• ⚠️ UK Access Block Notice: Beginning July 1, 2025, this site will no longer be accessible from the United Kingdom. This is a voluntary decision made by the site's administrators. We were not forced or ordered to implement this block.

How thoroughly do you mask your ideation?

  • I'm a solid stone wall. I doubt people have any clue.

    Votes: 20 23.8%
  • I sometimes let slip hints- mostly by mistake.

    Votes: 21 25.0%
  • I sometimes let slip hints- consciously.

    Votes: 23 27.4%
  • I'm dropping lots of hints- by mistake.

    Votes: 4 4.8%
  • I'm dropping lots of hints- consciously.

    Votes: 13 15.5%
  • Many/ all now realise, although it wasn't my intention.

    Votes: 5 6.0%
  • I wanted people to know so, I told them.

    Votes: 9 10.7%
  • Other.

    Votes: 3 3.6%

  • Total voters
    84
F

Forever Sleep

Earned it we have...
May 4, 2022
13,184
I've just read a thread discussing the inference of CTB:


And, it's inspired me to make a poll.

I suppose it is more targetted at people who have been trying to mask their ideation. Do you still think you've dropped hints that allude to you being suicidal or, wishing you were dead? Did you let those hints out more consciously or, by mistake? Did anyone pick up on them?

I've only told a handful of friends outright that I developed ideation in childhood and have had those feelings ever since. Mostly when I either sensed they felt the same or, that they were pro- choice enough not to go ballistic.

I haven't said it outright to family but, I feel like I've said more than enough around them for them to join the dots. I just think they don't want to. Even under high stress situations at work in the past, I've said more than I should. Again, they just went quiet, more than pushing for clarification. Which was a mercy- really. Maybe they wanted rid of me. Lol.

I'm curious really. How stone walled are you about ideation? How conscious are you to keep it all hidden? Do hints slip out from time to time? Do you have control over it?

It's usually when I'm feeling really stressed, that I'll let something slip. Often when another expectation or disappointment in me is dumped on me. I suppose because it provokes my rebellious side to say: 'No- this isn't reasonable because- I don't even want to be alive!' I am still conscious though- that it's probably stupid to hint at it. Just that, in that moment, I am too frustrated to care.

What are your experiences?
 
  • Like
  • Informative
  • Love
Reactions: StaticCryBabye, YandereMikuMistress, dontwakemeup and 3 others
Pluto

Pluto

Cat Extremist
Dec 27, 2020
5,790
i-made-memes-with-my-cats-v0-u8zl8oopftrf1.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: SadSack and Forever Sleep
_Gollum_

_Gollum_

Formerly Alexei_Kirillov
Mar 9, 2024
1,525
I don't think so but I might be underestimating how perceptive my family is. Some of them certainly at least suspect that I've had/have depression, but I doubt any of them have any idea as to the depths of my suicidality. The closest I came to slipping was when my little brother was having a mental crisis and was passively suicidal, and I wasn't participating in the "prevention" of his suicide and was instead saying that if that's his choice, I respect it. It was not a very popular view...
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep
vitbar

vitbar

Escaped Lunatic
Jun 4, 2023
513
Since I started telling people about my depression (but not ideation) some now look worried by my morbid attitudes and sense of humour.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep and _Gollum_
TAW122

TAW122

Emissary of the right to die.
Aug 30, 2018
7,264
I'm very honored that you were inspired by my thread and article, especially ones that were pretty thought-provoking and interesting to ponder on. As for the poll, I've answered both as a stonewall and also let slip some hints consciously (albeit indirectly). When I said indirectly, an example would be about a desire to get some fancy goal or aspiration, but without trying to hint at my real intention (if I fail to attain xyz, I will CTB). So instead, I may hint that it will be a very bad thing and I would be very sad, upset, and maybe not really get over it, and emphasize how it is a big deal. I do suppose if someone was curious enough, they could indirectly infer 'CTB' though it would be a very 'tenuous' connection at best (because I would hint, subtly about CTB but just in so many words, or like a word salad).

