Humans have an innate need to create stories about the meaning of our existence. It’s one of the ways we cope with the most primal fear we all share: the fear of death.
It’s completely natural to feel uneasy about death—to avoid thinking about it or to recoil from the idea altogether. This response is hardwired into us through millions of years of evolution, shaping our biology, chemistry, and mental architecture to prioritize survival.
But when a person begins to fixate on death or becomes obsessed with thoughts of suicide, it signals psychological distress. These intrusive patterns often stem from unresolved emotional pain and are fueled by a cascade of negative thoughts. This mental spiral floods the psyche with confusion, self-obsession, anxiety, and hopelessness. Over time, it can erode self-esteem, disrupt the body’s chemistry, and distort one’s perception of reality.
It’s important to understand that our thoughts are not separate from our biology—they are rooted in and influenced by the chemicals circulating through our nervous system. Our thought structures are steeped in neurochemistry. When that system becomes imbalanced, so do we.