Suicidal feelings

What does it feel like to be suicidal?

Everyone's experience of suicidal feelings is unique to them. You might feel unable to cope with the enduring difficult feelings you are experiencing. You may feel less like you want to die and more like you cannot go on living the life you have.

These feelings may build over time or might fluctuate from moment to moment. And it's common to not understand why you feel this way.

Here are some thoughts, feelings and experiences you may go through if you are feeling suicidal:

How long will I feel suicidal?

Suicidal feelings can be overwhelming. How long these feelings last differs for everyone.

• unable to tell someone
• unsure of who to tell
• concerned that they won't understand
• fearful of being judged
• worried you'll upset them

If this is the case, you might find it helpful to show our pages on supporting someone else with suicidal feelings to someone you trust. This can be a good way of starting the conversation and can give them suggestions of how they can help you.

Sharing that I felt suicidal with close friends, although scary as I worried they'd be angry, has helped me in subsequent black times. They said they'd hate to lose me having not been given the chance to help.

It's important to remember that you deserve support, you are not alone and there is support out there.

Graham, Miram, Alicia and Lee talk about what it feels like to want to take your own life, and ways they have learned to cope.

This information was published in June 2016. We will revise it in 2019.