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How do you deal with Thanatophobia
Lately I have been having problems with weird feelings during the day,I think it's medication related,but because of these feelings I have become overwhelmed with fearing death.I'm only 39yrs old and I'm afraid to sleep thinking I won't wake up.The fear of death everytime I have a weird feeling almost causing myself to have a panic attack.I have medication for panic attacks,but don't like to take them unless I have to,but they still don't get me past thinking about death.Is there anything out there that would help me overcome or at least help me cope with it.Thanks.
This is the first thread i have ever found to do with thanatophobia that is still on going and i have never wrote about my experience with strangers online before only people very close to me know about my thanatophobia and even they know bare minimum because if you dont suffer with it you cant physically understand it or atleast understand the pain of it. The inevitability of it is what scares me the most, you can always be scared of things and think 'well thats never going to happen' but its the only thing that is actually going to happen and thats what i can not deal with it. I know it sounds strange but since a very young age (from as young as i can remember i used to cry to my mum saying i dont want to die and im 22 now) i have always battled with my mind back and forth and said to myself 'this isnt going to happen' then i would think 'yes it is though' and id battle back and forth and the fact the brain battle always ends on yes it is going to happen is what kills me. I am absolutely petrified of the thought of no longer being around of not knowing what happens and knowing there is an eternity of not being alive i have no idea how i will ever come to grips with this and i honestly cant fathom how people can just be okay with the fact they will die on day it just doesnt make any sense to me. I sit there at night watching tv and all of a sudden my brain will say 'YOUR GOING TO DIE ONE DAY' and then life as i know it is all messed up again and im having a panic attack and i honestly feel trapped i cant get out of dying and it goes around in circles the only thing that comforts me is these forums and most of the time all i try to do is force it out of my mind because if i dont it takes over my life and it pretty much already has took over my life. Does anybody know of anything that truly helps and relaxes these thoughts? Im sorry for the rambling i just feel like the only comfort i get is knowing i am not the only one that suffers with this truly awful phobia knowing people actually share these emotions.
Thanks Jenny xx
Thanks Jenny xx
6 Comments
I myself deal with the same fears of death and anxiety attacks as the rest of you in this discussion board. I am a 28 year old male and have been dealing with it for the better part of 10 years or more. I've tried everything from exercising to medication and there's nothing that truly cures it that I've found. I do the same and try to work my body and mind in a way that you postpone the attacks by keeping busy, but always get them near sleep and sometimes randomly throughout the day. Recently I bought a book entitled "Biocentrism". Aside from the far out science and logics of the book, there is one fact that stood out in my mind that could help others. Our bodies are made up of energy and one constant in the universe is that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred. This is a proven scientific fact. So even though your body will not last forever, your energy will. I decided to post this on here because I know the tireless feeling of helplessness and despair. If this post happens to help even one person deal with it, it would be more than worth the time it took me to write it. I hope it helps.
Hi i have very similar thoughts. I have 2 children and am constantly terrified that i am going to die and not see them grow up. Every night when i say goodnight to them i think itll be the last time i ever see them. This then spirals into panic and o dont know what to do. The thought of them not being able to cope without me and of not being here to help them through it scares the hell out of me.
I am a 16 year old boy who also fears death I remember when I was very young I would always cry to my parents too and tell them I dont wanna die they would sing me this song that would calm me down but itd be the same every night and recently about 2 months ago the fear has come down Ive had huge break downs and about 5 anxiety attacks its calmed down for the past weeks but what really has helped is my dog its just there for me when I break down crying hoping my mom doesnt hear since she also begins to cry with me but I dont like to see her cry so I try to hide it and pretend it doesnt happen but the dog calms me down it relieves the stress away try getting a dog hope this helps
Look into reincarnation. I know it sounds silly, but there's actually some pretty solid proof that it could exist. Every time I think about death, I try and remember that I might come back as someone else. Sometimes, I think "no, that's ridiculous," but then I think of all the support behind it, and that, additionally, there may be some things science can't explain. Believing in some sort of afterlife, anything, is what gets me through.
Anyone who overcame this condition to tell me how he/she did it because I'm suffering a lot and not at peace at all. Thanks for help.
