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fear of dying

Hello everyone,

I just thought I would ask you all whether you suffer with th same fears as me.

Ever since I was a young girl I have feard death, the prospect of my whole body switching off and facing eternal nothingness fills me with dread. I know people keep telling me that when your dead you wont know it, it will be like sleeping forever, but I just cant stop thinking about it, when will it happen and whats it going to feel like? Does anyone else suffer with this awfull fear?

I suffer with panic attacks and anxiety which bring on all sorts of physical symptoms, I will list some that I am struggling with at the moment -
neck/shoulder pain
flashing in my eyesight
headaches (almost every day)
scalp pain
back pain
sinus problems
pain in the jaw and around the ears
strange head sensations
some vertigo
short episodes where I feel like I cant swallow......................... the list is quite long, sorry :)

So all these symptoms are pretty scary, ive looked them up on the net (i know, big mistake) and it comes up with all kinds of horrible stuff, strokes, TIA's, anuerysm's........ which terrify me, its all I think about and im only 22! The doctor says he thinks im ok, I had a CT scan a year ago which came back normal, guess im just paranoid.

Please let me know if enyone else feels the same, I would really like to hear from you, thanks xx
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Avatar universal
I don't know for sure what lies after death (if I did I'd be a billionaire) but I would guess that there would be peace. I don't believe there is eternal nothingness but rather peace and bliss beyond this world.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for all the comments I have the same death concerns this helped a lot thank u all
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Avatar universal
Hello everybody .

My wife told me yesterday night that she is afraid of dying .... i literally smiled  at her and wanted to laugh  but she was serious so i stopped to think.....

what does she mean > ? ...... from what >? shes very healthy.... Shes 34 years old .... we have a beautiful 11 month old daughter .....

So where is this coming from >? ..... So i said " are you afraid of an earthquake coming soon ? " She replied " NO ... if an earthquake comes first thing i would do is cover our daughter " ..... So my point is ....I couldn't understand her because im on the opposite side ... I am Not afraid of dying

i am fearless ....How can i understand what shes feeling ....Buy after reading all of these posts .... im getting an idea .....

------ and would trying talking to her tonight about this --------

I also want to say this.... it kind of feel like all of you are focused of fear of dying on a daily bases ........My advise to you all would be to think the fear of something bad happening less .... worry less .... enjoy more .... EVERYTHING WILL BE BETTER THEN ALRIGHT dont even THINK about it  once the fear kicks in ... Please read this .... or run or dance or talk to someone ... think about ALL THE BILLS OF HAVE TO PAY ....lol just get into forgetting of dying GET B Z ....do something.. im sure slowly but surely this will get out of you.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello everybody .

My wife told me yesterday night that she is afraid of dying .... i literally smiled  at her and wanted to laugh  but she was serious so i stopped to think.....

what does she mean > ? ...... from what >? shes very healthy.... Shes 34 years old .... we have a beautiful 11 month old daughter .....

So where is this coming from >? ..... So i said " are you afraid of an earthquake coming soon ? " She replied " NO ... if an earthquake comes first thing i would do is cover our daughter " ..... So my point is ....I couldn't understand her because im on the opposite side ... I am Not afraid of dying

i am fearless ....How can i understand what shes feeling ....Buy after reading all of these posts .... im getting an idea .....

