Is it a sin to have suicidal thoughts?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Holly3278
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
H

Holly3278

Guest
Hey everyone. Because of my mental illness, I occasionally have suicidal thoughts. Are such thoughts sinful? What about if you dwell on them? Are they sinful if you dwell on them? I know that to commit suicide can be a mortal sin although a person’s culpability is probably diminished if they have a very serious mental illness or because of other circumstances but what about suicidal thoughts? Thanks for your time.
 
Hi Holly,
Its not a sin to have these thoughts but please don’t entertain them. That is exactly what the devil wants you to do. I will say a prayer for you that you will be able to resist.
 
Holly3278 said:
Hey everyone. Because of my mental illness, I occasionally have suicidal thoughts. Are such thoughts sinful? What about if you dwell on them? Are they sinful if you dwell on them? I know that to commit suicide can be a mortal sin although a person’s culpability is probably diminished if they have a very serious mental illness or because of other circumstances but what about suicidal thoughts? Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...
No. Lots of people have suicidal thoughts from time to time. Having the thought isn’t sinful. There are plenty of people out there who very understandably think to themselves that their families would be better off if they were dead; or that the pain will finally stop if they die; or that (for whatever reason) it makes sense to end their lives now. In fact, the coup de grace was a form of suicide (because the recipient requested it) and was thought by many warriors to be a form of generosity because it ended suffering (though I believe that the Church has always spoken against it).

We are warned, not against considering suicide, but against despair. Jesus told us that the one unforgiveable sin was blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:32). Many “Bible only” people think that means that you have to actually curse the Holy Spirit, but in fact Jesus was saying something much more profound. The Pharisees were attributing the acts of the Holy Spirit to the devil; they were so obstinate and so stubborn that they simply could not comprehend the saving power of God.

Despair is the ultimate sin not because it offends God so terribly much, but because it prevents you from accepting His grace and mercy. Once you surrender to despair, you make it impossible to accept God’s grace, because you simply cannot believe that He would be willing to take you back. That is, of course, an incorrect understanding of God; but it inhibits you from coming back to Him.

My counsel would be not to feel bad about having suicidal thoughts, but to make a sincere effort not to indulge in them. Seek counseling from a priest and a psychologist or other reputable counselor. Aim to avoid finding yourself in that dark pit in the first place, or to crawl out of it (one step at a time, if necessary) if you’re already there.

But don’t give up just because you’ve thought about suicide. That’s not the problem. The problem doesn’t lie in whatever reason there is behind giving up; it’s only the giving up itself that’s a problem. Everything else can be dealt with.

Hope this helps.
 
Thank you very much to both of you for answering my question. I greatly appreciate it. I didn’t think it was a sin to have suicidal thoughts but I wasn’t entirely sure so I asked here so I could be entirely sure. Thank you again.
 
Hopefully you are getting some kind of treatment/counseling for whatever is causing these thoughts?

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight
 
I can understand your struggle. You are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless.
 
Holly,

Our Lord already knows what you are thinking, and because (you stated) you are not mentally well, those thoughts are already forgiven. Just dont take any action on it. You are here for a reason, part of HIS plan, and ending your life would mess things up. Offer your mental pain, anguish, and sad feelings up to Jesus, begin each day by simply saying “Jesus, I offer you my day” your sufferings given to Jesus will save a soul somewhere.

In the meantime, I will say prayers for you, that you can identify what makes you have these thoughts in the first place, and maybe you can get well sooner.
 
Hey everyone. I ended up in the emergency room this morning because the suicidal thoughts would not go away. I honestly thought they’d admit me so I brought some clothes and my prayer books with me. Well, as it turns out, they did not think I was a danger to myself because I told the therapist that I would not commit suicide because I believe it would be a mortal sin and that I would go to Hell. The therapist said to me “Well, it sounds to me like if it comes right down to it, you wouldn’t kill yourself.” and I was like, “Yeah, that’s probably true but I really just don’t trust myself tonight.” But anyway they scheduled an appointment with my therapist today and sent me home. I have to go see my therapist at 1 PM EST.
 
Holly3278 said:
Hey everyone. I ended up in the emergency room this morning because the suicidal thoughts would not go away. I honestly thought they’d admit me so I brought some clothes and my prayer books with me. Well, as it turns out, they did not think I was a danger to myself because I told the therapist that I would not commit suicide because I believe it would be a mortal sin and that I would go to Hell. The therapist said to me “Well, it sounds to me like if it comes right down to it, you wouldn’t kill yourself.” and I was like, “Yeah, that’s probably true but I really just don’t trust myself tonight.” But anyway they scheduled an appointment with my therapist today and sent me home. I have to go see my therapist at 1 PM EST.
Click to expand...
I am so sorry this is happening to you. I will continue to pray for you. 😦
 
Holly3278 said:
Hey everyone. Because of my mental illness, I occasionally have suicidal thoughts. Are such thoughts sinful? What about if you dwell on them? Are they sinful if you dwell on them? I know that to commit suicide can be a mortal sin although a person’s culpability is probably diminished if they have a very serious mental illness or because of other circumstances but what about suicidal thoughts? Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...
Suicidal thoughts are objectively morally disordered. However, for the act to be sinful, it must be willfully done.

You may want to try out the book Psychology from the Heart. Its written by a faithful Catholic psychologist. I’ve dealt with self loathing for most of my life and have always hated the treatement programs. They seem based on building your self worth off empty praises that you don’t sincerely believe anyway. It offers no insight to your own resistance to doing thing except possibly blaming a moral upbringing. “Just lower your standards for yourself so that you feel better about yourself.” I’m like “Hey, we’re called to be saints! I’m not going to stop that pursuit!”
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top