I know I suffer from this, and I can't think of anything worse to be terrified off. Granted everyone has a certain fear of it, but I allow the thought of it to terrorise my head sometimes. I just can't believe that I will be nothing along with everyone I have loved.
Is there a way for someone to learn to cope with the thought of death. I need something practical rather then religion. No offense to the religious among you, but I don't believe that I am going to live in heaven (or hell), paradise, etc.
I wish I was scared of something strange like belly button fluff or monkey brains. I had to have the phobia of the only thing certain in life.
2007-01-15 02:37:50 · 8 answers · asked by mickeyleon123 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Boy, aint to many people not scared of the big "D" word. I also am scared, more so after I have reached tis grand ole age of 50! I also have Hep C. So everytime I get an upset stomach I am wondering, "is this it".I have had this disease now for about 20yrs. Doc. says my liver is in bad shape. Had a liver biopsy on the 5th of Jan.I go back on the 25th of Jan. to see whats up.I am scared, I really am. I am thinking maybe on the 25th I might find out I only have 6 monthsa to live.So I think, if I was a healthy person would I think so much of death?People out in this world today think if the are rich they have the world, but thats a damn lie. If I was poor and have the best of health, that would make me a very rich person. If you have your health you have it all!!!!!
2007-01-15 05:55:18 · answer #1 · answered by Leneki 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is the certainty that makes it so scary....you can't go round it, over it, find an escape in any way. The thought of nothing at all is also very scary, although when you are in allot of pain mentally, the thought of never thinking again can be quite appealing!
Everyone has to find their own destiny, our innate fear of death helps us to do that, it forces us to think about the problem and come up with reasonable solutions, solutions that best fit us personally. I have my own solution, it is not great, but it is a solution never the less.
It is perhaps pointless of me to tell you that you are wrecking your time on earth by worrying over that which you cannot control. Let me ask you this....do you want to get to the end of your life, look back and say to yourself that you have ruined what time you had? It is like a love affair, if you worry about it finishing, you will never enjoy the love affair.
Try to enjoy what you have, the gift of life. If you don't get what you want for Christmas, enjoy the presents you did receive, do not be fussing over what you did not get. Life is a learning curve, part of that curve is death. Try looking into Buddhism, you may find some peace there as it is a way of life, a way of thinking. (I think so anyway). In time, you will learn to accept the things you cannot change and have the strength to change the things you can.
2007-01-15 10:59:38 · answer #2 · answered by Spoonraker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I suffer from this as well. I know I still have this fear because I've not worked with my fear and it is getting worse. The longer I put off looking inwards as to why I fear it so much, the worse it gets. This is why I would suggest you try to resolve the issues you might face.
It's reached a level where I think I can protect myself from death in everyday situations. For example, when I have to go on a train, I will only sit in the last 2 or 3 carriages of the train (to protect myself from a head-on impact). Similarly, I refuse to sit in the front of a car or the side that faces the highest likelihood of an impact. Several years ago I developed a fear of flying, after years and years of not suffering from it at all. I started looking into why I developed this sudden fear of flying. I realized that it had nothing to do with flying; it was my fear of death/dying. I cannot fly at all anymore. I'll only be able to fly one day when I have faced my fear. This might be with the help of a councellor or therapist, but I'm not ready for that yet. I'm not sure when I'll be ready.
I would suggest that you seek the help of a professional if you feel (like me) that it is affecting your everyday life. You need to establish what lies beneath the fear. This might sound stupid, but do you think you will miss something or someone when you're dead? I've spoken to people and many say something along those lines. Are you sacred of the impact your death might have on those close to you? Could it be that you wonder what you have achieved in life? Are their any psychological links to your desires and wishes for the future?
It's an old cliché, but only by letting go do you start to live. I wish I could let go. It sounds to me as if you need to let go of something (this might be what lies beneath your fear).
You might want to read something first like Johann Christoph Arnold's Be Not Afraid: Overcoming the Fear of Death
2007-01-15 11:25:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if this will help. I have a relative who used to have panic attacks about the same thing.
She told me that the only way she overcame it was to look at each day and tell herself she got through yesterday so she can get through today. Nothing hurt her yesterday nor did she die, and she is still here. Eventually by keep saying this out loud to herself she overcame her fear and no longer has attacks.
If you find yourself struggling to do it by yourself ask a close friend, family member or a therapist to help you.
I hope this in some way helps and I wish you all the luck. :-))
2007-01-15 12:08:25 · answer #4 · answered by Teejay 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know I suffer from this as well, and I just never knew what it was called! I have regular phobias as well, but this one screws with my head most often! I have talked to a therapist, and a psychiatrist, but hasn't eased my phobia yet! GOOD LUCK!!!
2007-01-15 10:46:46 · answer #5 · answered by ♥xvioletx1882♥ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does it affect your ability to function in everyday life? In which case you are coping with it effectively anyway. Otherwise find yourself a good therapist or use distraction strategies like jogging orlistening to music.
2007-01-15 10:46:23 · answer #6 · answered by D B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont let anyone on here tell you that you should beleave in something that your dont beleave in.
have you seen your gp? he might be able to give you something to forget about it.
everyones scared of the thought of death but no one really thinks about it as much as you do.
i honeslty think that your scared of the thought of dying, and how you would die and if it would hurt. please dont worry. im not going to say you have years yet as people come and go any time but please dont think of it or it'll play on your mind that much you'll have a mental illness and will not go out so nothing will hurt you.
think of other things such as education(career), girls, life. think of the next time youre going out with the lads and where. if your thinking of other things, it'll block this fear away for a bit. but please see your gp.
2007-01-15 10:50:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my partner suffers from something similar he hates hospitals he lost his mum in hospital to meningitis ,his grandad cancer , his gran cancer, everyone he loved
I recently spent a long stay in hospital after suffering from 3 brain haemorrhage's this was really hard for him .
I know what you are going through but really when you are told when you go to theatre you have a slim chance off surviving & you know you are going to be ok there must be someone or somthing watching over you
sorry if this doesn't help you
2007-01-15 11:01:07 · answer #8 · answered by miss smidgey 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