Help in overcoming fear?

Question

I have a serious fear of death. I am not necessarily scared of the death itself, I have told myself that if lucky, it should feel like just going to sleep.

My problem here is I am scared of not living; not being able to be with the people I love anymore or see the world advance.

I am terrified that there is no afterlife. I would love for anyone here to please provide links to scientific proof or any past experiences that verify an afterlife.

PLEASE no preaching or such, I am not looking to switch to religion.

There will be a best answer for the one that provides me the most closure.

Answer 1

What do you feel in YOUR heart?

I am not looking for any points, just thought I could help...

I was going to church when my Mom dies 2500 miles away from me, my sister and I were cleaning my Dad's house here in Mi, for the funeral, I was in my parents room, when suddenly the air became "thick" like jello.

I was cleaning their mirror in their room, I looked into the mirror and my Mom sat behind me on the bed, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She looked amazingly beautiful, like an angel, she glowed with the youth of a 30 year old, no longer did she look racked with the pain of dying. I felt love so strong, I fell to my knees sobbing.

That day changed my beliefs in the afterlife. That was my Mom. I asked people at church what it was and I was told it was Satan plying tricks in my moment of sorrow. Could and would not believe that. NO, evil force could ever produce that love. Truly it was my Mom.

There is no scientific fact, only experience through the eyes of someone who had the experience. I do not fear death, I no longer believe in death. Only transformation of something beautifully uncomprehendable.

Answer 2

Well....I don't think love is going to work with a fear of spiders. lol I would say that fear can be overcome through understanding, and reason. I used to be afraid of the dark as a kid. The usual, demons, ghosts, spirits, boogieman type stuff. It would keep me up almost every night as I had an overactive imagination. Then as I began to get older, I looked into the subject, and found that it was all in my head. There is no such thing as any of these, and the only thing that says they are true are myths, and folklore. I even got myself to believe the bible was/is a lie. There is no one "watching me", my dead ancestors do not live around me. demons don't lurk the earth, and the Devil really isn't that bad of guy. The biggest fact I found is that no one has ever proved that any of these things exist. So, I guess intelligence conquers fear. After I had tossed out my fear of the dark, I came to embrace it. Now I spend most of my day in the dark. :)

Answer 3

Fear is in the mind not the heart. My Mom always said " I don't mind if it don't matter" the country version of mind over matter. lol
I have always believed that there is another plane of existance but what it is for sure is up in the air. The faith that everyone will be together one day makes me feel better. The Christians believe a day in Heaven is 100 yrs on earth, so you wouldn't have to wait long. We, of other beliefs, have our own concepts of the afterlife. Me, personally, I would be sad not to be able to take the ones I love with me to a summerland or heaven because they will have to stay here and live out their lives rather it be happy, sad, or stressful, but I know that these experiences make us who we are.
As some of the answerers have experienced their loved ones coming back and reassuring them that everything is ok is normal for me. I am one of those few people in the world that can "feel" others around me before they make their presence known, living and the nonliving. It is not of the devil or some demon, I believe it is the way we can experience those who loved us and those we loved on another plane of existance not truly known to us but yet natural for us. We truly never leave but become a better part of ourselves. Never fear the unknown, embrace it and get to understand it because we are only a sum of our whole being. Be happy and satisfied you are loved here and there are others that have loved you that are waiting for you on the other side, whatever that will be.
Be blessed and Peace

Answer 4

I'm not looking to preach to you or to encourage you to change religions, it's just that I've never had a fear of death or of not living anymore. I've also never had a NDE. The only information I can give you is found in books I consider scripture. So please don't think that I'm preaching or trying to convert you.
Many people have felt a great sense of comfort in hearing of a vision that Joseph Smith had in which he saw his long dead brother Alvin. " 1 The heavens were opened upon us, and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell.
2 I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire;
3 Also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son.
4 I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold.
5 I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept;
6 And marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins.
7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;
8 Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom;
9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.
10 And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven. "
Also, a different prophet, Joseph F Smith, had a series of visions about the afterlife. It is longer than the one above, so I'll link to it instead. Please don't make fun of them, for they are scripture to me - even if you do not agree. It's the best I can come up with since I've never had the same problem as you. I do hope that you will read them in the spirit in which they are intended, which is as two mens personal experience. That's why I included them. I didn't include them to be convincing you or anyone about any doctrine I personally hold to be true - althought it is that as well.