I also suffer with this but also have ocd so it actually never stops tormenting me to the point I have become terrified of life itself , I have tried everything, constantly feeling trapped with no one to talk to , I wouldn't wish this on any one as its ruining my life to the point I no longer want to live it , it's not living its coping with endless suffering :'(
it is the scariest thing in the world to experience... a bell you can not unring, and living through knowing that is torture splattered all over your life in slow motion 24/7... and the only times it's not in slow motion is when you're completely tripping out... it is ANY therapists nightmare, simply because the ONLY ANSWER we will accept is NOTHING! Why? Because DEATH always WINS in our minds and no therapist can tell us death won't happen ... and unfortunately that's all we need or will accept ... all i can seriously do is believe, pray & manifest a MIRACLE of CURING DEATH while i am here on Earth through my art mind & heart.. it is the scariest experience to live 24/7 with because you know EVERYONEs answer is NOT the ONLY answer you NEED.. no worse nightmare possible because you WAKE UP to it every morning ! ends up feeling like the worst nightmare possible that you can't ever wake up from, so then your only answer ends up being death itself.. a demonic horrifying loop ... again, the only thing that helps me is my solid belief in the future being unknown.. every next second is unknown.. so I live my life believing that one of these next seconds will be the second death dies... please excuse me for using all the caps but im doing my best here to be as real about this as possible so we can evolve asap! much love
I have the true answer here. Everyone of the world will try to tell you a lie- to put the fear of death out of your mind and to do some sort of relaxation technique and forget about it.
But don't listen to them. Your fear of death may be what saves your life right now.
Answer:
The only thing that can save you from the,fear if death is to get right with God. It is very reasonable and wise for you to be afraid of death right now if you are not a Christian. This is because there will be a judgement day where all people who have ever lived will be judged by God. Most people will be sentenced to hell, where you burn forever, and only a few will have eternal life in heaven. The only way to have eternal life is to be perfect, though. Since all have sinned, though, you have to have a savior who can clear you from all guilt before God.
Who will save you?
ONLY Jesus can save you. He is the only sacrifice for sins that God will accept.
He lived a perfect life (never sinned) but was crucified anyway to take away the punishment we deserve. This punishment for sin that Jesus completed is the only acceptable sacrifice to God. If we believe in Jesus, ask God to forgive us of our sins because of the blood of Jesus, turn from all evil and persist only in what is good (essentially, become a disciple of Jesus), then you will be saved.
Only if you do this, God will not hold your sins against you. But if you do not believe and repent, you only have a fearful expectation of judgement that awaits you when you die.
And it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Do not be deceived- you can never be good enough on your own to enter heaven and hell is so very real.
Don't let hell be your fate. It doesn't have to be. The vast majority of people WILL go to hell, but you do NOT have to be one of them. I have been sent to warn you.
That is what this whole existence is about. The meaning of life is to first be forgiven of your sins by God through Jesus Christ and then live for God and not yourself. Do good things now not for your own glory but for God's.
Live your life so that in the end, God will say to you, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
If you have asked God to forgive you of your sins by the blood of Jesus, then the next step is to read the Holy Bible. There you will receive further instructions about how to live now that you are out of the matrix.
But don't listen to them. Your fear of death may be what saves your life right now.
Answer:
The only thing that can save you from the,fear if death is to get right with God. It is very reasonable and wise for you to be afraid of death right now if you are not a Christian. This is because there will be a judgement day where all people who have ever lived will be judged by God. Most people will be sentenced to hell, where you burn forever, and only a few will have eternal life in heaven. The only way to have eternal life is to be perfect, though. Since all have sinned, though, you have to have a savior who can clear you from all guilt before God.
Who will save you?
ONLY Jesus can save you. He is the only sacrifice for sins that God will accept.
He lived a perfect life (never sinned) but was crucified anyway to take away the punishment we deserve. This punishment for sin that Jesus completed is the only acceptable sacrifice to God. If we believe in Jesus, ask God to forgive us of our sins because of the blood of Jesus, turn from all evil and persist only in what is good (essentially, become a disciple of Jesus), then you will be saved.
Only if you do this, God will not hold your sins against you. But if you do not believe and repent, you only have a fearful expectation of judgement that awaits you when you die.
And it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Do not be deceived- you can never be good enough on your own to enter heaven and hell is so very real.
Don't let hell be your fate. It doesn't have to be. The vast majority of people WILL go to hell, but you do NOT have to be one of them. I have been sent to warn you.
That is what this whole existence is about. The meaning of life is to first be forgiven of your sins by God through Jesus Christ and then live for God and not yourself. Do good things now not for your own glory but for God's.
Live your life so that in the end, God will say to you, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
If you have asked God to forgive you of your sins by the blood of Jesus, then the next step is to read the Holy Bible. There you will receive further instructions about how to live now that you are out of the matrix.
Oh my god, this thread gave me goosebumps. It's really the story of my life.... My god, where to start ?
It's the same as all of you, same fear, same crippling fear. I can give you some thoughts that might help you a little. These made me a little better, but not that much :
-The more you think about it, the better it is. Panic attacks come from something that scares you. When the panic happens, endorphins and hormones get released in your body to calm you down. And then, right after, you are not afraid of death anymore. So it's a chemical thing that happens because you try and dismiss the idea. So discussing it when you are not afraid is a good thing
-Death is permanent, but the fear of it can be changed. Like snakes won't ever go away, but you can stop fearing them.
