide but ended up in the hospital. He failed and I think he's recovering nice after some months of therapy.

The problem is I suffered a long process of: wondering what was wrong with him, discovering he had his suicidal date and method, weeks of worrying and weight loss... And then once he's ok I feel scared. Too too scared, many times, and I try to control it but sometimes I get panic attacks when I'm with him at nights, and I also get suicidal thoughts.

What do you think about this?

 

[morpheus451]

There is some evidence that suicide and by that also suicidal ideation has a social contagion effect, meaning that if someone in your social network commits suicide your chances of killing yourself also increase. Therefore, suicidal thoughts seem to be contagious, it seems that for many the dark rumination and thinking about the shittyness of life is something they do not readily encounter. Furthermore, news reports of suicide are usually scant so that no copy-cat self harmers to the deed (your railway operators thank you very much).

More personally: Of course experiencing what your bf went through, the anxiety, the worry, the panic will impact you. I recommend seeking help (therapy, self help group for relatives etc...). Something like this really can wear you down

Source:

Interaction Domains and Suicide: A Population-based Panel Study of Suicides in Stockholm, 1991–1999

Abstract. This article examines how suicides influence suicide risks of others within two interaction domains: the family and the workplace. A distinction

academic.oup.com

 

[peternotnice]

There is some evidence that suicide and by that also suicidal ideation has a social contagion effect, meaning that if someone in your social network commits suicide your chances of killing yourself also increase. Therefore, suicidal thoughts seem to be contagious, it seems that for many the dark rumination and thinking about the shittyness of life is something they do not readily encounter. Furthermore, news reports of suicide are usually scant so that no copy-cat self harmers to the deed (your railway operators thank you very much).

More personally: Of course experiencing what your bf went through, the anxiety, the worry, the panic will impact you. I recommend seeking help (therapy, self help group for relatives etc...). Something like this really can wear you down

Source:

Interaction Domains and Suicide: A Population-based Panel Study of Suicides in Stockholm, 1991–1999

Abstract. This article examines how suicides influence suicide risks of others within two interaction domains: the family and the workplace. A distinction

academic.oup.com

Thank you so much for your honest reply. I think I should start looking for help. I'm 23 and my parents worry the times I've said I'd need some help, but I should definitely.

 

[Shamana]

I think it is to some extent. Once someone else commits suicide, we can somehow feel more validated in thinking that way if it's been in the back of our minds for a long time.

 

[GeorgeJL]

Yes suicide can be contagious for some people. You should seek some professional help, and try some psychedelics if that doesn't work. We have a treatments sticky thread in the recovery section.

 

[peternotnice]

Yes suicide can be contagious for some people. You should seek some professional help, and try some psychedelics if that doesn't work. We have a treatments sticky thread in the recovery section.

I'll take a look. Thank you!

 

[Rachel74]

I was told per 20 years that suicide was genetic.

 

[peternotnice]

I was told per 20 years that suicide was genetic.

Is that true?

 

[Rachel74]

Is that true?

I believed it and probably still do, my grandad killed him self I think it's called suicidal tendencies.

 

[woxihuanni]

I don't know, not everybody catches it if it is. When I snuff it, my ex-partner will step over my corpse and run to the next party.

 

[peternotnice]

I don't know, not everybody catches it if it is. When I snuff it, my ex-partner will step over my corpse and run to the next party.

Exs are not worth our time

 

[woxihuanni]

Exs are not worth our time

Yeah I totally never thought of it. An epiphany.

 

[k75]

I'm not an expert, but basing what you described on my own experiences, it sounds to me like what you're feeling is basically a form of post traumatic stress due to being in that situation.

I'm assuming you care about him a lot. Watching him go through that struggle was a very traumatic experience. That sort of thing triggers panic, which puts you in fight or flight mode.

While it was happening, your mind protected you so you could power through the experience. Once it was over, and you were "safe" again, your brain said, "ok, don't have to fight anymore, now we can feel all the things." So you're left with the unfiltered emotional trauma now.

I don't think you're beyond help. I think this is something therapy can actually help with. You need to see someone before it gets unmanageable.

A similar thing happened with me. In my case, I had a string of life-threatening traumatic events in a short time. The most severe was cancer. While it was happening, I didn't feel a lot. I bottled everything up and just did what I had to do to get through it. Later, long after I was well again and nothing was threatening my life, I started experiencing the depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, etc. I was diagnosed with PTSD. Because I basically let it fester and got no support or help for several years, it's really bad.