Answer 5

I can Identify, having lost my only sibling at age 38, and my mother in the last 3 years. My walk with the Lord has eased that pain- not to say I dont miss them-
I would recommend these verses regarding fear:
2nd Timothy 1:7, and 1st John 4:18. On the afterlife, read Revelation 19-22.

http://bibleprobe.com/nde.htm

http://www.nderf.org/Exceptional%20Accounts.htm

Answer 6

When I was a young kid, I discovered our house was built on the foundation of a former church. Down the road was a small country cemetery, so I decided to go read the tombstones. As I read them, my mind wandered to the possibilities of the deceased persons' life & illness that caused them to die. I discovered that cemeteries are peaceful & often beautifully designed. Several years later, I was asked to be a pall bearer at a friends' funeral. I think I was 11. I was scared to be near a dead body, thinking it was somehow contagious, but I did offer my services despite my fears. Then, about 3 years ago, I was with my older brother as he fought bravely against cancer, & finally lost the battle. About 2 months ago, I discovered the body of a friend of mine, face down, in her tub.
All these things have caused me to evaluate my belief system; my fear of intimacy & relationships, & the afterlife. If my questions were not private, you would see that I am doing some soul-searching myself.
While I'm not scared of dying, I am curious. I do not have the answers you seek, but I wish you well in your journey. I hope you find the peace you need. I'll be checking back to read others' responses.

Answer 7

Have you ever seen a dead person? And how lifeless they are? I have... My brother 27 years old was crushed to death by a dump truck bed The minute he passed, I prayed for God to watch over him. I just had a bad feeling... And as crazy as you think I am, God told me, this day your brother has heard your prayer. I had no clue he had been killed. I had no clue there was an accident until i got home from the store. So Yes, when we die, there is an afterlife.... It is the uncertainty and unknown you are afraid of.... And depending on what you chose to believe here on earth, one day you will either awake in heaven or hell. And that is a Fact...... I am not preaching, or telling you what to do. i am just telling you My Personal experience..... I have No scientific website for you to check out, or anyway to show you anything... That is Faith..... If you look up the definition, of Faith you may better understand. And FYI religion doesn't get you into heaven.... Religion is just a name above a church door....

Answer 8

You are not alone. According to Susan Jeffer's book: Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway, fears prevail among many, not few.

Problem is, she lays down the gauntlet for anyone else but her to reveal the root source of "fear hath torment". I have taken up this gauntlet, to reveal the root source is legalism.

As for religion, I find the Bible only compares two sorts:
- Impure religions: arrive defiled, and then get worse end
- Pure religion: arrived undefiled, and remained unspotted
So you may want to switch from impure to pure religion;
Is to allegory say switch from Law God to Grace God

Law: I will forget you and I will forsake you: Jeremiah 23:39
Grace: I'll never leave you nor forsake you: Hebrews 13:5

So then we'll go with Grace and perfect love hath no fear.

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 9

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but what your asking for does not exist. There is no scientific proof of an afterlife. Life is over just as it started, in an instant. There are a ton of theory's out there that promise a better eternity, but unfortunately they are nothing more than that, Theory's. I hope you are able to at least find some peace and comfort and not let this consume your thoughts as that makes for a wasted life.

Answer 10

I take comfort in my personal belief that we do go on and when you do, you will be as involved (or more so) there as you are here. It gives me peace to think that there are people on the other side that miss me and will be happy to see me and I them. Those who are left here will hopefully miss me but will join me sooner or later and they know that I have gone on. I envision knowing things I only wondered about here; and still knowing the goings on here. But I think not much of it(except the part that deals with family or friends) will seem that important to me anymore. I therefore don't fear it, but I am not ready to go, yet.