-Think of all the nothingness BEFORE you were born. You didn't mind... So it's going to be the same afterwords.
-Energy transfer really helps as well.
-Thinking about death is not the same thing as RUMINATING about the blackness of it. So your problem might not be just the fear of death, but also obsessional thinking all together.
-Try lowering your ego, it helps.
-You will die, that's for sure, so why not enjoy the gift that is life ?
-The more you think about the NOW moment, the better it gets in your head. I think we are not designed to go further away in the future or way back in the past.
Hope this helps some of you.
It's the same as all of you, same fear, same crippling fear. I can give you some thoughts that might help you a little. These made me a little better, but not that much :
-The more you think about it, the better it is. Panic attacks come from something that scares you. When the panic happens, endorphins and hormones get released in your body to calm you down. And then, right after, you are not afraid of death anymore. So it's a chemical thing that happens because you try and dismiss the idea. So discussing it when you are not afraid is a good thing
-Death is permanent, but the fear of it can be changed. Like snakes won't ever go away, but you can stop fearing them.
-Think of all the nothingness BEFORE you were born. You didn't mind... So it's going to be the same afterwords.
-Energy transfer really helps as well.
-Thinking about death is not the same thing as RUMINATING about the blackness of it. So your problem might not be just the fear of death, but also obsessional thinking all together.
-Try lowering your ego, it helps.
-You will die, that's for sure, so why not enjoy the gift that is life ?
-The more you think about the NOW moment, the better it gets in your head. I think we are not designed to go further away in the future or way back in the past.
Hope this helps some of you.
Keep going as if ur carrying on for the cancer patients be positive give yourself rewards. They must be scare as well but not as scare as us but they have to go through all the painful chemos. So they can do it we can as well. Remember ITS ANXIETY NOT US.... IT MAY SEEM REALLY SCARY. U wont be so scare if u did not have ANXIETY DIDORDER or THANTOPHOBIA. Stay strong!!!!!
Have you lost someone very close to you, or is it just anxiety triggered by stress? Either way, try to think of calming thoughts or listen to a calm and happy themed song, such as Every Breath You Take by The Police. I lost my friend Daniel years ago and started fearing death two nights after that. Death is a natural thing, as is the fear of it. Just try your hardest to resist panic and if you're on any morning anti-anxiety meds, take them immediately after you get up. Trust me on what I'm saying. It really helps
I believe I also have thanatophobia, I'm a 18 year old male and I've had countless sleepless nights because of panic attacks some worse then others and not always at night, once I got one on my train ride to school 3-4 years ago and it was after a bad fight with my girlfriend. My biological dad died when I was about 11-12 and I believe I have the panic attacks because of that. My fear starts with me thinking of the eternal nothingness loosing all 5 senses and brand activity I wonder is anything left? If there is when will that die? Everything we know has a start and an end so even the nothingness must end right? The uncertainty gets to me, I feel the need to plan so I can prevent death but with that being impossible I feel so small 'metaphorically'. Another fear of mine is there is no going back in life, I wish I could pause life but I can't what happens when your old and you know the next step is death but all you want To do is start from a child again. What makes it worse is I don't know what I want specifically meaning if I was given the choice of eternal life in any way would I take it, I not sure if you could chose your path of eternal life what would it be.
I seem to be the only one in my emmediate family who has these panic attacks. I've had no therapy nor medication I always just tried to face my fear but as I've learnt you can run but not hide the fear comes back when I was young I would prey lots, I still do & yet I've found that the occupying trick would help me aswell, I would for hours sit in the toilet in my house and tear the toilet paper off one piece at a time and stack them on the floor as neatly as I could untill I was so tired I would fall on my bed and sleep right away.
It's great to know others relate and in the time it has taken me to write this I have calmed down because I only searched this page up because I was shaking with fear.
I seem to be the only one in my emmediate family who has these panic attacks. I've had no therapy nor medication I always just tried to face my fear but as I've learnt you can run but not hide the fear comes back when I was young I would prey lots, I still do & yet I've found that the occupying trick would help me aswell, I would for hours sit in the toilet in my house and tear the toilet paper off one piece at a time and stack them on the floor as neatly as I could untill I was so tired I would fall on my bed and sleep right away.
It's great to know others relate and in the time it has taken me to write this I have calmed down because I only searched this page up because I was shaking with fear.
I'm 16 years old in the middle of exams, the more revision I do it lessens, but if you have free time then I find writing stories to preoccupy the time but, literally just do anything.
