I Keep Thinking About Death—Am I Depressed?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTypes of Suicidal IdeationWhat to DoReaching OutAvoid ImpulsivityFinding Help

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes

Types of Suicidal Ideation

What to Do

Reaching Out

Avoid Impulsivity

Finding Help

Close

Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Does thinking about death all the time mean that you’re depressed? If you’ve been diagnosed with a mood disorder like major depression, bipolar disorder, or anothermental health disorder, you may be preoccupied with thoughts of death.

This might include symptoms such as passively wishing you were dead, actively beginning to plan your death, or becoming absorbed in thoughts of dying.

Preoccupation with death can be a symptom of depression and other mental illnesses. Here’s why having a mental health condition can make you have these feelings and what you can do to address them.

What Might Cause Thoughts of Death?

If you are always thinking about death, it is normal to wonder if you might be depressed. Depression is one cause, but other factors might cause you to think about death often.

Depression

Thinking about death or wishing you were dead can be a symptom of depression. If you are also experiencing other symptoms, it is essential to talk to a doctor.

Other Symptoms of DepressionOther symptoms of depression include:FatigueInsomniaLethargyLoss of interest in pleasurable activitiesSocial withdrawalChanges in sleepUnexplained aches and painsCrying, despair, or hopelessnessLoss of self-esteemIrritabilityDifficulty concentrating

Other Symptoms of Depression

Other symptoms of depression include:FatigueInsomniaLethargyLoss of interest in pleasurable activitiesSocial withdrawalChanges in sleepUnexplained aches and painsCrying, despair, or hopelessnessLoss of self-esteemIrritabilityDifficulty concentrating

Other symptoms of depression include:

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar depression is similar to major depression. The main difference is that if you have bipolar disorder and areexperiencing a depressive episode, you may be more likely than a person with unipolar depression to have “mixed” symptoms.Amixed episode of bipolar disordercan include agitation (both mental and physical), irritability, anger, and anxiety.

Single symptoms are rarely present; rather, there are different groups of symptoms that are common.Groupings of symptoms may include changes in activity levels, physical changes, emotional pain, difficult moods, and changes in thought patterns.

Intrusive or Obsessive Thoughts

If you constantly have obsessive, intrusive thoughts about death or dying, it might be a sign of a condition such asobsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)orpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

OCD involves experiencing obsessions and/or compulsions that interfere with your daily life or cause distress. Some people engage in behaviors (compulsions), but the condition can also involve thoughts, such as those centered on death, without compulsions.

Research has found that having OCD significantly increases a person’s risk of experiencing suicidal ideation.

PTSD is a condition that can occur after a person has experienced a traumatic event. In addition to flashbacks, anxiety, and nightmares, people also experience intrusive thoughts. Research has found that PTSD is a risk factor for suicide.

Grief

Losing a loved one can also cause people to experience a preoccupation with death. You might think of death often or even find yourself wishing for your own death. Grief is a natural response to loss, but it can also lead to prolonged problems if it turns into what is known ascomplicated grief.

This condition affects around 7% of bereaved people and can lead to intrusive thoughts of death or suicidal thinking.

Having suicidal thoughts, also referred to assuicidal ideation, is a hallmark symptom of major depression and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. Suicidal ideation can be passive (thinking about death often but not acting on these thoughts) or active (making plans to act on suicidal thoughts).

Passive Suicidal Ideation

Passive suicidal ideation involves thinking about death to a marked degree. These thoughts may take the form of imagining yourself dead or wishing you were dead.While passive suicidal ideation may be frequent, intense, and intrusive, you are not taking action or planning to harm yourself in response to these thoughts.

Signs of Passive Suicidal IdeationExamples of passive suicidal ideation include:Envisioning yourself lying in a casketImagining what would happen at your funeralObsessing or worrying about what you would leave people in your will (though not taking any action, such as filling out paperwork)Wishing you would die in your sleep or a car accident

Signs of Passive Suicidal Ideation

Examples of passive suicidal ideation include:Envisioning yourself lying in a casketImagining what would happen at your funeralObsessing or worrying about what you would leave people in your will (though not taking any action, such as filling out paperwork)Wishing you would die in your sleep or a car accident

Examples of passive suicidal ideation include:

You may have these thoughts without feeling the urge to act on them. For example, your family, work responsibilities, or your religious/philosophical beliefs may deter you from making suicide plans.

“I wish I was dead” is a common phrase many people utter without meaning, such as when expressing embarrassment or exasperation in a joking manner. However, someone who is depressed may use these words to convey that they are not coping well—and this is no joke.