------ and would trying talking to her tonight about this --------

I also want to say this.... it kind of feel like all of you are focused of fear of dying on a daily bases ........My advise to you all would be to think the fear of something bad happening less .... worry less .... enjoy more .... EVERYTHING WILL BE BETTER THEN ALRIGHT dont even THINK about it  once the fear kicks in ... Please read this .... or run or dance or talk to someone ... think about ALL THE BILLS OF HAVE TO PAY ....lol just get into forgetting of dying GET B Z ....do something.. im sure slowly but surely this will get out of you.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes I am getting over an anxiety thing I believe now. Was diagnosed bipolar when I was younger and came to realize that the fear of death when I was younger was caused from the anxiety from my bipolar. Not told this directly but I've done some research. I consider myself religious but I'm finding my way to become baptized. Haven't done it yet but in getting there. But, I do pray to God every night.. I try to anyways BC I'm 22 yrs old now and I've had 4 babies back to back since 2010. Was on lithium when I was younger which helped but I hated all the blood draws n didn't know I had to watch so many things such as salt intake and what not.... But, 2010 when I got pregnant with my first child I stopped medication all together. N just about a month ago maybe going on two months now I find my anxiety has started again. Got into a therapist and seen the Dr at my therapist n he put me on kolonopin .5 mg as needed which helped with the anxiety but I still doesn't feel right like I did when I was on lithium. So, I have only taken it once a week in the 6 wks he's prescribed it to me. N I've tried everything n different techniques to calm my anxiety. My therapist says that since I came there willingly n since I hadn't had a problem with anxiety for 4 yrs that I don't have to be on medicine. But, I just want my anxiety to go away but in scared of the side effects of medicines n I don't want to have to change my lifestyle for medicines to work right like I have to with lithium. I cry sometimes into my fiancee chest and always say," why am I still going through this? It didn't last this long when I was younger. When I was younger I cried til I was tired n feel asleep and it went away. (this was before I started taking lithium) I too have been told by gynecologist, cardiologist,ER doctor, "that my heart, lungs, and overall health is good." Except I haven't been to a family Dr for 4 yrs. Trying to find one though. But, tonight I've cried a little and prayed to God to help me get through this, stop the devil from continuing this anxiety within me, and so much more" trying to get some sleep because I've got to get up in 4 hours to get my daughters up for school. I've lost so far when my anxiety was really bad last month 20 lbs in two weeks BC of the lump in my throat sensation and thinking I'm going to choke. Losing weight doesn't concern me too much because after I had my 4th baby 3 months ago I weighed 209 lbs and I'm getting married this August. Most of my days now are mild attacks like while forcing myself to eat. But when I eat it's just like a few bites then I'm full. (this is a little concerning). But, when I look back into last month when this all began im doing better and I feel I'm bettering my relationships and trying to live a slightly better lifestyle. I go out in public, I get better sleep, mostly now, but I'm always feeling like I'm making preparations for my death... The only thing I have an issue with is smoking cigarettes n I've only done that consistently for 2 yrs. I even keep a journal now. But, I'm still wondering if the drs made a mistake or did I not get an in detail overview of my body that I'm possibly missing something or didn't do one test n that would be the reason I died. Very scary, I'm just tired, I've been fighting for so long, n just want my life back. I know it's probably my anxiety since a few drs said, "I'm otherwise to young and healthy n that I'm not dying." But it's constant and I just want to get back to normal... Suggestions anybody???!!!
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Avatar universal
I have a fear I dying as well, I fear riding in a card or some weird reason, I fear that I'm having a heart attack!!! I fear so many things that I really get upset & my pulse can go up
To the 200's! I'm not taking
Pulse medicine, I also take Klonpin, ambien for
Sleep & remaron for depression!! I've had it mostly after my 2nd daughter. I am now 31 & 5 months pregnant & they want to cut me off my meds. I'm freaking out. The last pregnancy when they did I ended up in the hospital for 5 days before going to a rehab where they have me prescriptions anyways. What is wrong with doctors that they don't understand I have HORRIBLE anxeity & I have to take medicine!!!!
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3430285 tn?1353146637
I have also expirianced that vertigo feeling which i thought was strange as i never got it in the past but must be another symptom of anxiety. So many symptoms come with anxiety wow. Hope your feeling better,

Kirty x
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Avatar universal
Hi im also 22 i though i wAs the only one feeling this way I used to get this when i was smAller but lately ive been so stressed and deppressed and have been on this all over i feel horrible! Idk what to do i feel like im crazy and no one understands me ive been having problems with my fiance he doesnt understand how it feels and it makes it way worse feel like ima faint and i m getting a headache should i see a doctor? Can i get something for this? Why does this happen??
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So glad i'm not alone, I am constantly checking myself because i think i have cancer and i'm going to die, any ache or pain i get i think its cancer, or a heart attack or a stroke.  The list goes on, but mainly i think its cancer.  It's really bad because I actually have a bad back, and been to the doctors many times over the last 15 years because of it and now over the last 6 months i'm thinking these pains are something more serious, even though the doctors keeps telling me it isn't.  But it's not just my health.

