Desinilium (noun)
The state of having a strong desire to cease existing or to embrace nonexistence as a preferable alternative to life.
"The desire to simply not exist".
A philosophical concept referring to the desire or longing for nonexistence, or the state of no longer existing. The word combines the Latin words "
desi," meaning "desire," and "nilium," meaning "nothingness." As a concept, Desinilium is distinct from death or suicide, as it implies a desire for nonexistence rather than an end to life. Rather, it speaks to a desire to escape the burden of
existence, whether due to intense pain,
depression, or a sense of existential emptiness. As a word, Desinilium has no prior etymological or historical usage, but has been coined to articulate a
common and profound human experience.
Her prolonged battle with
depression and chronic pain left her with a deep sense of Desinilium, longing for a release from the pain and suffering of
existence.
He struggled with
depression for years and would often tell his therapist that he had a persistent Desinilium.