How do you cope with the feeling that you will die one day?

Question

How do you cope with thoughts of death? I am 24 years old and I have never been so aware of the feeling that I will die one day since after I had abdominal surgery to remove a pancreatic cyst 6 months ago. I am now constantly thinking about death and about how and when will it be for me and about how I am going to cope if somebody in my family or a friend is suddenly taken away from me. I don't want to be thinking about this all the time but I can't help it. I know death is certain and that no one can escape from it but how do you think I should look at it so I am not as scared and worried about it all the time?

Answer 1

i imagine sitting on my front porch when i'm 85 years old. thinking about my life, as in what did i do with it.well your short answer would be i sat and worried about how i might die and how it would feel. that is a very long time to think about one thing.too much time , lost .. think instead about what kind of a mom will i be, and when will i find the man i will marry. think about a very cool job.. think about how many friends you've collected instead. think about swimming with dolphins, and bungee jumping,,going to the coolest church, .....
in short think about everything else instead... life is short.. don't waste it.. not a single minute of it..

and remember it doesn't matter what you are doing you could be walking down the street or paddling a kayak in the ocean.. or flying your own jet...when it's your time to die you will....please don't let it be when you are sitting around worring about when you will die.

as for pain ...pain is god's way of letting us know we are still alive.

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Answer 2

It's a journey like everything else. I have become quite numb to the fact, where as previously I was a little more interested in a kind of spiritual sort of way. You have had an experience that has heightened your awareness of your own mortality, which is what age does to you I guess.
Becoming aware of such things can paralyse some and empower others as we realise that to a certain degree we should live for the moment, take a bit of a risk (personal, financial, physical-whatever...) because today really is all that we have got, tomorrow is but a promise and yesterday is now a memory.
Stay positive, grab life with both hands, never let it go, but when you have to - don't be afraid to - I have heard it's not that bad.

Answer 3

Everyone dies, eventually. So there's no point in wasting your energy worrying about something that you can't change.

Live every moment to the fullest, enjoy every day, and exist in the *now*. Pay attention to the world around you and find the joy in it. Wonder at a new flower erupting in the spring, the clouds wheeling across the sky, the warmth of the sun on your skin.

Life can be beautiful. Don't lose sight of it because you're so worried about "what might happen tomorrow".

Answer 4

Well, I look at it this way. Before I became Christian, I was also afraid of death. Mostly the thought of being dead. Pictured my funeral, whether or not anyone would show up, and pictured myself in my casket.

But, since becoming Christian, I've come to understand that death is a part of life. Our spirits don't die, only our bodies. If you receive Jesus Christ as your savior (He died to redeem us of our sins, so we wouldn't have to die, spiritually speaking), then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. When those who live for Christ die, we'll spend eternity right there with God. How awesome is that?

However, if someone chooses to live a life without God, then they have chosen to spend eternity in the only other place there is to go, which is Hell. I realize "Hell" has become a hokey concept to many people, but it's very real. Basically, it's eternal suffering rather than eternal life with God.

So, my advice would be to take a long hard look at your life and how you're living it. This advice isn't to scare you, it's to put the concept of death in perspective.

Answer 5

Easy. As long as I am conscious, I will think I'm alive. When I'm unconscious I won't. The result is that as far as I'm concerned, I will always think I'm alive. I will feel like I live forever. I'll never think I'm dead. It doesn't matter that I will be wrong. It will FEEL like I'm right and that's what counts. The thing I'm afraid of is that it might be in a painful manner - I can be consoled on that by drugs, future medical tech and the body's own painkillers.

Answer 6

It sounds like you may have anxiety attacks. Whenever I start thinking about death, I pray to the Lord to give me the courage to face it because I know that when I do die I will be with Him. It doesn't mean it's scary because I don't want to have to pass away before I see my children grow or do all the things I want in life, but I know that there is a better place then this and that I will be with my children in Heaven one day. I pray for all the people I know and love that they will continue to follow the Lord and that my children will grow in the way of the Lord so that their salvation is secure.

Answer 7

Honey, life is too short to spend the whole time worrying when it will end. First of all get right with the Lord, then why even worry? I do not fear death, I actually, when it is my time, look forward to it. That may seem strange and don't get me wrong, I love life and my life, but I just think of how much better things will be once I am no longer on this earth physically. All the troubles washed away once you enter heaven./ Now that, I could not even dream of dreading.

Answer 8

It is pretty scary, I agree. Especially since we have no clue whatsoever what will happen when we die. Then there are those people who are so certain that they know. Those strange overly religious people.
Anyhow, I say just knowing you will die should be good enough to make you live each day to the fullest. Just focus on what you can control.

Answer 9

I'm 24 years old too... I'm okay with dying. I think about it quite often, too. So, I look at it this way: You won't know once it's done! I wouldn't worry all the time about someone being suddenly taken away from you. I sincerely believe that sending that sort of energy/vibe out there will manifest your fear. Try reading "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. He will help you look at life a completely different way.

http://www.eckharttolle.com/home.php?section=about&show=ABOUT+-+Power+of+now

Answer 10

Death is a celebration. We do not die, our spirits are just freed from the physical body which houses our soul and spirit. We just enter a different dimension and continue to live. For more in depth information, please visit http://godisruleroftheuniverse.com We know that we continue to live but as Revelation explains, we cannot come back and interfere with life on this planet. That is why it is so hard to communicate with our loved ones after they pass on - God does not allow it. For example - even people who have experienced near death situations could see their dead body but could not communicate with the doctors and people in the hospital room. But you can have peace of mind knowing that loved ones have moved on to a more glorious place and will one day be reunited with you.