Fear of Dying help?

Question

i was a normal male at one point then one night i was layin in bed and my heart started to beat fast. then i got up went outside and got all worked up over a heart beat. then from that day forward i would always have a fear of dying. i aways think about having a heart attack or all of a sudden quit breathing. it's really messing up my life right now, i'm always in a bad mood, or get mad easy. i was never like that until that night when my heart started to race. i dont know how to get the fear out of my mind. ive tryed Anxeity dvd's and all that but nothing seems to be working. i use to enjoy life but now i dont, i always have this fear of dying, i'm only 18 years old and i shouldint be worried about health problems at my age like this. so if someone has delt with this problem before or knows what to do. please tell. thanks

Answer 1

I KNOW THIS IS A LOT TO READ BUT I THINK I CAN HELP.

I suffer from anxiety and I have a phobia as well. What you stated was, you fear death or fear that you are going to have a heart attack and stop breathing. This may be difficult for you to believe because a lot of what you are feeling is irrational but what you are fearing and you stated this, is the sensation of your heart racing. If your heart never raced that night do you think you would still feel this way? It is the symptom of anxiety that you fear and a racing heart is NOT going to kill you. Yes we are all going to die someday and that is a fact but if you can bring yourself to focus on ways to decrease your anxiety and experience your heart racing as not a threat you will be able to feel, as you put it, normal again. Here is an exercise you should try I'll give you the web site: This first web site is on the most beneficial way to breath. the second source web site is a continuation of the clip i pasted for you.
http://www.coedu.usf.edu/zalaquett/Help_Screens/breath.htm

How Breathing Changes When You Become Anxious

So far we have discussed the functional and dysfunctional breathing. Relaxed abdominal breathing is better. Tight thoracic breathing isn't as good and may lead to problems. Now, how did it get that way?

When a person becomes anxious, sad, scared, aroused or angry, the body immediately begins to go through changes to meet with the new situation. Of course, we needn't concentrate only on the negative emotions. Changes also occur when we are delighted, loving, excited, joyful, playful and full of laughter. We increase the amount of air we breathe by breathing faster and deeper. Our heart quickens it's pace, more blood flows through the arteries and veins, our senses become more acute, we become more alert.

Human beings are capable of a great range of many emotions and physical responses. We can be placid like the waters of a gently flowing stream or raging like the ocean in a fierce storm. The change from placid to storming can happen in the twinkling of an eye. It's all part of being human, even necessary to being human.

It is the connection between emotions and physical responses that concern us when we think about panic attacks. Recently I was watching a person whose breathing was being monitored as he was pretending to be angry with someone else. As soon as he began to work up some pretend-anger his breathing changed as if he was really angry. It became faster and deeper and the carbon dioxide level of his breath, which is a measure of carbon dioxide in the blood stream, also began to drop. I noticed something else. As this was happening he didn't breathe out in the same way as when he was relaxed a few moments before. He retained more air in his lungs each time he exhaled. His deeper and more rapid breathing was actually "on top" of unemptied air. It's like his body was trying to hold on to the carbon dioxide by preventing him from exhaling too much!

Actual experiments have shown that just imagining a stressful event will cause a person to breathe faster and retain many times more air in their lungs than when they are relaxed and unstressed. You can well imagine that if you've had panic attacks, just the thought of another attack will be enough to change your breathing and unawarely start you on the road to a possible next attack.

As you begin to check out your own breathing pattern and train yourself in more relaxed and functional breathing, remember how your thoughts and emotions can work for you or against you. Keep a positive attitude.

For many victims of panic disorder, thoughts, fears and physical reactions become automatic and create a great deal of anxiety. There are proven methods for countering or neutralizing these thoughts and reactions which need to be a part of every treatment. These will be found in the Healing Panic program. Retraining your breathing and knowing positively that you can prevent attacks is, none the less, essential to success in your recovery from panic disorder.

Answer 2

Mate, stop worrying, what you experienced is quite normal, especially at your age. It was either a palpitation or just "refib", that usually happens when you're asleep but if it occurs when you're awake, it can be quite frightening. But if you are really worried, see an expert like a GP. And ask for an ECG, that'll tell you if your "ticker" is OK or not. As for kicking the bucket, death ain't a worry, it's how it happens. I can tell you, I've been hit by lightning twice and electrocuted at least 5 times so that holds no fears for me. Drowning or choking are always my worries and although I'm diligent with both, I don't let it rule my life. But I'll tell you something, keep stressing over it and you could bring on a heart attack. So lighten up, see a "Quack" if you have too and live a long happy life.

