Every pain has me imagining scenarios of my death - I look at people and don't know how they carry on knowing they will die!!!! I wonder how they and I will die and when! Am obsessed and I want to be able to live my life without worrying about this certainty!
2006-12-18 08:41:56 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Here is how I look at it. At any given point in time every human has tens of thousands of things they could possibly choose to think about; Some of those things are comforting; Some of those things are neutral, and some of those things are scary.
How you perceive life is in large part a function of what percentage of the time you spend thinking about negative, positive, or neutral things.
People who are in the habit of frequently thinking about the things on the scary end of the spectrum (death, illness, etc) end up exhausted and freaked out and not enjoying life as long as they continue that habit.
There is no magic bullet cure for dwelling on negative or scary thoughts. However, it is possible, with patience and discipline, to slowly change your thought habits.
Start out with an "equal time" game for your thoughts. The game is that every time you think a scary or negative thought you have to immediately think about something that makes you feel good. Don't judge your negative thoughts, or try to stop them from occurring, or try to figure out if your negative thoughts are true or false, just make it a game to think about something nice and pleasant as a counterpoint to every negative thought you have.
If you stick with this game with discipline you will find after a while it becomes an automatic habit, and once it becomes an automatic habit you will probably find that the thoughts about death will tend to fade away and lose strength.
2006-12-18 09:35:55 · answer #1 · answered by Andy F. 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hmmm... you seem to have a serious problem. Look I stress about getting old since I hit the tree oh. Dieing doesn't bother me that much, it's getting old and feeble that bothers(I work in a nursing home). Still I find when I keep my self focus on other things that make me happy. Use this fear of death to your advantage, think of all things you would like to do before you die. Take a vacation, learn self defense, Go to a target range, go to some places you never been to before. The point is you need to do some things that empower so rec emend the first two suggestions I gave you. If you have money put that in use, to get fit and mentally tuff. I also suggest you stop talking about the depressing stuff going on today, and no news for you. If you must no Iraq stuff. Follow these suggestions and you will fill allot better. And that fear you have may not go away but it won't be there as strong. Plus surround yourself with people that are positive but understand what you might be going through.
2006-12-18 08:57:24 · answer #2 · answered by Antione E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Been there! Two things: by worrying about death you forget to live! and being dead means no being (if you're not religious) and you've been there already. There was a time when you didn't exist.
These days I worry about uncertainties, the certainty of death is great...you know it's going to happen, you can't change that so there is no need to fight it or worry about it. What helped me overcome this paralysing fear was to explore a lot of ideas, explore what it meant in depth, cover all the angles! Then got on with life.
2006-12-19 03:04:40 · answer #3 · answered by Stef 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I first figured this out I was exactly the same. In fact when I thought deeply about it, I was virtually catatonic with fear. How to deal with it? First of all, dont think about it. Seriously. I know that if I do I'll be terrified, so I just shut it out of my head. Second, this guy told me that when you're young, these things trouble you, when you get older (ironically) other matters become more pressing, and so the worry subsides. Thirdly, I try and content myself with stories I have heard from people who have been around someone when they die, and that person has been completely serene, with this curious "knowledge" that they are about to move to a different stage in their existance, rather than finish it. But most of all, try not to think about it. It is WAY too big a concept to be able properly to deal with, and if you try, it might send you loopy. Peaceful thoughts my friend.
2006-12-18 08:48:53 · answer #4 · answered by Dave 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Death is a certainty. The trail between life and death is a journey. Focus your energies on how you choose to LIVE YOUR LIFE as opposed to the dark side.
2006-12-18 10:46:07 · answer #5 · answered by kerry g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was younger, I often had the cold chills thinking about dying, so you are not alone. For me, the breakthrough came when I saw my Granddad dying, he was obviously just tired of living ( he was 89 ) and I thought that it was very natural and got on with living. What I would say, is to really work at enjoying life, don't waste your time on negatives and if possible, travel as much as you can.
2006-12-18 09:02:03 · answer #6 · answered by busterdomino 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dying is not a problem, so don't worry about it. I know it's easy to say that !!!!!. I thought about suicide for years
and realised that if I did I couldn't change my mind and what would it prove anyway........ If you find that your thoughts dwell on dying or something similar, if you THINK about a problem or a plan or something you are going to do, and concentrate on that, you will find that you CAN'T think about 2 things at once. It will become easier each time and automatic after a bit
Good-luck
2006-12-18 19:21:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow.. im not the only one that thinks about it.. I dont think about it constantly..but i go through phases when I cant sleep.. just laying there looking at my fiance thinking that we will die one day. Its kinda crazy..and I went through a little phase like this a couple of weeks ago. Well I heard about a book called Purpose Driven Life and I thought that I should go out and get it and maybe it would give me some insite on the purpose of life and how we go on knowing what were here for. Well I started the book but never finished. but its seems good.. you should get it.. and if your spiritual..you should pray.. its helps calm your nerves ; ) good luck
2006-12-18 09:24:18 · answer #8 · answered by Mily1 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like you are coming to terms with your own mortality.
It is a phase I guess we all have to go through in life, and it helps to structure us emotionally to live the life best suited to our position in relation to that eventuality (for example have kids before you are too old. Or stop having them).
The good news is that they should pass with time as you get used to the idea that one day you'll cop it. Hey just enjoy (OK easier said than done).
But another cause may be depression/anxiety/guilt. I know SSRI antidepressants do wonders with this.
2006-12-18 08:47:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Focus on life, when you're about to fall asleep at night repeat to yourself "positive thoughts", don't wait for something good to come into your life to make you happy, smile a friendly smile, and make a point to say hello to someone new each day.
2006-12-18 08:50:40 · answer #10 · answered by Avon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