I would consider that I do drop hints in a way, consciously, but very indirectly for obvious reasons though. Like for example, if at some future time I failed to get whatever goal or aspiration or something (even if I at some point dropped a few hints), and then sometime after the failure (could be months or late into the future), CTB, it is possible some people could connect the dots (even if indirectly or even if they didn't it would be irrelevant as I'd be dead). Chances are, the closer in proximity in time the higher the odds of connecting the act (CTB attempt successful or so) to the real cause. In the end though, I'm only trying to find peace in any way that I could, the best way that I could, but I digress. In a less prohibitive, more pro-choice society, I may not be as discrete or have to mask as much, but sadly in today's evergrowing paternalistic and surveillance world, privacy is more important than ever...
 
  • Like
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep, _Gollum_ and Dante_
bloodfiend

bloodfiend

Member
Sep 29, 2025
6
(this is my first time posting btw and i felt like this was a good place to start. so, hello.)
i'm pretty acutely aware of how i come off the people, and my tone sounds so sarcastic--even when it's unintentional--that i doubt most people would think i wasn't joking. i haven't ever told anyone irl the true extent of my ideation though, just because of the fallout and potential consequences of that.
I feel like I've said more than enough around them for them to join the dots. I just think they don't want to.
i think it's kind of the same situation for me. people close to me like my mother are probably aware, but they don't want to actually go there because it's too painful.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep and _Gollum_
Ilovemycats

Ilovemycats

I feel like trash
Sep 26, 2025
20
I think that it's a bit same for me, like during stressful situations I let it slip a little. But normally I tend to hide it behind dark jokes.

Sadly some people did find out during my stressful moments, and now I got forced to get help (ーー;
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep
L

LettinGooo

Member
Sep 22, 2025
38
Two attempts within a week. One wasnt a serious attempt but more a breakdown while my most recent Inert Gas via Helium which unfortunately failed would have been successful if I uhh didn't violently convulse and fall over.

Haven't told anyone despite wanting to as it will no doubt prevent me from succeeding.

Having to work nearly immediately after my He attempt wasn't fun.
 
  • Aww..
Reactions: Forever Sleep
F

Forever Sleep

Earned it we have...
May 4, 2022
13,184
Two attempts within a week. One wasnt a serious attempt but more a breakdown while my most recent Inert Gas via Helium which unfortunately failed would have been successful if I uhh didn't violently convulse and fall over.

Haven't told anyone despite wanting to as it will no doubt prevent me from succeeding.

Having to work nearly immediately after my He attempt wasn't fun.

That must have been so rough to have to go to work afterwards. You must have felt so physically and mentally disorientated.
I think that it's a bit same for me, like during stressful situations I let it slip a little. But normally I tend to hide it behind dark jokes.

Sadly some people did find out during my stressful moments, and now I got forced to get help (ーー;

Is the 'help' making any difference?
I think that it's a bit same for me, like during stressful situations I let it slip a little. But normally I tend to hide it behind dark jokes.

Sadly some people did find out during my stressful moments, and now I got forced to get help (ーー;

Is the 'help' making any difference?
 
L

LettinGooo

Member
Sep 22, 2025
38
That must have been so rough to have to go to work afterwards. You must have felt so physically and mentally disorientated.


Is the 'help' making any difference?


Is the 'help' making any difference?
Honestly no. The failed attempt gave me a perspective shift and I've stopped caring about anything. 10/10 would recommend.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep
I

itsgone2

Student
Sep 21, 2025
152
I drop hints but it's more that I don't mask anything. I can't anyway. There are suddenly very real problems in my life so it's not borne of nothing but the people I work with know me as some that jokes around. A lot. Now it's hard to stand and I never joke. I've lost a lot of weight. Everyone knows im going downhill fast. But what can they do? What is anyone to do? I sincerely wish I would have ctb already. I hate SI for stopping me. Hopefully it's soon.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep
calicocat07

calicocat07

Chronically sucky
Sep 29, 2025
5
Honestly I realized i kept making too many jokes about wanting to kill me myself lately lol. Oops.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep
RosebyAnyName

RosebyAnyName

Staring at the ceiling for 6 hours
Nov 9, 2023
298
With mental health professionals, honestly I tend to slip because they always ask the hard questions and I'm bad at lying to direct questions. With everyone else (family, "friends", etc.) they're none the wiser. I'm great at avoiding the topic, and nobody gives a shit about my feelings so it never comes up.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep
Lunareonn

