Is It Normal to Have Dark Thoughts?
Difficult moments are a part of life. However, if the challenges you are going through bring on an unusual level of pain or “dark thoughts”, it’s important not to delay seeking support. Dark thoughts can be a sign that your mental health needs attention quickly.
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What Do We Mean by “Dark Thoughts”?
When people talk about “dark thoughts”, they are often referring to difficult, overwhelming, or painful thoughts and they can take many forms.
That’s why it’s worth clarifying what “dark thoughts” mean to you and find what words best describe what you’re going through.
In other words, what does the term “dark thoughts” represent for you? What exactly comes to mind?
Are Dark Thoughts Suicidal Thoughts?
What you may be calling “dark thoughts” may actually be suicidal thoughts. These thoughts may include:
- Wanting to die or to kill yourself
- Imagining taking your own life
- Being tormented by thoughts of ending your life
- Seeing suicide as a solution to your problems
- Planning your suicide (thinking about how, where or when to do it)
If your “dark thoughts” are manifesting in any of these ways, you are in fact experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Remember, suicidal thoughts can affect different people at different times in their lives. Still, they always need to be taken seriously and should not be faced alone.
Why Should Suicidal Thoughts Be Taken Seriously?
Suicidal thoughts are a warning sign that something is wrong and that your mental health may be deteriorating.
They often emerge after an accumulation of difficulties, such as:
- Facing one or several difficult life events (e.g., financial problems, relationship issues, legal problems, a breakup, loneliness, etc.)
- Living with a mental health disorder (e.g., anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, etc.)
- Experiencing addiction (e.g., alcohol or substance addiction, cyber addiction, gambling addiction, etc.)
- Experiencing psychological distress or despair
In general, there is no one cause for suicidal thoughts. They often arise from a combination of factors that can eventually lead to suicidal thoughts.
Gaining a better understanding of what fuels these thoughts is the first step toward regaining some balance. By identifying the challenges you’re facing, it becomes easier to find ways to take action and seek the support you need.
What If Your Dark Thoughts Aren’t Suicidal Thoughts?
Even if your dark thoughts aren’t suicidal in nature, they may still reflect significant emotional suffering. When that happens, it can lead to experiencing psychological distress or despair.
Psychological distress can show up in different ways, including:
- Persistent sadness, or sadness that is difficult to appease
- Nervousness, irritability or agitation
- Loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy
- Changes in sleep (such as difficulty sleeping or sleeping excessively)
Despair often appears when you feel there’s no solution to your problems or that your situation can’t improve.
Psychological distress and despair are both worth taking seriously. Living with distress or despair can be deeply painful, and when that pain becomes too intense, it can lead to suicidal thoughts.
A Tool to Help You Better Understand What You’re Going Through
It’s not always easy to make sense of what you’re going through. Our self-assessment tool can help. It’s a series of questionnaires designed to help you assess your psychological well-being, spot signs of psychological distress and reflect on any suicidal thoughts that you may be having.
The self-assessment can also help identify symptoms linked to a mental health disorder.
How Can You Get Rid of Dark Thoughts?
You may be wondering how to make suicidal thoughts go away or how to ease the distress or despair you’re feeling.
There are several things you can do to help restore balance, protect yourself during difficult times and prevent suicidal thoughts:
- Use coping strategies
- Adopt lifestyle habits that work for you
- Create a safety plan
To learn more, visit the Self-Care page.
You’re Not Alone in What You’re Going Through
Many people have gone through difficult periods that led them to experience dark or suicidal thoughts.
If you’d like to hear stories and conversations about these experiences, explore the Ça va-tu podcast (in French).
Want to Talk to Someone About Your Suicidal Thoughts?
Suicide prevention counsellors are available at any time by phone, text or chat. They’re ready to listen and help without judgment.