I'm 14 and constantly have these fears, I also agree with what your saying about when u have a lot on your mind or a busy day ahead i loose these fears, I spoke to my mum about getting therapy but she doesnt understand it and thinks im being morbid, I fear it will get worse and soon start having panic attacks, it used to happen only at night when my mind was trying to rest, i constantly used to have to sleep in my parents bed, but as im older i try not to do this now, but suddenly its happening during the day, it's something i want to get rid of but it never goes away unless im close to either my parents or sister. Should I speak to her about therapy again???
Hi everyone, I also have thanatophobia and it has got to the point now that it is really ruining my life. I am only 22 years old but I think about dying day and night and this fear has now caused me to have extreme health anxiety. I am constantly worrying about getting cancer, having a stroke, blood clot, heart attack you name it I have thought I have it and spent hours googling it. I am constantly at the doctors getting tested and reassurance that I don't have diseases and things but I am just convinced that I am going to die young and I am so terrified of dying that I feel like incase I do have an illness, I need to try and get it quickly to act upon it. Like a lot of you it is the nothingness after death that terrifies me. Ever since I was a child I would lie in bed and think what happens after you die, does life just go on and on and then the world ends and then the universe just exists for all eternity? So this is literally no end ever? When I start to really think about life I get myself so worked up and often have panic attacks over it. I am so worried that I am never going to get over this because there is nothing anyone can say to me that can convince me otherwise since there is no proof. I wish I was like others who just accept death as a natural part of life and just get on with it but I am living in constant fear and the fact that it is going to happen absolutely terrifies me. Sometimes I wish I had never been born so I didn't have to go through this. I have started seeing a therapist but I don't really think she is helping me much and I am now thinking maybe hypnotherapy might help. please if there is anyone who knows any methods or any way of getting over this fear can they let me know as I don't feel like I am living my life at the moment, I am living inside my thoughts and it is really getting me down. I feel like anything fun I do is always shrouded in this constant fear in the back of my mind and I want to enjoy life and not be like this. I don't know anyone else with this fear like me so it gives me comfort to know I am not alone although i wouldn't wish this on anyone else. I wish you all luck in getting over this horrible fear xx
It's really scary. I can't sleep at night and I have panic attacks because of my thanatophobia. I can't do anything without thinking about if it will kill me first. It's so scary, it honestly makes me cry. To think that lots of other people suffer the same, it really breaks my heart. No one should have to go through what we have to go through. No matter what I do, it's always on my mind, haunting me. I've tried everything, from trying to enjoy life to seeing a therapist. I'm really scared, more scared than you may think. Every second of everyday I'm scared, and I want it to stop. I want it all to go away, to just leave me alone. I need help. Please, can anyone help me?
You described what I'm going through to a T. I've been thinking about getting on medication even though I really don't want to. Along with the Thanatophobia, I have general/social anxiety, and Postpartum Depression right now. The panic attacks happens mainly when I'm alone or when I try to sleep when the thoughts creep in. Despite my religious beliefs, I also fear the unknown of what will happen after death. The act of dying doesn't matter. It has an end. Afterwards doesn't. I keep telling myself things will be fine, that it's inevitable, and that we may not know like we are asleep (kind of like the "dead" sleeps where it's all black and you don't know you were asleep until you wake up; only we will never know). It's kind of comforting cuz that way we won't have any worries about anything; just content. I don't want to be separated from my son, so that's another thing. But, I fear not being alive in a sense; no experiences, etc. I know that according to science, energy can not be created or destroyed. It simply transforms. Maybe that's what we will do too. Transform into something unlike what we know now; so we would in fact still be living in a sense. I also believe in spirits, angels, demons, etc. If they exist, there is no reason to not believe we go somewhere afterwards. We will just be..different. Those thoughts help me the most. Only problem is, it keeps coming back; like something we have to battle. Some fights we win, others we lose. I'm just sick of losing.
When you said the eternity of nothingness, I just thought 'That's me, omg, everything he is saying'. I'm your age as well and that same fear constantly surrounds me. It's not just me dying though, it's a fear of people I know and am close with dying as well. I just think we need to try and not think about it and occupy ourselves. Then again, I was studying science just ten minutes ago.
Im 12 yrs old and have been self-diagnosed with thantaphobia. The fear of death haunts me. Each night before I sleep I wonder what will happen to me after I die. Will I be nothing? I dont know how to tell my parents or anyone close to me. I dont want them to worry about me. My parents have been going through so much of stress due to their own company. It will just add extra stress and I really dont know how to tell them. One of my moms friends son who was 30 yrs old died in a freak accident. a few nights later I had gotten a dream of him. I was freaked and from that point on I have been thinking/fearing death. Im planning to talk to my school counselor and i am gonna make sure that no one knows. I just dont know what to do. I cry and think wht would happen to my family if i died. I need help!
