Suicide OCD vs Suicidal Thoughts

Everyone knows that the incidence of autolytic episodes and completed suicides has increased enormously in our country, an almost exponential increase as a result of the pandemic in which we are still immersed.

The figures leave no room for doubt. The data referring to the year 2020 show that 3,941 people took their lives in our country. The highest figure ever seen. That is, today, In Spain, a person takes their own life every 2 hours and a quarter. 11 people a day.

• Related article: "Mental health: definition and characteristics according to psychology"

Suicide: beyond the taboo

For years a thick veil has been drawn over this reality, hiding data and news about it, in order not to promote the so-called pull effect. The problem existed, but, like childhood sexual abuse, it remained in limbo.

This scourge, on the other hand, is global, not just national and finally, throughout 2021, that veil has been lifted and Suicide has begun to be openly talked about, with the declaration of World Suicide Prevention Day, specifically on September 10.

Along the same lines, a suicide care and prevention service has recently been activated in the public system at the national level, accessible anonymously through 024. The idea is none other than to stop considering suicide as a taboo subject and start talking about it naturally, which has been shown to have a great preventive effect.

At this point we ask ourselves: “What are suicidal thoughts? Suicidal thoughts are considered to be all those thoughts that an individual has regarding intentional and planned suicide. It is very important to differentiate suicidal thoughts from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Suicide Disorder). If this difference is not well understood, it can be confusing for families and even professionals.

suicide OCD

We will first address the OCD of suicide. It is natural for people to have the occasional thought of suicide. Many of us have imagined crashing with the car, jumping from the train or cutting our wrists, without getting to stay hooked on these thoughts.

However, for people with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) these suicidal thoughts can become an obsession. They become so obsessed with these suicidal thoughts that they end up creating a terrible mental "loop", with increasingly terrifying and recurring ideas. Finally, the fear is so great that they end up not daring to be alone.

The most common obsessions in suicide OCD would be: the fear of suicide itself, constantly thinking of a thousand and a way to do it and the fear of falling into depression, which could cause, in turn, the fact of taking off the lifetime.

All this ends, inevitably, leading to a constant, endless reflection, in an attempt to compare and check if, finally, they would act as their thoughts predict. It's a kind of desperate search for answers to his terrible thoughts, including of course is, all kinds of investigations and inquiries, on forms and ways of suicide already consummated in other people.

It is very important to understand, for these people, as well as for family members and therapists, that repeatedly and obsessively thinking about suicide does not make it more likely. This is completely false.

We must remind ourselves over and over again that suicidal thoughts are premeditated and intentional. Whereas, in suicidal OCD, the person is afraid of committing suicide. I mean, it's the other way around. And of course, as in all anticipatory fear, thoughts will act as a preventive tool, precisely, so as not to commit suicide.

That is, the person who becomes obsessed with it is afraid of committing suicide, is even afraid of having thoughts about suicide, which makes him turn away from all the scenarios that his tormented mind projects.

This is not an obstacle, of course, to trivialize this problem. Suicide OCD is often devastating, with a disproportionate psychic and energetic exhaustion in those who suffer it and with correlates of anxiety, as well as mood swings that can lead to severe and recurrent depression.

• You may be interested: "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): what is it and how does it manifest?"

Characteristics of suicidal ideas

Having made this distinction between suicidal OCD and suicidal thoughts, we reiterate that these, suicidal ideas, refer to the act of thinking about or planning suicide. We are now talking about deliberate thoughts, not obsessive. And they can range from making a detailed plan to having a passing impulse.

In any case, in no case does suicidal thinking imply, per se, the final act of suicide. Without falling into easy simplifications, we must emphasize that there are many people who experience suicidal thoughts throughout their lives. life, either at a particularly hard time, in situations of severe stress or in situations of deterioration of mental health or physical.

Beneath these thoughts always lies one problem or another. And we must be optimistic therapeutically speaking. If you get to the problem, the treatment is effective in many cases, but The first step, of course, is always to ask for help.. And this is the hardest thing actually.

That's why it's important that if we hear a loved one talk about suicide, not obsessively like OCD, it is essential to do everything we can to be present at their side, in a gentle and aware.

• Related article: "Suicidology: what it is, characteristics and objectives of this science"

Let's watch for the signs

If we see that that loved one or close person begins to talk about suicide or death, or to frequently regret having been born or the fact of being born. If you report feeling trapped, hopeless, in terrible emotional pain, or show extreme mood swings, show agitation, extreme anxiety levels, depression or bouts of panic. Even if we see it as "gone", out of place, with concentration difficulties, be vigilant, they are possible warning signs.

There are, obviously, clearer signs, of the type, getting firearms or substances capable of ending a person's life. Isolate yourself from others, feel like a burden to everyone, and speak or say goodbye to us as if we were never going to see them again. Sometimes remorse and very severe self-criticism are observed in them.

Although there are also other much more subtle signs, such as suddenly starting to put their vital affairs in order and start giving things away. It is also very typical to isolate yourself from others and point out that you feel a burden for everyone.

In any case, despite the terribleness of both, both in the OCD of suicide, and in the suicidal thoughts, if we detect the alarm in time and connect with the person, therapy is very grateful. We must never forget that, after all, Behind every suicide or suicide attempt there lies, to a greater or lesser extent, a certain “affective vacuum”, so the most important thing at the beginning, and throughout the entire process, is the "presence", the real and human accompaniment, both from relatives and from therapists.

Author: Javier Elcarte, trauma psychologist. Founder and director of Vitaliza.