ABSTRACT
From a metaphorical and literal perspective a psychotic episode is the killing of the self – one’s own self is put out of the running. It is not unusual for the person who has experienced a psychotic episode to say afterwards, ‘If I hadn’t become psychotic then I would have killed myself.’ The experience of an insoluble or disturbing life situation could have been too powerful. There are also many dynamic similarities between the thought of death and psychosis. Losing one’s life and losing one’s mind both entail relinquishing one’s personal identity. However, there are also many important differences, amongst others that the suicidal person often shows an pre-existing inclination for suicidal thoughts. It may be that a ‘suicidal process’ has developed even before the psychosis.