Hi Agnesiris (and anyone else in her position),
I'm 17 years old and the fear of death has interfered with my life for a while. Your symptoms are almost identical to mine and I completely understand what you're going through. The first thing I would say is that you should definitely tell your mom about this even if its the middle of the night. I was afraid to talk to mine as well for a while but when I did it immediately felt better. I know you're young and that makes it even more difficult to seek out a therapist or a 3rd party to talk to but maybe if you start by telling a family member, they can guide you to more professional help. Looking into books on the topic and advice on other websites/forums should help as well. Also, if you feel a panic attack happening or you feel really sad- don't try to pretend the feeling is not there or distract yourself. Let it happen. Panic attacks normally can't intensely last more than 20 minutes and there is usually a period of relief after the attack. If you hold it in, the feeling will just grow overtime and become unbearable. Breathing exercises and meditation can really help. Finally, don't feel embarrassed about what you're going through or feel like you can't tell others. While fear of death (and the unknown in general) is normal, having it turn into a phobia (i.e. not being able to function normally for a long period of time due to it) is a much more intense problem. Think of it this way: when someone breaks their leg they don't just keep it to themselves and say that other people with bruises are walking just fine- they tell people and go seek help. Their lives are directly affected by something they cannot control and then they get treatment for it and move on with their lives. Unfortunately due to a lot of stereotyping and stigma surrounding mental illnesses, other people who have never gone through what you're going through may be quick to judge. Don't listen to them and stay strong because at the end of the day they are not the ones who have to deal with what you're dealing with.
Best of luck,
Ana
As far as some links you can check out:
* breathing exercises *
http://************.com/blog/archives/2013/07/22/reduce-your-anxiety-this-minute-3-different-types-of-deep-breathing/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15F9JQcM5Tk
* meditation*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIJQsE8C5Is
http://www.anxieties.com/133/gad-step2c#.UscV42RDuRg
*some philosophy and quotes*
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/death
http://blog.talkingphilosophy.com/?p=2854
-> the last few sentences of this really struck me:
"Ignoring death leaves us with a false sense of life’s permanence and perhaps encourages us to lose ourselves in the minutiae of daily of life. Obsessive rumination on death, on the other hand, can lead us away from life. Honestly coming to terms with one’s death involves reflection on its significance in one’s life, and thinking about the larger values that give life its meaning. In the end, it is useful to think about death only to the point that it frees us to live fully immersed in the life we have yet to live."
I'm 17 years old and the fear of death has interfered with my life for a while. Your symptoms are almost identical to mine and I completely understand what you're going through. The first thing I would say is that you should definitely tell your mom about this even if its the middle of the night. I was afraid to talk to mine as well for a while but when I did it immediately felt better. I know you're young and that makes it even more difficult to seek out a therapist or a 3rd party to talk to but maybe if you start by telling a family member, they can guide you to more professional help. Looking into books on the topic and advice on other websites/forums should help as well. Also, if you feel a panic attack happening or you feel really sad- don't try to pretend the feeling is not there or distract yourself. Let it happen. Panic attacks normally can't intensely last more than 20 minutes and there is usually a period of relief after the attack. If you hold it in, the feeling will just grow overtime and become unbearable. Breathing exercises and meditation can really help. Finally, don't feel embarrassed about what you're going through or feel like you can't tell others. While fear of death (and the unknown in general) is normal, having it turn into a phobia (i.e. not being able to function normally for a long period of time due to it) is a much more intense problem. Think of it this way: when someone breaks their leg they don't just keep it to themselves and say that other people with bruises are walking just fine- they tell people and go seek help. Their lives are directly affected by something they cannot control and then they get treatment for it and move on with their lives. Unfortunately due to a lot of stereotyping and stigma surrounding mental illnesses, other people who have never gone through what you're going through may be quick to judge. Don't listen to them and stay strong because at the end of the day they are not the ones who have to deal with what you're dealing with.
Best of luck,
Ana
As far as some links you can check out:
* breathing exercises *
http://************.com/blog/archives/2013/07/22/reduce-your-anxiety-this-minute-3-different-types-of-deep-breathing/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15F9JQcM5Tk
* meditation*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIJQsE8C5Is
http://www.anxieties.com/133/gad-step2c#.UscV42RDuRg
*some philosophy and quotes*
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/death
http://blog.talkingphilosophy.com/?p=2854
-> the last few sentences of this really struck me:
"Ignoring death leaves us with a false sense of life’s permanence and perhaps encourages us to lose ourselves in the minutiae of daily of life. Obsessive rumination on death, on the other hand, can lead us away from life. Honestly coming to terms with one’s death involves reflection on its significance in one’s life, and thinking about the larger values that give life its meaning. In the end, it is useful to think about death only to the point that it frees us to live fully immersed in the life we have yet to live."
