If you don't believe in God; what do you do when you are afraid?

Question

I know for me, when something is going wrong like the other day my daughter was outside playing and would not come when I yelled her name--In my moment of panic it comes natural to me to say a prayer really quick to help calm me and guide me, when i lose my keys i pray for help--lots of other situtations, but for me I do it without thinking about it--So I'm just wondering what you do, if you don't believe--or do you do it and just know you are praying for yourself and not to anyone?

Answer 1

I've never prayed in my whole life.

Like my father, I panic easily (unfortunately), so when I'm scared I just go brain-dead and either freeze or run around aimlessly until I get a grip.

If I lose stuff (and in lots of other situations) I tend to talk to myself.

"Now, where did you put that? Where did you have it, where have you been?" and so on.

BTW, I like this question, as it seems to be genuine curiosity, rather than either telling us we should pray, or that we really do pray, or the other sorts of sludge one sees spewed on this site.

BTW, people often say "there are no atheists in foxholes" but that's a myth. A lot of people don't pray.

Answer 2

Case in point - I've been a little worried about Poppy (the beautiful creature you see before you) because she's been skipping meals lately.

This began before the recall but it was close enough to it for me to worry a little. And even without fear of rat poison it's just scary when cats don't eat because their livers are so doggone fragile.

It got to the point where I needed to consider outside help. I actually considered prayer, or even *gasp* a prayer request out here! lol I didn't because I don't believe it does any good - god doesn't exist. On the other hand, "Fate" very well might so it wouldn't hurt to put an intention out there....

But I just can't reconcile that with my left-brain logic. So what I ended up doing is thinking. And that's what solved the problem. I gave her some of the food she grew up eating and she tore it up like she hadn't eaten in weeks.

So the moral of the story is that I was scared for her and what I did about it was think. Used actual, tangible resources that are available to me. And hoped for the best. But mostly took appropriate action.

Answer 3

I don't have a general beleif, I think it is rather pointless. I am reason, and for that, in "beleivers" eyes, I am probably going to hell. WOO! Being brought up though, I learned as a child that in annoying situation you say, instictivley "oh my god, HOLY CHRIST, dear lord help me etc" I don't truely mean "god" it is something to express the deep panic or other wise feeling I am feeling at that moment. Others like me would tell you the same, no need to pray. Your actions will help you in the future and your positive outlook on life. Simply praying for something to happen- doesn't make it happen. That makes it a wish, and if you really wanted something to happen you would get up, and do it. :P WOOO Enjoy :P

Answer 4

I would be totally lost without being able to pray when something troubling happens.

Also, when the keys aren't anywhere I can find, I ask God & mysteriously they are right in front of me, or I go somewhere for something else & there are the keys. God knows where the keys are.

Even Hagar put Ishmael to the side & waited to die. But she called on God & the Lord showed her the water well nearby. It was right there.

Answer 5

If I'm afraid, I'll panic for a second. Then, I'd either come up with a plan or do something else. I'm not going to let fear get the best of me and the one thing I am in control of in any situation is me, relatively speaking.

Praying may help you because it makes you think about the situation, your fears. You may not notice it but you're kind of doing the same thing I'm doing but just with a belief.

Answer 6

You know, I have rarely experienced fear for a long time. I've had panic moments, like when I almost wiped out my car at 90 mph but there's no time to think in those situations.

I try to identify what it is that I am afraid will happen and look at the probability of that outcome. If the probability is significant then i try to plan for the eventuality to minimise the damage.

Answer 7

I recite the Litany against Fear... (from Dune)

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

The reason being if you let your fear take over the moment you will not think clearly and hoping or praying wont really help you there.. look to yourself and face your fear.. dont just hope it will go away or pray to someone to make it go away. Face your fear, overcome your fear and use your mind to get you out of any situation.

Answer 8

Correction, don't believe in your god.

Anyways, it depends on the situation. Lost keys? Easy, just calm down and try an think about the last place I put them. Afraid of the plane crashing, order a double shot of whiskey. Think there's an intruder in my house, grab my 45. And so forth and so one. Basically use my brain and take action.

Answer 9

I don't get afraid anymore, very often, but when I do I realize that I'm usually contracting around myself in some clinging to a sense of self or objects... I catch it and return to the correct thinking that all things arise due to causes and conditions, anything I perceive as "not so cool" is a result of my own bad karma coming to fruition and I try to meet it with patience, understanding and compassion.

_()_

Answer 10

When I'm afraid, I usually do whatever I can to get out of the situation. If I'm panicking, I take a couple of slow breaths to get my head together first. If I lose my keys, I close my eyes and try to remember where I last had them. (Why on earth would a god be bothered to help a person find their keys, anyway?)