Anxiety and Suicide
What are anxiety disorders?
An anxiety disorder is associated with fear or anxiety.
Fear is an emotional reaction when faced with (real or perceived) imminent danger. Anxiety, on the other hand, is the anticipation of a future threat. These reactions are normal and useful: they allow us to adapt, to prepare, and protect ourselves.
Anxiety disorders occur when the fear or anxiety become excessive, persistent, or hard to control, to the point of causing major suffering or disrupting daily functioning (school, work, relationships, sleep, etc.).
What forms can anxiety disorders take?
There are few types of anxiety disorders. Those that are distinguished by the situations or thoughts that trigger anxiety, and those are based on the intensity, frequency, and length of the symptoms. They can therefore take different forms:
- An intense fear of an animal, object, or situation, despite lack of any real danger;
- A fear of social interactions and avoiding them;
- Sudden peaks in fear related to physical symptoms (accelerated cardiac rhythm and breathing, sweating, feelings of suffocating, etc.);
- A fear of public areas or closed or open spaces, with a tendency to avoid them;
- Excessive and persistent worries about different aspects of life (academic or professional performance, relationships, finances, loved ones’ health or safety, etc.).
What are the effects of anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders can have a range of long-term effects, including:
- Physical: digestive issues, muscle tension, fatigue, cardiovascular or respiratory problems;
- Relational: conflicts, social retreat, isolation;
- psychological problems: sleeping disorders, increase in substance or alcohol use, depression, or suicidal thoughts.
You’re experiencing anxiety and have suicidal thoughts?
Anxiety can become very trying. In some people, the distress can bring on suicidal thoughts. If this is your case, don’t keep it to yourself.
You can take a look at the following sections:
01 Taking stock of your mental health
The first step toward taking back control is identifying what’s causing your suicidal thoughts.
02
Taking care of yourself
There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself and regain your balance when you’re having suicidal thoughts.
03 Talking about it with your loved ones
Asking for help from your family and friends isn’t always easy. There are different ways of going about it.
04 Finding support services
Every day, all sorts of people contact support services to get the help they need.
What can you do if you have symptoms of anxiety?
If you have one or several symptoms associated with an anxiety disorder, first call 811 option 2 (Info-Social), to discuss your situation with a social worker or to be oriented to local resources that can help support you.
To obtain an assessment or a follow-up with a mental health professional, speak to a general practitioner (such as a family doctor), psychologist or contact your local CLSC.
Other resources can also help someone experiencing an anxiety disorder.
Some tips if you are experiencing anxiety
What I'm going through...
- Alcohol or drug addiction
- Anxiety disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Breakup
- Bullying
- Burnout
- Chronic Pain
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Financial problems
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- Grief and loss
- Insomnia
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- Interpersonal problems
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- Loneliness and isolation
- Loss of autonomy
- Panic attacks
- Postpartum depression
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- Schizophrenia
- Self-harm
- Violence