It's got so bad that I don't like to go out unless it's to the cinema or for a meal and never anywhere busy or a city center, because I think anything could happen.  

I was at the doctors today because of some other things and was going to speak to him about how i was feeling but didn't because I felt silly about it.
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Avatar universal
I do that! If i see someone die in a show or even worse in real life i think about it ALOT and what happened to them and where they are and if they're okay and if i die what will happen to me and even maybe ill be gone forever. I hate it. I'm very curious as to what happens but then when i think about it i get really scared. Sorry 4 rambling..

Some of the time i obsess and think theres something wrong with my body, it does upset me and change my entire mood. Once I am fixated on the idea i may have some skin disorder or maybe i am infected somehow and i dont know about it or have a disease... those are common thoughts for me every few weeks but i dont let it last long and DO NOT research diseases online to see if you have them if ur like this. Many "symptoms" you may *think* you have, they could be nothing or common among sooooo many disorders and just because u are paranoid and have multiple symptoms, you're just making yourself worry over nothing, but i do know how that feels if anyone is like that. If u are, just watch tv or entertain yourself somehow, go to the doc if u want to and when they examine you and nothing's wrong you'll be fine (for a while at least). I was paranoid i had an STD for the longest time and when i got around to getting tested (i know bad to leave it go but i did for awhile) i was 100% clean on all tests.... I was like wow..... I was SURE i had something because of the paranoia of all the symptoms i *thought* i had....

I am 21 years old and am glad I am not alone. I have had a real hard life going thru a drug addiction (Ice) and now that i am 2 years sober from that i am still depressed. But this is new brought on anxiety. within the last 4 months Ive been becoming obsessed with death. It really scares me and i feel very alone. And im not someone who gets scared easily. I try to keep in mind that when i go, I'll be going to a better place, or maybe even I can choose where I want to go, stay here for a bit longer as a spirit maybe... I don't know. I am not religious, but do believe in some sort of god. So i do pray and believe me it does help calm you down (this is coming from a non-religious person).

I also have experienced sleep paralysis in the past but do not anymore. the 5 times it happened were so scarry i couldn't move and i felt like i was dying going into a light and i had a choice to die or stay alive and i couldn't snap out of those "paralysis" episodes for sometimes 40 minutes. Very vivid, felt like there was an evil presence and i couldn't move at all or cry for help. i haven't had one of them for awhile but whenever those episodes happened whenever i started praying to god, i "snapped out" of the episode within 15 seconds after i pray! That was a confirmation to me that there is good and evil in this world, and that there is a heaven. But then we go into having hell scare me but that's rarely the occasion. Keep up ur faith, it helps!!!!

Sorry i got into my life story a bit, Just excited to share and feel im not alone in feeling this way and wanted to share a bit about my experiences.

