Question: I have been suffering from terrible, distressing flashing mental images in my head that I cannot take anymore. I also have an obsessive feeling of terrifying fear of suicide. it as if something is telling me I am going to die. I understand that these feelings and images are NOT normal and I donot want to have them invade my mind anymore. I am looking for an explanation as to what is the CAUSE of this so that I can get a better understanding of it all.

My question is : what is behind these intrusive images and impulses (is it anxiety, depression, psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disease)? For whatever reason, I feel like my mind is in some higher form and I also feel like my body is unable to relax. I have an extreme amount of dissociation-- let me explain this to you further. I feel as if my house and my family members are all strange and unfamiliar. I feel like I am trapped inside of my head and not living apart of the real world. I KNOW THAT this feeling is not normal. I haven't created my own reality but I live like I am outside of my body, as an observer watching myself, if that makes any sense to you. I feel like my head is constantly spinning and can't just stop and remain quiet. I am extremely confused and disoriented. And on top of it, I have the extreme suicidal obsessions or fear of suicide which is an intense incredible fear that is making me afraid of being alone. I get flashing mental images in my head of me killing myself -- they can be of seeing myself in a coffin, my wrists slit, or being hung. The amount of fear these images are causing is very distressing as I am sure you can understand and I would like to have some help understanding and processing all of this.

At this point I am not sure if this is what is defined as depression? I have never had it before so I don't know if it is that.

Thank you kind sir for all of your help. It is most appreciated and I would really like to know if what I am experiencing are suicidal thoughts because I am terrified that it is what I am having.

hope to hear from you soon. Thank