Are Suicidal Thoughts Normal?
Have you ever experienced a moment where you felt “I’m tired of feeling this way and it will never change… there is no hope to any of this” and what you really want to say is “I’d rather be dead.” Welp… here we are wondering if we are normal for having suicidal thoughts. The answer is…. yes! Having suicidal thoughts are absolutely normal and honestly more common than people think. We don’t often take into account those fleeting thoughts as serious thoughts about suicide, but depends on the frequency and intrusiveness of the thought. You are among the vast majority of people who have these thoughts. So let’s start with some numbers. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2023 there were a reported 49,000 deaths by suicide, with an estimated 1.5 million actual attempts at suicide. The CDC goes on to report that there were a reported 3.7 million people made a suicidal plan and 12.8 million people seriously thought about suicide. Here is the link to the article (https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html). I would actually venture to guess that those numbers are under reported for many reasons. Often times suicidal deaths may coincide with addiction or other underlying medical issues, which would impact the statistics.
Let’s start with defining the different types of suicidal thoughts. Passive suicidal ideation (or thoughts) are those that do not have a concrete or specific plan, such as: “I wish I could die and not wake up” and no actual desire to carry it out. Sometimes feeling like a burden or the world being better off without you can fall under passive suicidality. Whereas, stating “I want to end it so I’m going to jump off a bridge” is considered an active suicidal ideation, because it has a plan. Some thoughts will come at the heels of experiencing a trauma, breakup, reliving a trauma, or even being tired and exhausted by the pressures of life (parenting, working, finances). Sometimes it’s fleeting, like you are driving down the highway and think “what if I drove into that wall?” You don’t even know where or why that thought ran across your mind, but it did and you had no control over it. What you did have control over is whether or not you actually did it. Does that mean that you are suicidal? Not always. Does it mean that you are in pain and want to escape it or change it? Yes.
As a therapist, I encourage my clients to talk about their experiences, thoughts and feelings surrounding suicide and dig deeper into those passive suicidal statements. It is common for us to think “I wonder what life would be like without me” or “I’m tired of feeling this way and it will never change… can I or do I even want to keep living this way.” That does not always mean that we want to end our lives, but obviously we are experiencing some disruption or stressor that is contributing to how we are feeling. It is important to talk about it with your therapist or seek help, before it turns into “why not try?” Although normal, it should not be something that is ignored. We will explore why you are experiencing those feelings and what can be done about it.
If you are reading this post, the likelihood that this resonates is probably high. Maybe you should talk about it. Bottling things up only makes the pressure build, and you deserve a space to unload without judgment. Making an appointment isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a power move toward feeling better. Reach out, start the conversation, and take that first step. Sometimes, talking is the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for. We’re here whenever you’re ready.
This is intended for informational purposes only.
If you are experiencing suicidal ideation, plans or intent, then it is important that you seek immediate support. You can call 911 or go to your local emergency room for immediate support. You can click this link (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or dial 988 for immediate support if you’re experiencing a mental health crisis or are at risk of hurting yourself. 988 is available 24 hours by phone, text, or chat. There is a lot of vital and helpful information on 988.