-Artie
And if anyone needs or wants to contact me just to talk about anything feel free to. write.***@****
Helpful - 0
1348086 tn?1370783185
This kind of thread helps me out so much. I have had terrible anxiety for a couple of months now due to job stress and taking care of my elderly mother. I've started becoming agoraphobic which isn't good when you need your job. I know this might be wrong to ask, but for you with faith, I would ask that you pray for me. I cannot even go to church due to my agoraphobia. I have questioned my own faith off and on for most of my life. I will pray each day for others and myself but then I would think, there is nothing more in this life than what we see. It is so frustrating.
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Avatar universal
you helped more than you will ever know...I have been suffering for years with fear of death and everything else...I recently joined church...I;m in the learning process of being a Christian...and was feeling extreme guilt because I still have to take pills for anxiety...I thought that meant I wasn't trusting God enough to cure me....when I go to Church I feel a lot better..but sometimes sitting there every once in a while I get these crazy thoughts again...I know the more I turn my troubles over to God I will start feeling better....but until my relationship strengthens with him I have to learn to ...divert my thoughts...fat chance...but will try...thanks again...
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1670856 tn?1316773768
(revival of thread here)
But yeah, same story for me. Last night I kinda awakened the old feeling i knew from 7 years ago.-
Was laying in my bed and suddenly it just popped in my head again- And made me sad to the core.
Worse is in my fantastic mind..... i feel like i can create the feeling of leaving this place.
Like when you come into a room that stinks and you feel like you can almost taste the smell on your tongue-

Now today.... Im not sure what to do. Feel like punching something repeatedly. Just feel angry and that its unfair. (which is kinda childish).-
But hell..... I know its coming one day, and there is no escape.... Why should i then waste time thinking about it? Makes no sense. . . . but then again..... It makes perfect sense. Who can claim they honestly do not fear death ?
I just think that most people are skilled enough to hide that fear from themselves. And somehow I and others need to master that skill again as we once did (guessing we all as children did not give a rats*** about it).