If someone in your life suggests or states that they wish they were dead, always take them seriously. Passive suicidal ideation can quickly become active.

Active Suicidal Ideation

Suicide Risk FactorsRisk factors for completing suicide include:Access to firearms or other lethal meansPrior suicide attemptsSignificant life stressorsSubstance use disorders

Suicide Risk Factors

Risk factors for completing suicide include:Access to firearms or other lethal meansPrior suicide attemptsSignificant life stressorsSubstance use disorders

Risk factors for completing suicide include:

A person’s thoughts usually have elements ofboth passive and active suicidal ideation—often with no clear separation. Being aware of where you are on the spectrum between passive and active can give you insight into how well you cope with and manage your mental health.

Whether or not you have made a suicide plan, the thoughts associated with active suicidal ideation must be taken seriously. Research shows thatdecision-making processes are alteredwhen someone attempts suicide.

If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or showingsigns of planning suicide, reach out for help immediately.

Managing Suicidal Thoughts

If you are feeling a strong urge to attempt suicide, you are concerned that a loved one is going to attempt suicide, or if anyone is in immediate danger,call 911or go toyour local emergency room.

If you or someone you care about is having suicidal thoughts, it’s very important that you seek help.Whether it’s a trusted family member, friend, doctor, or mental health professional, these feelings do not have to be (and shouldn’t have to be) faced alone.

Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses can be treated.If you are trying to cope with mental illness know that there are resources, such as online and in-person support groups, that may be able to help. If you are helping a loved one who is dealing with mental illness, there are also support groups for caregivers that can offer resources.

Warning Signs of Suicide in People With Bipolar Disorder

Where to Reach Out

If you are having persistent thoughts about death and dying, reach out to someone in your life who is trustworthy and compassionate. If you don’t have someone in your family or group of friends that you can talk to, look to others in your community, such as clergy, counselors, and health care providers.

You can also reach out to theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988or visit the website to use the online chat feature any time day or night. These resources are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You may be hesitant to talk about suicide openly, as the topic is sometimes considered taboo and a pervasive stigma is attached to mental illness.However, if someone you love is depressed and you are concerned they are suicidal, it’s vital that you ask them directly if they are thinking about harming themselves.

Contrary to popular belief, asking about someone’s intentions does not “plant” the idea of suicide in their head.Instead, it lets the person know you care about them and are ready to help.

If your loved one admits they are feeling suicidal, having thoughts about death, or making plans based on those thoughts, the first thing you need to do ismake sure they are safe. From there, you can reach out to the appropriate resources for help.

How to Help Someone Who Is Suicidal

Avoiding Impulsivity

If you are having thoughts of suicide or feeling that you wish you were dead, avoid making any impulsive decisions or taking drastic actions. While the feelings you are having may be intense and distressing, try to remember that they will pass.

If you feel that you are not in control of your life at the moment and that things will never get better, remember that feelings and emotions do not last forever and can change.

When you are depressed it can be difficult to recognize that you have an impact on others. The ripple effect of your actions is felt throughout your personal and professional life, your school, and your community. It may not seem or feel like it, but there are people in your life who care about you.

If you reach out to them, chances are they will be more than willing to support you. Even if the people in your life aren’t sure how to help, they can be present with you as you work to identify the resources, support, and treatment that you need.

Help is Available

If you have thoughts of death and dying but have no immediate plans to harm yourself, call your doctor or therapist as soon as possible.These feelings and thoughts may indicate that you have a mental health disorder that hasn’t been diagnosed yet.

If you have already been diagnosed with a mental health condition, feeling suicidal can indicate you need to adjust your treatment. You may need to change or increase your medication, begin psychotherapy, or pursueinpatient/outpatient mental health treatment.

The Best Online Resources for Depression

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Fox V, Dalman C, Dal H, Hollander AC, Kirkbride JB, Pitman A.Suicide risk in people with post-traumatic stress disorder: A cohort study of 3.1 million people in Sweden.J Affect Disord. 2021;279:609-616. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.009

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Liu RT, Bettis AH, Burke TA.Characterizing the phenomenology of passive suicidal ideation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of its prevalence, psychiatric comorbidity, correlates, and comparisons with active suicidal ideation.Psychol Med. 2020;50(3):367-383. doi:10.1017/S003329171900391X

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Norris D, Clark MS.Evaluation and Treatment of the Suicidal Patient.American Family Physician.2012 Mar 15;85(6):602–605.

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