If you are thinking about ending your life, call or text 988 now, or chat at 988colorado.com. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
You are not alone, and these thoughts can be treated. Suicidal thoughts after quitting drinking are a sign that you need more support right now, not a sign that recovery has failed.
If you cannot stay safe, seek emergency care now; a clinician may recommend psychiatric hospitalization. After the crisis is stabilized, inpatient treatment for addiction may be part of ongoing care. Contact 988 or 911 first for an immediate crisis.
Reach Someone Right Now
You do not need to have a plan or be sure what you want to reach out. Calling because you are scared of your own thoughts is reason enough.
In Colorado
The 988 Colorado Mental Health Line is free. You can call, text, or chat 24 hours a day.
Since July 1, 2025, calls and texts to the former Colorado Crisis Services numbers, 1-844-493-8255 and 38255, connect to 988 Colorado [1]. Its website also lists walk-in crisis centers in Denver, Aurora, Wheat Ridge, and Littleton. Call 988 for current local options.
Outside Colorado, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline works the same way across the US. Veterans can call 988 and press 1.
If You Are With Someone Right Now
Tell one person you trust what is going on, even if it feels awkward. Stay connected with them, or with a crisis counselor, until the worst of the feeling passes.
Why These Thoughts Can Show Up in Early Sobriety
Suicidal thoughts can occur during early recovery. Depression, withdrawal-related distress, and major life stresses may contribute. None of these mean you are weak or that quitting was a mistake. These thoughts need prompt help, whatever their cause.
Depression That Drinking Was Masking
Alcohol use disorder and depression often go together. Among people with major depressive disorder, 27% to 40% have had alcohol use disorder at some point [2]. When drinking stops, co-occurring depression that alcohol was hiding can come out in full.
Alcohol slows down the brain and changes brain chemistry, including dopamine. It is a central nervous system depressant.
Once it is gone, the brain and body adjust slowly. That can bring low mood, mood swings, and negative thoughts that feel overwhelming.
Withdrawal and Post-Acute Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can begin within hours of the last drink. They include anxiety, feeling on edge, trouble sleeping, and low mood.
After that first phase, post-acute withdrawal syndrome can keep mood and anxiety symptoms going. This happens most often in the first 3 to 4 months [3].
Poor sleep and feeling tired add to the pain. Deep lows in early recovery often pass, but you deserve real support while you are in them. Our chapter on 30 days sober depression covers that earlier stage.
Shame, Loss and Isolation
Sobriety can bring emotional pain that drinking used to numb. That can mean grief, regret, and losses in relationships or work during addiction. Being alone can make suicidal thoughts and relapse risk worse.
If a drinking problem cost you friendships, building new connections takes time. Peer support and group therapy can fill some of that gap.
Why This Is Not a Wait-It-Out Symptom
Alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder, once called alcoholism, are linked to an increased risk of suicide. NIAAA is part of the National Institutes of Health. It notes that suicide risk is a concern for many people who drink heavily, with or without a diagnosis.
Co-occurring depression adds to that risk. Suicidal thoughts are also more dangerous under the influence of alcohol.
That is why thoughts of suicide or self-harm always need same-day help, even if they feel quieter than before. Waiting to see whether they pass is not a safe plan. If the low mood seems to come from months of sobriety without relief, our chapter on being sober and still miserable explains what may be going on.
What Help Looks Like
Professional support is the safest path when suicidal thoughts show up. Several treatment options can work together.
A Safety Plan and an Assessment
A clinician can help you build a safety plan. It lists your warning signs, people to call, places to go, and steps to stay safe.
They can also check your depression symptoms. They can screen for a mental health disorder such as depression or another mood disorder.
If the thoughts are severe, returning often, or you cannot stay safe, get an urgent crisis assessment. Psychiatric hospitalization may be needed. Residential addiction treatment provides ongoing support for suitable clients, but programs differ in their ability to manage acute suicide risk.
Medical care is also key if you stopped drinking heavily very recently. Bad withdrawal can be life-threatening.
Treating Drinking and Depression Together
Dual diagnosis treatment works on alcohol use disorder and mental health at the same time. That tends to work better than treating just one. Therapy can help with emotional regulation, the skill of handling strong feelings.
It also teaches ways to cope when feelings of depression hit. Medicine may help regulate mood too.
Physical basics are essential in the first weeks too. Regular sleep, healthy meals, enough water, and exercise can support mood.
Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous offer people to lean on. If mood dips again later, our chapter on why month three can feel worse than month one covers that stretch.
If You Are Worried About Someone Else
Watch for talk of wanting to die or saying they are a burden. Also watch for pulling away from everyone, or a sudden calm after a long low period.
Ask them directly whether they are thinking about suicide. Asking does not put the idea in their head, and it opens the door to help.
Stay with them while you connect with 988 or another crisis professional. If they are in immediate danger, call 911. Reduce access to alcohol, medicines, weapons, or other means of harm if you can do so safely. Do not leave someone in immediate danger alone [4].
Support in Denver
Mile High Recovery Center in Denver treats co-occurring depression and alcohol use and can discuss ongoing care for addiction. Call (303) 268-2144. For a crisis right now, contact 988 first; call 911 or go to an emergency room if you cannot stay safe.
Suicidal Thoughts Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Normal to Feel Suicidal After Quitting Alcohol?
Suicidal thoughts can come up in early sobriety, often because of depression that drinking was hiding, mood changes from withdrawal, or the stress of early recovery. They are not a sign of failure, but they always need same-day help. Call or text 988, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
What Happens When I Call or Text 988?
A trained crisis counselor listens and helps you work through what you are feeling now. They can help with a safety plan and local services. In Colorado, 988 is available by call, text, or online chat. If a local center is unavailable, the national network can provide backup.
Can I Go to a Crisis Center in Denver Without an Appointment?
Yes, the 988 Colorado website lists walk-in crisis centers in Denver, Aurora, Wheat Ridge, and Littleton. Call 988 or check the current directory for locations and services. If you cannot stay safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
How Do I Help a Family Member Who Says They Want to Die?
Take it seriously and stay with them. Ask directly about suicide, listen without judgment, and call or text 988 together, or call 911 if they are in immediate danger. Afterward, help them connect with a doctor or therapist so they have ongoing support, not just help in the moment.
Sources
- 988 Colorado Mental Health Line. Colorado Crisis Services consolidation and walk-in center directory. https://www.988colorado.com/en/colorado-crisis-services ; https://www.988colorado.com/en/walk-in-centers
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Mental Health Issues: Alcohol Use Disorder and Common Co-occurring Conditions. Core Resource on Alcohol. Last revised May 8, 2025. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/health-professionals-communities/core-resource-on-alcohol/mental-health-issues-alcohol-use-disorder-and-common-co-occurring-conditions
- Bahji A, Crockford D, El-Guebaly N. Neurobiology and Symptomatology of Post-Acute Alcohol Withdrawal: A Mixed-Studies Systematic Review. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 2022;83(4):461-469. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9798382/
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help Someone Else. https://988lifeline.org/help-someone-else/
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