And then again..... Maybe all it takes is to feel you have accomplished what you must in life?
I often imagine being old, living in some house with a old hag I call my wife. Kids and grandchildren.... In that state, would I feel more ready since I had make something of my life?
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Avatar universal
I feel exctly like u do i am in dbt 3k in medical bills thinking everything and anything is wrong i am 31 and fear of dying and leaving my loved ones behind... How r u now?
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1460652 tn?1340248730
I HATE THAT I AM A CHRONIC PULSE-CHECKER! it is the most ridiculous thing.when you think about it, how many people who actually HAVE heart attacks go around checking their freaking pulse all the time?i feel crazy!
and someone said that they are afraid of dying because of leaving their children behind...thats what i fear most.i cant bear the thought of not seeing my daughter grow up.
i keep telling myself all will be ok and im fine, bu here i am at 1 am typing away when i should be sleeping.sleep?whats that?!
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Avatar universal
i was online looking up fear of death because i happened to glance at the obituatry page and started freaking out about how I never want to die.... I found this site and your blog and am glad to see im not alone.... I know its silly... i sit up until 1-2 am everynight (work at 8) worrying about if my heart will stop beathing in the middle of the night, wonder if someone will break in and murder me.... My thing of it is.... No one has died tragically in my family... and i have a big family.... so i am anticipating the worst because it has to happen eventually... or atleast i think it does... thank you for your story. WE ARE ALL in this fight together!
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Avatar universal
Also, the flashing in vision part could be migranes from the panic.  You sound really tense.  try boiling some water and add some lavender herbs to the water.  that will help with the headaches or migranes.  I try to use folk remedies or home remedies when treating a symptom.  And, if you have or can find peppermint essential oil, try applying a small drop to your temples and behind your ears.  It helps with migranes and tension headaches.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I felt the same and then I finally just faced my fear and said to myself, "If I'm going to die, I know I have touched plenty of peoples heart by now."  I've mentally pushed that thought to the back of my head.  Something else that can help you face your fears is confront yourself in a mirror and reasure yourself that everything will be ok.  Tell yourself that you are healthy and say it with a smile.  I may sound crazy, but this helped me several times when I feel like death is close to me.  If you are religious in anyway, this could help:  Fear is like the devil, it feeds on itself.  If you face the devil (within you) then it smothers itself like a fire.  I'm not very religious but my father is.  He said the devil is inside you (to me it's my evil self) and tries to put fear in your head and when that seed of fear is planted it can only grow bigger if it scares you and the more you fear it the more that fear grows.  If you can find a way of chopping it down before it spreads out like a vine then you will be happier.  My way was facing myself in a mirror and telling myself that "You're healthy, happy and vibrant.  You know that nothing is more powerful than you.  You fear nothing and fear really fear's you.  It's scared and it's only trying to tear you down.  It's only afraid that it's getting chopped down."  If you can find a way of chopping down your fear then you could be better.  It may grow back from time to time, but you have to chop it right back down again.  Everything will be ok!  Practice slow, deep, breathing when you fear this thought again.  Close your eyes, think of something that makes you happy, and just take slow deep breaths.  If certain smells make you relax, try making that smell only available when you feel tense.  Mine is fresh strawberries and blueberries.  I sometimes make smoothies with strawberries and water or lowfat vanilla yogurt and just lay back and sip on it and try to relax.  It helps alot.  
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Avatar universal
I really like this quote:
"The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead."  ALBERT EINSTEIN .
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Avatar universal
Well,I have had this terrible fear of dying for many years now, I have lost many family members and been quite traumatised through my life with abuse and loss.I beleive that when we loose somebody or there has been such big happenings in your life this has a massive impact on your life surroundings, I lost my father when I was only three he drowned in a boating accident,then years later I lost my favourite uncle to bowel cancer then a few years later I was abused by my brother, then my mother had two more marriages, in the processI have been to eight different schools, my uncle then died two years later my grandmother, then only two months after that my mother committed suicide, so this is where I have the problem of dealing with life, the loss of life is so faint, its gone before you know it, and why is life so hard, so challenging.  I have a beautiful husband and two lovely smart children, ages 3.5 and 6 they are my life my soul and my friends, they keep me going... but still I go to bed and wake with attacks of dying and WHY??? I am not sure  
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1054801 tn?1327948399
u dont know how glad to hear that im not the only one who thinks like that i fear death all the time im only 24 years old i have three kids in my mind i think how sad would they be if i die imagin them being sad for me living there life without me than i get very sad i try so hard not to cry in front of them at night i always think of death what if i just stop breathing it gets pretty bad i dont let my kids outside because of all the diseases that they can catch.i do have ovarian cyst but its not cancerous it just fills up with liquid i had that since 2003 i think ever since i found that out i had this fear of dieing there was a time were i was stress out over relationship problems and money i didnt eat for three weeks i kinda shut down i weight 94 pounds at that time im 104 now after having my son in july the sadest thing for me is that my family dont know i have this problem i dont want them to think im insane i dont even drive cause i fear that i might die in a car crash or even kill my kids its hard when people are like u dont drive still i always make excuses why i dont drive only if they knew the real reasone why. my mom does know im fobic about food!!im glad i found a site were i can talk about issues and not be judge about it cause we all have the same thing in commen that is fear..
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Avatar universal
Hey everyone, i feel your pain and would like to declare that i am one of those people too with the same condition. I on the other hand have terrible problems at night, i goto bed and lay there then something comes upon on me and i panic. 7/10 i more than likely shed a few tears even though i am a 24yr old male. It may sound quite sad but its one of those things that will probably stick with me until the dreaded time comes. Its nice to come on here and share my thoughts when other people just think you are weirdos. I think people with the same problem should share it and not bottle it up, its nice to be able to communicate with other people and share your feelings.

lee nelson
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Avatar universal
May the spirits of earth guide you and always keep you safe.
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Avatar universal
I know this feeling i have experienced it when i first started getting PA, im not a very religious person so someone suggested that i learn mindfullness. Basically its training you mind to concertrate on whats happenong now!!...You cant change what happened yesterday and cant controll whats going to happen tommorow ...but you can control whats happening in this very moment and i found this really helped...death is going to happen if we worry about it or not its the natrual process of life...Yes it scary but what is more scary is waisting life worrying about something you cant controll...

I also found that listing things that i am greatful for also help and put things in propective, the can be as simple as im glad for the sun shine etc.



You only live once so why not enjoy it...
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