A question about death?

Question

Not discriminating, but I'd like non-religious people to help me with this one:

I'm 29 and I think I'm going through some sort of phase in my life (perhaps an early mid-life crisis). Every day I wake up, the first thing that comes to mind is death. Like waking up to the same reality that never changes. By that I mean, many times in life you go through tough times but you also get to wake up and be glad to see that the problem is already behind you. Not in this case though. What strikes me every day is the thought of "what if death is the end of all things?". I started to have some pain in my lower abdomen just trying to visualize what it means to indefinitley NEVER EVER come back, even after a billion years. I think that if all humans could perceive the infinity they would become insane, just the way I feel today. Knowing that you'll die and NEVER come back is an extremley disturbing concept. I wish I met a ghost (not sure if there are), at least I will know that death is not final

Answer 1

if that is true doesnt that make this only life you got doubly sweet??? everyone dies. even your grand children will die. eventually every human in the planet or from this planet will die ( when this universe finally collapses) you start living happily now and put this question behind your back. it'll only consume you if you dont. and oh, by start living happily i didnt mean that you become a hedonist or something. just be normal, and do good things so you wont get that ****** up when you die and find out there's life after this one.

Answer 2

Well I am 18 and have been asking myself that question since my Grandma passed away five years ago. I would lay awake at night and think of how small I was in the grand scheme of things. Things like... if there is a god what the hell is the point of everything we do. ANY time someone I asked would try to comfort me by talking about god but it never helped. What makes everyone so sure there is an afterlife?

I wish I could say something helpful to you that I learned from thinking about it... but I haven't really gained any knowledge. The more I thought about it the worse I felt so I just had to continue with life and enjoy it. Even IF you never ever come back after death (which is what I was fixated on for years) at least you got the chance to experience life!

I also think that if everyone really sat down and thought about it they too would feel the same way for a while and then hopefully truly appreciate what they have.

Answer 3

I think that questioning life and death and existence and religion are all a part of life & many people do go through the circle of thoughts you describe here.

People who have experiences as mediums or near death experiences or have seen ghosts do tend to say there is something when we die. I personally have come to accept that anything is possible.

For some reason, I used to think that seeing a ghost is a cure for such doubts because some people ache for the "proof". But, even if you did sit there talking to a ghost one night, it wouldn't surprise me if ten years from now you question your mind during the time you had talked to this ghost. For whatever reason, we are "trained" to dismiss the unusual as being just that - unusual.

If we never died, we would live in these bodies for a very long time. I'd have a harder time grasping an eternity in one body over grasping a small amount of time in a body.

Do we exist after life? Probably so. I tend to think that even in science at its most primitive level, the answer is right there. We are, in essence, an energy. Energy cannot be created/destroyed but can transform. This is a principle of science that rings so much truth for what is apparently true about our existence as spiritual beings... (depending on your belief). If we were created at what we perceive in our limited minds as the beginning, then our energy is just in a state of transformation at birth and then at death. If this is the case, the world outside of this one is probably more of a home to us than here on Earth.

But regardless, do good, live, love, laugh. Everything will be okay and we can't change the fact that we die. I had a brief phase of truly fearing death and I know it is agony to go through that. I wish you luck in this time. I'll never be afraid again after my best friend died... regardless of what happens after we die, I know that I do not mind death for me because if there is even a .05% chance that I see my best friend, then I have nothing to fear.

I've actually had a worse fear of other people dying over my own. I hate grief. It's the worst. And I do think that we do have something beyond our life. And I do think that when we get there, we do remember this life and we look back on it. So when you have the moment to overcome this fear, do take a deep breath, relax, and remember to live every day to the fullest and things will be okay. We can't change the inevitable & it is okay ... just take baby steps into accepting this.

Answer 4

Well...I don't think death is final. That's my opinion. You might not ever coming back in a physical form, but you certainly won't die forever.

And I think that ghosts do exist. But I'm not really sure. I almost positive spirits do (yes, they're different things, I think).
But it would be amazing to meet a ghost that you could talk to. Hmm...

All I can say is try to live your life to the fullest (cliche, yes) and don't think about death so much if you can. Also...we were all born to die. Everyone will experience death at some point. There is no escaping it, so don't let it bother you so much.

Answer 5

You need to stop looking at the glass as being half empty (or maybe you do). Stop looking at it as you only have half your life to live. Realize that for every day you are here, you are here for one less. Take hold and go out and do whatever you want to do. Take today and do something that will make your life mean more so that when its over there are no regrets.

If you are to come back, what's to lose? You enjoyed this life and will enjoy the one that follows. You may one day regret that you didn't take full advantage of this one.

Either way, you will never regret this one.

Answer 6

Accepting death is part of the process of living. When you can accept what death is life becomes more livable. Until you make the choice, you can count on certain things -- like living in fear. Death is not the end of all thing. Your death is the end of you. The rest of the world will carry on as it has with every death that has preceded us.

I think most people hope that their death is not a painful one. That you have likely another 50 years left of life, thinking about death every day is likely to be very disturbing. Unless you have a terminal illness and there is no chance of remission, I suggest not frightening yourself with such thinking.

Although, you allude to some problem that is unresolved in your description. It is likely there that you will find the source of your hopelessness and return to a state of living rather than dying.

We can literally frighten ourselves to death in our thinking, or we can choose to be calm, relaxed and at peace.

Answer 7

Maybe you are correct but why put yourself through that. I am sure everybody thinks about that sometimes in there life. I look at it like this. When I die I will be dead. I won't wake up again to worry about that stuff. Just enjoy the great life you have now and if you really can't stop thinking about death maybe you should go to church. I think all those people think about the same thing.

Answer 8

If you were just a little bit spritual you would not be going through this fear..there are things that you just believe in,in your heart..like I know that when I die the rest of the world goes on..and I will be in another place..it's true you don't"come back" but if you think about it,everyone has their time to go..it's a transition..instead of stressing just live your life to the fullest..you can't do anything to prevent your death when it is your time,it's your time..same with everyone..death is part of life..

Answer 9

It is better to live your life as if there is a God and find out there isn't, than to live your life as if there is no God and find out there is. Based on a near-death experience, you will not wish to return but may have to if your work on earth is not complete. As is obvious, mine wasn't. There is no sorrow, no regrets, no feeling of infinity...only peace and fulfillment. Ghosts and angels have both been seen by many people. Yes, I realize most people believe that those of us who have received this gift are strange. Be that as it may, it is given to us nonetheless. Some will share it; some will not. I am glad I have it to share. Go live your life for there is plenty of time.

Answer 10

It is good to think about death daily. That should encourage you to live life well and to the fullest. Death is a natural part of life and to fear it is fearing life. Look at the earth, the flowers, the animals, as well as all humanity and the solar system, the galaxy and universe. All these things are passing and you are part of this wonderful and mystical journey.