In recent times, suicide has become rampant in the country and we are yet to figure out the reason behind it.
According to psychiatrists, nearly everyone experiences suicidal thoughts at one point or another throughout their existence. So the question remains, what could be the cause?
1. Mental Illness.
Among the most common causes of suicide is that of mental illness. Although there are a variety of treatment options for people with mental illnesses, they are far from perfect. Most people end up trying a variety of psychiatric drugs and/or talk therapies. After years of trying various medications, going through medication withdrawals, and experimenting with therapies, some people are stuck in a constant state of mental pain and despair. Some of this includes anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia.
2. Traumatic Experience.
Any type of traumatic experience can lead to a person feeling helpless, guilty, and/or ashamed. If you were a victim of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or dealt with trauma in war, you are much more likely to end up with post-traumatic stress disorder. This disorder and the feelings associated with traumatic experiences can lead a person to become suicidal.
Many people might not see the danger in this but it is really dangerous and can lead people to commit suicide. These days bullying has taken a much more bigger turn than in the past because it has moved from just being physical to online which has lead to many committing suicide. From posting of embarrassing videos to body-shaming etc. these are all being done online and it’s not that easy for those involved.
4. Personality Disorders.
Personality disorder can be closely related to mental illness, but is considered a set of traits that makes it difficult to function within society. People with a personality disorder may have trouble maintaining relationships, holding down a steady job, and/or coping with life. For example, someone with dependent personality disorder may be too afraid to leave an abusive relationship. This “dependency” may lead the person with this disorder to consider suicide as an escape from their circumstances.
5. Drug Addiction/Substance Abuse.
Abusing drugs or alcohol can lead to depression which can also lead to suicide tendencies. This is obvious and we wouldn’t even want to talk much about it.
6. Eating Disorders.
This is something you probably didn’t see coming. Yes! eating disorder can cause one to commit suicide. People with eating disorders actually do it because of abuse or something which is bothering them. Some also do it due to an image they want to create for themselves and so we have people who don’t want to eat because they want to gain weight or those who don’t eat because they are afraid to gain weight. This is why we have cases like anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating and purging disorder. Once food doesn’t satisfy their desire anymore, the next thing is suicide.
Being unemployed can lead to feelings of isolation and extreme frustration. With a poor economy, many people lose their jobs and look for new work, but since competition is fierce, landing a new job can be difficult. In many cases being unemployed not only makes people feel as if they have no purpose in life, it can lead to depression over lack of an income as well.
8. Social Isolation/Loneliness.
Being socially isolated from society can take a toll on mental health and lead a person to become depressed and consider suicide. Socializing and interacting with other people is a basic human need. If social needs are not met, a person can start to feel lonely which leads to depression and possibly suicidal thoughts. Loneliness is defined as a general feeling of sadness as a result of being alone or feeling disconnected from others.
9. Relationship Problems.
Many people struggle with relationships including abusive relationships, not feeling appreciated, and/or going through break-ups. There are many different types of relationships that a person could struggle with. Some people may have difficulties making friends, others may struggle with staying in abusive relationships just so that they can avoid feeling isolated and lonely. Among individuals that are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered, the leading cause of suicide isn’t family rejection, it’s relationship troubles. Most research suggests that these individuals deal with significantly more relationship stress than those who are heterosexual.
10. Genetics/Family History.
A lot of suicide risks have to do with genetics and family history. Those who are from a family in which suicide is common are more likely to commit suicide themselves. Additionally if a mental illness is inherited such as major depression, this can further increase the risk of suicide. Family, twin, and adoption studies have all established genetic links to suicidal behavior. Various traits including: aggression, borderline personality disorder, cognitive inflexibility, and stress sensitivity are all linked to influencing suicidal behavior. If you inherit any of these traits, they could put you at an increased risk of suicide.
11. Philosophical Desire / Existential Crisis.
When life seems void of meaning, people tend to question why they are even living and/or the entire purpose of their existence. This is often referred to as “existential crisis” and can be difficult to overcome because people dealing with this issue often think themselves in circles of logic as to why there is no point to life. In many cases, people facing an existential crisis consider suicide because they feel as if their entire existence is void of purpose. This crisis can result from major depression, trauma, loneliness, seeking meaning and/or general dissatisfaction with life.
12. Terminal Illness.
Many people with terminal illnesses that have no hope of improving their situation based on current science and medicine may become depressed. This depression is usually a result of feeling powerless to one’s condition. People with terminal illnesses aren’t able to treat or make any sort of improvement towards getting better. In many cases they are simply living and being controlled by the impairments that their illness causes. Terminal illnesses such as various types of cancer usually leave a person frustrated, shocked and feeling hopeless.
13. Chronic Pain.
If you have chronic pain, it means that you have had daily pain that has persisted for between three and six months. This pain often impairs your ability to function throughout the day and can affect mobility, the ability to perform certain tasks, and even a person’s mental health. Although pain levels differ among chronic pain sufferers, one thing that they all have in common is an inability to escape the daily discomfort associated with their pain and once it becomes very unbearable, they resort to suicide to escape all the pain.
14. Financial Problems.
People who are struggling financially sometimes see no end in sight to their debt and bills. The financial stress can take a major toll on a person’s mental health. There have been cases of even millionaires committing suicide because they spent all their money or had to file for bankruptcy. In a difficult economy, unemployment is linked to increased financial stress, but even if you are employed, you may still have financial problems. People who feel burdened by their financial situation and see no relieve in sight, may decide to end their lives.
15. Prescription Drugs.
The side effects of various prescription drugs such as antidepressants can result in suicidal ideation. In other words, these drugs affect levels of neurotransmitters that can sometimes put a person at an increased risk for suicide. Some antidepressants actually end up making people significantly more depressed because they are targeting neurotransmitter levels, when the original cause of depression wasn’t a result of a chemical imbalance.
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