Someone please, please help me! I've been trying to sleep but I can't! I am a 12yr old female with self-diagnosed thanatophobia... The Existential death anxiety. I try to think of other things to get calm but it never works. I have panic attacks in bed and want to scream! I cry to myself and want to go to my mom, but don't want to wake her . I know I have a long life but, that doesn't help me. This is worst in bed not being able to sleep and then I start to panic.. I've been known to have a few panic attacks in my family but there isn't anything they can do about it, I have had this for about maybe a year or 2.. I so hope that this doesn't get to me while at school because I might start to break down and scream... I feel trapped sometimes and don't know what to do!! Please, you are all nice people and know what I am going through.. Help me out please?? My teeth are trembling...
I also have this fear of dying ALL the time. It causes me to be anxious and irritable. Every little ache or pain that I have I'm scared it's something that will cause me to die, when I'm driving to or from work I'm scared I'll get into a car accident and die, I'm scared to fall asleep at night....etc. I seriously thought I was the only one that had these thoughts. It's very scary and I've noticed things that trigger it more is when a family member dies or if I see someone my age (31) in the obituaries I start thinking about it. It gets very overwhelming. I'm going to talk to my Dr. about it and see what my options are. It's not a very fun way to go through life. Brings a whole new meaning to 'live like you're dying'. Good luck to all of you and if I learn any little tricks or ways to avoid this thinking....I'll be sure to share.
I totally understand what you are going through and it seems to be never ending, looping through your mind.
For me it had alot to do with a depression medication I was on for over five years, which I suddenly decided to stop taking.
I went through the withdrawl effects and when it was over, I felt okay for a week or so.
Now I have this new phobia which I never had before and it's driving me crazy.
I try to sleep at night and then when I get up, there it is again.
The anxiety, fear and panic.
Keeping myself busy does help me to focus on other things.
I am even afraid to go to bed, thinking I might not wake up.
I am a believer in life after death but there is always this "what if?" in the back of my mind.
An eternity of just oblivion scares the hell out of me too.
Not just that but I would want to be with the people I loved and cared about the most to be with me.
And if there is nothing after this, then its just very sad.
But I think there is a reason we are all here, right now.
Maybe finding someone with similar interests who is a round the same age could be a good idea too?
I am back on my meds but it helps me only a little bit with the depression and not the anxiety.
I just don't want death to be a permanent ending, when life is so short to do the things we want to do.
I am 27/m and I have been having these terrible fears for weeks now.
Emotionally I sometimes find it hard to hold myself together.
I never used to feel this way until I quit those pills and it may have screwed me up.
I just want to go back to feeling how I was before all this, when I felt alive and apart of things.
Now I feel disconnected, cold and alone.
I get comfort from reading thr Bible before I go to bed, at least that gives me a piece of mind.
Also, all those people who experience near death and come back saying they saw other beings, relatives and friends, they cannot all be crazy.
This fear has brought me to the darkest point in my life but I will get out of it no matter what!
There is always hope.
For me it had alot to do with a depression medication I was on for over five years, which I suddenly decided to stop taking.
I went through the withdrawl effects and when it was over, I felt okay for a week or so.
Now I have this new phobia which I never had before and it's driving me crazy.
I try to sleep at night and then when I get up, there it is again.
The anxiety, fear and panic.
Keeping myself busy does help me to focus on other things.
I am even afraid to go to bed, thinking I might not wake up.
I am a believer in life after death but there is always this "what if?" in the back of my mind.
An eternity of just oblivion scares the hell out of me too.
Not just that but I would want to be with the people I loved and cared about the most to be with me.
And if there is nothing after this, then its just very sad.
But I think there is a reason we are all here, right now.
Maybe finding someone with similar interests who is a round the same age could be a good idea too?
I am back on my meds but it helps me only a little bit with the depression and not the anxiety.
I just don't want death to be a permanent ending, when life is so short to do the things we want to do.
I am 27/m and I have been having these terrible fears for weeks now.
Emotionally I sometimes find it hard to hold myself together.
I never used to feel this way until I quit those pills and it may have screwed me up.
I just want to go back to feeling how I was before all this, when I felt alive and apart of things.
Now I feel disconnected, cold and alone.
I get comfort from reading thr Bible before I go to bed, at least that gives me a piece of mind.
Also, all those people who experience near death and come back saying they saw other beings, relatives and friends, they cannot all be crazy.
This fear has brought me to the darkest point in my life but I will get out of it no matter what!
There is always hope.
That's not unusual at all. He's your dad. Most people are more comfy talking with a 3rd party person who is detatched from you personally.
You could always try to talk to a therapist.
You could always try to talk to a therapist.
