Mindful Monday: 11 Ways to Treat the Death Thoughts That Come with Depression and Anxiety

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hi Therese, Hang on. Everything is temporary including the tunnel of dark thoughts. Your doing such a good job getting help and sharing it. I have been there too and it is no fun.Bless you for you work and for your self. Sending prayers and visions of roses. love, Another Therese

Thanks for putting this up in time for the holidays; I hate the holidays, and I also hate that I hate the holidays. It makes me feel guilty.Is there a particular light lamp you recommend?

Dear Therese,
Thank you for your post. I am sharing it with my psychiatrist(awesome lady, by the way) Just remember, as is the words of the good book, :This, too, shall pass."

With love,
Karen

Therese, I've found it helpful to separate in my mind suicidal ideations (which for me have been comparatively rare and have never resulted in a serious attempt to do anything about it) and "death wish thoughts", which I define as a passive desire (no intent of doing anything about it myself) to be gone and out of this pain--"Beam me up, Lord! I've had it!" THOSE have been frequent companions.

With those thoughts separated, I can start hammering at them with my cognitive therapy tools (Yay, David Burns!) so that I keep it clearly in mind that what I'm thinking is a DISTORTED PERCEPTION of reality, not reality itself. I have varied results from doing this, but at least it has helped me keep stable until I come out of the funk.

Therese, it is so courageous of you to share your story with us. I'm awed by your honesty. I, too, struggle with thoughts of death all too frequently, after three major breakdowns over a four year period with subsequent recoveries. My Effexor is now at the max dose of 375mg and the jury is still out as to whether it is the right med for my chronic depression. All this to say I've been very angry with myself for still entertaining suicide as a viable option for taking away the pain that permeates my soul on bad days. Knowing you also get overwhelmed with these self-destructive ideas, I felt less alone.

Therese,

I'm a relatively new subscriber and your posts have already helped me so much through a really tough time. I'm in awe of your courage in posting so many of the thoughts and feelings that so many of us struggle with and I wish I'd had your blog to read during the period when I was overwhelmed with the Death Thoughts. Knowing that you're not alone is priceless - it's a gift that you've given me in recent weeks and for what it's worth, someone on the other side of the globe will be thinking of you and rooting for you while you follow your plan.

x

Dear Therese,
Thanks you for sharing this! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your honesty and bravery and integrity, in sharing your experiences with those of us who feel so alone in our struggle. October is always the WORST month for me, and I'm struggling with the "this is as bad as it gets episodes".
This info this morning is like a precious gift to help me survive. Thank you!!! and may peace come to you soon.

Prayer request - Missing person, Michael Grimes, left a suicide note. He's been missing for over a week.

Thank you for sharing your most intimate thoughts.
Ive been there and will be there again.
What helped me get "over it" just recently? Finding my medication and staying on it even when things seem like Im ok and dont need it- but first & foremost- PRAYER. I grabbed one of my fave Bibles and hugged it and put my face to the floor and cried out to God to please help me.
He did...One by one the little things that PILE UP and wear me down were all taken care of one by one. Try it- I promise He will help you-
I prayed "Lord You said ask and it will be given" and " doors will open that are closed" and that is what happened.
Just sharing...trying to help- because He has helped me. God Bless you all who suffer- I do understand.

HEY GIRLS,I AM PRAYING FOR YOU GUYS JUST AS YOUR NAME STATED, CRY OUT TO JESUS,HE WILL HEAL AND DELIVER YOU AS HE DID ME.I HAVE TO PRAY EVERY DAY,BECAUSE HE IS REAL AND WILL HELP I PROMISE.HIS WORD SAYS SO TRY IT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with your suggestions but I think meditation can be very helpful in getting out of your head and avoiding the ruminations. It helps me like nothing else. I do a mantra type Christian meditation but there are so many others too, you can incorporate your Higher Power if you like. Peace-

I was on paxil, Haldol, Trazadon and all it did was make me sleep. when i wake up i was depressed all over again. Istarted seeing a therapist and it help me alot. TALKING HELPS MORE THAN PILLS.