Lunareonn

professional crashout artist
Feb 6, 2023
124
My mom knows I have depression, but she has no idea I have suicidal thoughts and am looking into offing myself
My friends on the other hand know that I'm suicidal, tho I lie often saying nothing is going to happen, even tho that'll probably turn out to false
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep
mysticatedwine

mysticatedwine

rotting autistic sun
Mar 4, 2025
154
i send a LOT of signals to my friend. because i'm scared and i tend to overshare a lot of things. i've told one of them once that i'm suicidal, but it was a few months ago and she probably believes that i've moved on to something else now. but i haven't.

i send signals because i don't want to be alone, because i want to be supported and validated even with my suicidal ideation. i think i "overact" things a bit? i'm constantly tired but maybe i act a little more tired and neurasthenic than i actually am. or, well, i show it more than i would naturally.

i'm planning to suicide in about 6 months. i wonder if i will have told anybody about my suicidal ideations by then. if i will have gotten at least a tiny bit of support or human warmth. but i can't bring the subject to the table myself, i'm too ashamed and guilty. i want them to notice. please notice.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep
F

Forever Sleep

Earned it we have...
May 4, 2022
13,184
i send a LOT of signals to my friend. because i'm scared and i tend to overshare a lot of things. i've told one of them once that i'm suicidal, but it was a few months ago and she probably believes that i've moved on to something else now. but i haven't.

i send signals because i don't want to be alone, because i want to be supported and validated even with my suicidal ideation. i think i "overact" things a bit? i'm constantly tired but maybe i act a little more tired and neurasthenic than i actually am. or, well, i show it more than i would naturally.

i'm planning to suicide in about 6 months. i wonder if i will have told anybody about my suicidal ideations by then. if i will have gotten at least a tiny bit of support or human warmth. but i can't bring the subject to the table myself, i'm too ashamed and guilty. i want them to notice. please notice.

I tend to think- if support could help you and if your friends are genuine then, maybe it's worth having a heart to heart with one you really trust. If you want support then- I think it's worth trying to reach out for it. That's not to say it will necessarily be enough or, that friends will be able to give enough though.

Do you think it would completely panic them to know? Is there a risk they might abandon you? Do you think it would make a big enough difference to make you try to live/ recover?

You shouldn't feel embarassed though. I'm sure many people struggle throughout life.
 
O

offbalance

All I want is peace
Dec 16, 2021
286
I've just read a thread discussing the inference of CTB:


And, it's inspired me to make a poll.

I suppose it is more targetted at people who have been trying to mask their ideation. Do you still think you've dropped hints that allude to you being suicidal or, wishing you were dead? Did you let those hints out more consciously or, by mistake? Did anyone pick up on them?

I've only told a handful of friends outright that I developed ideation in childhood and have had those feelings ever since. Mostly when I either sensed they felt the same or, that they were pro- choice enough not to go ballistic.

I haven't said it outright to family but, I feel like I've said more than enough around them for them to join the dots. I just think they don't want to. Even under high stress situations at work in the past, I've said more than I should. Again, they just went quiet, more than pushing for clarification. Which was a mercy- really. Maybe they wanted rid of me. Lol.

I'm curious really. How stone walled are you about ideation? How conscious are you to keep it all hidden? Do hints slip out from time to time? Do you have control over it?

It's usually when I'm feeling really stressed, that I'll let something slip. Often when another expectation or disappointment in me is dumped on me. I suppose because it provokes my rebellious side to say: 'No- this isn't reasonable because- I don't even want to be alive!' I am still conscious though- that it's probably stupid to hint at it. Just that, in that moment, I am too frustrated to care.

What are your experiences?
I told a bunch of people when I was really drunk so yeah :/ and more than once
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Forever Sleep

Similar threads

F
Replies
14
Views
609
Offtopic
noname223
N
batmanreal
Replies
18
Views
821
Offtopic
tiltedcompass
tiltedcompass
F
Replies
10
Views
449
Offtopic
shampoo sniffer
shampoo sniffer
Dante_
Replies
0
Views
367
Suicide Discussion
Dante_
Dante_