Thankyou for replying.
Yes, my religion is a great source of comfort and I turn to it, but at times it only delays the fear...it comes back quite quickly.
I know I should talk to a therapist and maybe my minster, and the interesting thing is that my dad is the minister of the church, and also does counselling part time...I just find it difficult to talk to him about it for some reason.
Yes, my religion is a great source of comfort and I turn to it, but at times it only delays the fear...it comes back quite quickly.
I know I should talk to a therapist and maybe my minster, and the interesting thing is that my dad is the minister of the church, and also does counselling part time...I just find it difficult to talk to him about it for some reason.
You are a very young person with a lifetime ahead of you. Some people get stuck on death, and a lot of people with anxiety disorders pick this topic as something to worry about at some point, it is totally normal.
You said you do have religion. Perhaps turning to your religion a bit more would help to ease your worries? Also, while of course everyone will die some day.....it is something you simply CANNOT worry about. I know, easier said than done. But, truthfully, is worrying about it going to allow you to avoid it? Certain phobias we can work through b/c if we harness our anxiety, we can essentially stop the fear and avoid whatever situation that scares us. Unfortunately, with this topic, you cannot change the inevitible. But, you are talking something that won't happen for literally DECADES.
I don't know if you have, but if not...get yourself into some talk therapy. That is the best way to conquer something like this. Many times, this kind of fear will fade away on its own, but if you feel it is interfering in your daily life, then it is time to consider getting some help.
Also, this kind of fear is not at all ununsual for someone your age....you are going through a lot of changes, becoming a young adult, realizing that life is full of responsibilities, and unlike when you were a child, you now have the ability to fully understand the concept of death, which can be frightening when you start to think about it.
One day you will look back and maybe even laugh about how fearful you were about this. ANYone who says they AREN'T afraid to some level of dying is fooling themselves. We, as humans fear the unknown, and that is a biggie.
Get yourself into therapy, or increase the frequency of your therapy visits, and perhaps turn to your religion a bit more...that is a great source of comfort for those who believe. Maybe talk with your priest? Minister?
You said you do have religion. Perhaps turning to your religion a bit more would help to ease your worries? Also, while of course everyone will die some day.....it is something you simply CANNOT worry about. I know, easier said than done. But, truthfully, is worrying about it going to allow you to avoid it? Certain phobias we can work through b/c if we harness our anxiety, we can essentially stop the fear and avoid whatever situation that scares us. Unfortunately, with this topic, you cannot change the inevitible. But, you are talking something that won't happen for literally DECADES.
I don't know if you have, but if not...get yourself into some talk therapy. That is the best way to conquer something like this. Many times, this kind of fear will fade away on its own, but if you feel it is interfering in your daily life, then it is time to consider getting some help.
Also, this kind of fear is not at all ununsual for someone your age....you are going through a lot of changes, becoming a young adult, realizing that life is full of responsibilities, and unlike when you were a child, you now have the ability to fully understand the concept of death, which can be frightening when you start to think about it.
One day you will look back and maybe even laugh about how fearful you were about this. ANYone who says they AREN'T afraid to some level of dying is fooling themselves. We, as humans fear the unknown, and that is a biggie.
Get yourself into therapy, or increase the frequency of your therapy visits, and perhaps turn to your religion a bit more...that is a great source of comfort for those who believe. Maybe talk with your priest? Minister?
I'm 16 years old, male, and I feel my life is being ruined by my constant, horrific fear of death. I'd love to know how to find out if i'm actually a 'thanatophobe' but I'm pretty sure I am.
It's not just the passing away and not being alive, it's the eternity of nothingness...which never ends...that scares the **** out of me.
I feel trapped most of the day and night, and never feel like I can escape it. My religious beliefs help to an extent, but the fear is still there. I've tried using the 'reassure and distract' method - whereby you tell yourself...'you shouldn't fear it when it's certain - it will happen, and then immediately watch TV or distract myself by singing or something. I don't feel I can tell anyone about this and it just scares me so much.
I need help, I just don't know where to get it. I'm starting to get panic attacks whenever I think of this fear - which is quite a lot, and I've been plagued with this fear for months - I know I will die, that's a fact. I want to overcome the fear of it ....BADLY.
It's not just the passing away and not being alive, it's the eternity of nothingness...which never ends...that scares the **** out of me.
I feel trapped most of the day and night, and never feel like I can escape it. My religious beliefs help to an extent, but the fear is still there. I've tried using the 'reassure and distract' method - whereby you tell yourself...'you shouldn't fear it when it's certain - it will happen, and then immediately watch TV or distract myself by singing or something. I don't feel I can tell anyone about this and it just scares me so much.
