fear of dying

[crazycow]

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

[sleepsleep]

(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?

[Jayanne79]

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?

[colleendawn813]

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?!

[hotjacki85]

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!

[VindictiveBunny]

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.  

[VindictiveBunny]

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.