 

[peternotnice]

I'm not an expert, but basing what you described on my own experiences, it sounds to me like what you're feeling is basically a form of post traumatic stress due to being in that situation.

I'm assuming you care about him a lot. Watching him go through that struggle was a very traumatic experience. That sort of thing triggers panic, which puts you in fight or flight mode.

While it was happening, your mind protected you so you could power through the experience. Once it was over, and you were "safe" again, your brain said, "ok, don't have to fight anymore, now we can feel all the things." So you're left with the unfiltered emotional trauma now.

I don't think you're beyond help. I think this is something therapy can actually help with. You need to see someone before it gets unmanageable.

A similar thing happened with me. In my case, I had a string of life-threatening traumatic events in a short time. The most severe was cancer. While it was happening, I didn't feel a lot. I bottled everything up and just did what I had to do to get through it. Later, long after I was well again and nothing was threatening my life, I started experiencing the depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, etc. I was diagnosed with PTSD. Because I basically let it fester and got no support or help for several years, it's really bad.

I want to thank you for your thoughtful and dedicated answer. It helped me a lot. I need to reconsider everything and definitely yeah, I should look for some help. How are you feeling now? I hope you're feeling better.

 

[nothingleft]

Thoughts, no. But if former friends of mine had successfully CTB, I feel it would probably push me toward doing the same. Attending a therapy group comprised entirely of people my age that had attempted and ended up in forced hospitalization made me more cautious than I would be otherwise.

One girl I met attempted so many times that her loved ones got sick of it. Both her boyfriend and her father told her to just get it over with. Hearing that firsthand fucked me up a little.

 

[k75]

I want to thank you for your thoughtful and dedicated answer. It helped me a lot. I need to reconsider everything and definitely yeah, I should look for some help. How are you feeling now? I hope you're feeling better.

I'm glad you found it helpful. In a weird way, it makes it feel worth it if my experiences can help someone else. I really do think it's possible for you to heal, but it's probably not something you can tackle on your own and it's going to take work. Good luck!

I'm still working on getting better. I think I neglected it too long and made things worse. But I am trying. Thanks for asking.

 

[peternotnice]

I'm glad you found it helpful. In a weird way, it makes it feel worth it if my experiences can help someone else. I really do think it's possible for you to heal, but it's probably not something you can tackle on your own and it's going to take work. Good luck!

I'm still working on getting better. I think I neglected it too long and made things worse. But I am trying. Thanks for asking.

Fortunately I've money right now to pay the psycho help. The problem is I don't know how to tell my parents I'd like to go, since I still live with them.
I'm glad you're getting better. Patience!

Thoughts, no. But if former friends of mine had successfully CTB, I feel it would probably push me toward doing the same. Attending a therapy group comprised entirely of people my age that had attempted and ended up in forced hospitalization made me more cautious than I would be otherwise.

One girl I met attempted so many times that her loved ones got sick of it. Both her boyfriend and her father told her to just get it over with. Hearing that firsthand fucked me up a little.

At least my close case doesn't want to try again as I know. I couldn't handle more attempts from him or I would go totally apathic.

 

[peternotnice]

I'm not an expert, but basing what you described on my own experiences, it sounds to me like what you're feeling is basically a form of post traumatic stress due to being in that situation.

I'm assuming you care about him a lot. Watching him go through that struggle was a very traumatic experience. That sort of thing triggers panic, which puts you in fight or flight mode.

While it was happening, your mind protected you so you could power through the experience. Once it was over, and you were "safe" again, your brain said, "ok, don't have to fight anymore, now we can feel all the things." So you're left with the unfiltered emotional trauma now.

I don't think you're beyond help. I think this is something therapy can actually help with. You need to see someone before it gets unmanageable.

A similar thing happened with me. In my case, I had a string of life-threatening traumatic events in a short time. The most severe was cancer. While it was happening, I didn't feel a lot. I bottled everything up and just did what I had to do to get through it. Later, long after I was well again and nothing was threatening my life, I started experiencing the depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, etc. I was diagnosed with PTSD. Because I basically let it fester and got no support or help for several years, it's really bad.

I'm finally going to therapy. Your words helped me realise I would need to go. So, thank you again :)