Answer 3

I can totally relate with you... I was loving life, living just the way I wanted to, then my grandmother died. This was like a thrust to my life's core and then I became TERRIFIED of dying! I started having panic attacks and was becoming consumed...so what I did to ease my mind is I went to my Doc and ran ALL kinds of blood work had an ekg done to show me I AM OKAY. I go to a therapist once a week and believe it or not it helps... I was so bad that I was afraid of taking a shower, afraid I would slip and fall and of course die....then I went through what if I eat something that will kill me.... so my best advice to you is to see your doctor, and maybe even see a therapist of some kind...then realize it's going to happen, yes, we all die...but live each day ONE DAY AT A TIME that's helped me tremendously...also I rely on God, I know He is in control of everything and He will not let me die until I am supposed to...this really helps me when I feel that panic come start to creep up on me, I just focus on scripture and breath deep and talk myself back out of the panic... its a long journey but I think EVERYONE has had a time in their life where death scared them... hope you find your inner peace soon

Answer 4

Actually, with all these unhealthy product we consume on a daily basis, people have been developing serious health problems at younger and younger ages. I suggest you start eating a healthy BALANCED diet, exercise daily, and get enough rest at night.

Are you a holy man? Do you fear death because you fear Hell? Start living by the grace of God.

If you are not a holy man, then maybe you fear death because there is so much more in life you want to do? Well, live healthy, and go out and do the things you want to do.

One suggestion, don't live your life in fear of death, you might stop living.

Answer 5

Are you getting enough exercise?

Seriously, it cuts anxiety and smooths out the moods. It's really common for these symptoms to pop up around the time you are 18. First describe the syptom to a doctor.

Then, start running, or exericing in whatever way. When you have done this for a week, look objectively at whether you feel the same way.

Answer 6

Death is the beautiful promise to all that live; It's life's ultimate compensation. Death is beautiful certainly not something I fear, just something I can count on. Dying however.. can be quick and painless or unendurable and agonizing, dying can be the worst pain of one's life. To be born and then to die in an explosion of pain agony.. dying is something I fear indeed o.o

Answer 7

To me it sounds like a Panic Anxiety Disorder. When I read your ? you were describing me also. So I know exactly how you feel and its very scary. Can you think of anything that might have triggered this? With me, my husband died very suddenly and shortly after that is when my attacts started. You really need to see your Dr. have him run some tests maybe even a heart monitor can be hooked up to you so you and Dr, can see whats going on.Chances are everythimg will come back fine and that will ease your mind some and you can go from there.If its panic/anxiety he can recomend what treatment would be best for you.I wish you all the best and please go to Dr. soon so you can start to ease your mind.

Answer 8

You have anxiety. I used to have it too. Doctors prescribed Xanax for me, but I knew that drugs are not the answer; they only mask the symptom. I now have a degree in Ayuvedic medicine, and I cured myself of panic and anxiety without drugs of any kind.

Ayurveda teaches that anxiety is caused by "Excess Vata," a certain type of energy. Read the book "Vital Energy" by Dr. David Simon for more info on this. Ask a bookstore to order it for you. As I said, I cured myself of severe anxiety with Ayurveda.

The thing that helped me the most:
Listen to a CD of chanting monks, Enya, or any music you find very relaxing. Lie down, close your eyes, and listen on headphones. While you're doing that, take long, slow deep breaths, through your nose. Your breathing is very important. This sounds so simple, but I'm telling you, those chanting monks brought me down from many an attack!! They're the best!! Enya too.

While youre lying there doing the deep breathing and listening to the relaxing music, tell yourself: "Its (the feeling or symptom) going away, the feeling is passing, let it pass, you're fine, you're fine, everything is fine..." It is very important what you say to yourself; you have to learn to talk yourself down out of that state.

To prevent anxiety:
Completely eliminate all sugar and caffeine from your diet. This is rule number one.
Exercise regularly, yoga is great for anxiety.
Eat regularly, warm, nourishing foods like soups, oatmeal, etc. Forget salads and ice cream, all cold stuff. Do not drink cold beverages either. Drink hot herbal tea.
There is alot more info on dietary recommendations in the book, and other lifestyle recommendations as well.

Take control of this before it intensifies; believe me, you do not want to experience an actual panic attack; what you are having is anxiety. You can do it; I had it very, very bad, and I'm fine now. Ayurvedic treatment is excellent for anxiety. Read Dr. Simon's book and take my advice, you will overcome it. Don't let anybody tell you you need Xanax or any other drug; you don't need it. You can email me if you want.

Answer 9

Your making your heart race by getting worked up over it! Just chill out, Do you smoke cannabis or something coz you sound kinda paranoid ! Sorry if you don't but i would seriously give your self a slap round the face and try and enjoy life instead of worrying about your heart racing once, When ur times up ur times up and you know what there's nothing you can do about it!
If it's that bad see a professional about it, get it checked and you'll find out exactly why it's happening!!!!

Answer 10

I don't understand how some people in here can be so mean, so evil.
Listen, even though we all will die someday, you should do your best to keep on living. GO to a doctor, talk to someone, pray, there is a God watching over you who loves you. It must be a reason for you to feel that way. Do you have a family, someone you can talk with? Don't pay attention to nasty answers in here. THere are wonderful people that still care and worry with other human beings.
Good luck.