I need help, I just don't know where to get it. I'm starting to get panic attacks whenever I think of this fear - which is quite a lot, and I've been plagued with this fear for months - I know I will die, that's a fact. I want to overcome the fear of it ....BADLY.
3 Comments
When you said the eternity of nothingness, I just thought 'That's me, omg, everything he is saying'. I'm your age as well and that same fear constantly surrounds me. It's not just me dying though, it's a fear of people I know and am close with dying as well. I just think we need to try and not think about it and occupy ourselves. Then again, I was studying science just ten minutes ago.
I'm almost 20 and your story is the one I relate closest with. I go to sleep watching tv. My religious beliefs help to an extent, but I get so caught up in the technicalities of it all. It's comforting to know there are people that think exactly as I do though. The weirdest thing too... It only happens for me at night or when I'm showering. I know that sounds crazy, but I can think about it during the day and not be scared.
One comment in 2009, another is 2015, one in 2016 and now this one in 2017. I feel close to your story the most. I have been dealing with this since I was 8 years old. I am now 35 and I can't take it anymore. I feel trapped, the nothingness is scary as hell. I can't wrap my head around it. I wake up at night with panic attacks, and now it happens during the day as well. please help !
Im in my early teens, and i have a big fear of death. Im not sure its an actual phobia, because i dont have panic attacks. I get scared and i can hardly sleep at night. I hate being alone in the house because i dont know whats around. I cant watch horror films because people are killed and it stays in my mind for years. I cant listen about/or see blood. I hate the not knowing how and when it will happen. Will it hurt? Will it be soon? So you probably think im just pathetic, but i sort of know how you feel. Just watch a funny film, or chat to a friend. Do some sports, or listen to music. These are all pretty childish probably, but i do these, to take my mind off it.
if you die in your sleep.. you wont know it... makes sense.
i have the same fear.... everytime i have a weird feeling.. i think.. omg. this is it. it comes and goes with me.. when i was younger.. it was CONSTANT. my parents allowed me to read anything... see anything... watch anything.. and for a while.. i was obsessed with death.... i used to watch those faces of death tapes.. and others as well... when my mother had a tumor removed from her brain.. after the procedure.. they overdosed her on demerol.. and she was flatlined for over 5 minutes... she came home afterward and told me all about what "death" was like.. well. it wasnt death.. because she was saved..lol... i try my best to block it all out.. but.. since i lost my 9 week old son and dressed his lifeless body in the funeral home.. i dwell on it alot... i think everyone is afraid of death.. when you find yourself obsessing about it.. or feeling strange.. immediately do something else... get angry... make yourself do soemthing else... watch something FAST.. like.. get online and google happy faces... look at MANY.. in a short amount of time.. keep looking.. divert your brain.... tap your foot, tap your hand.. and shake your head up and down all at the same time... do things that totally preoccupy your body and mind...
i think the first step for me.. was just to accept those feelings.. and .. then i went onto preoccupying myself with other stimulating things...
wish i could give you a big hug.. you arent the only one.. know that.. you are not alone..
i have the same fear.... everytime i have a weird feeling.. i think.. omg. this is it. it comes and goes with me.. when i was younger.. it was CONSTANT. my parents allowed me to read anything... see anything... watch anything.. and for a while.. i was obsessed with death.... i used to watch those faces of death tapes.. and others as well... when my mother had a tumor removed from her brain.. after the procedure.. they overdosed her on demerol.. and she was flatlined for over 5 minutes... she came home afterward and told me all about what "death" was like.. well. it wasnt death.. because she was saved..lol... i try my best to block it all out.. but.. since i lost my 9 week old son and dressed his lifeless body in the funeral home.. i dwell on it alot... i think everyone is afraid of death.. when you find yourself obsessing about it.. or feeling strange.. immediately do something else... get angry... make yourself do soemthing else... watch something FAST.. like.. get online and google happy faces... look at MANY.. in a short amount of time.. keep looking.. divert your brain.... tap your foot, tap your hand.. and shake your head up and down all at the same time... do things that totally preoccupy your body and mind...
i think the first step for me.. was just to accept those feelings.. and .. then i went onto preoccupying myself with other stimulating things...
wish i could give you a big hug.. you arent the only one.. know that.. you are not alone..
1 Comments
I'm curious to know what did your mom say it was like ? Death being flatlined for 5 minutes ? I too died and was saved but I never stressed it or thought much about it when I was 17 this happened die to a car accident I had doing 100 mph before I crashed on a city block I took out two redefine piles about 3 parking meters and the went through a supermarket brick wall but yet I somehow lived and was back in the driver seat within three months after being released from hospital I had a traumatic brain injury and never one feared or stressed the fact we are all guaranteed death as we all guaranteed the irs getting they're money lol anyway is love to know what your mothers experience was like ????
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