Quote:
Originally Posted by Hans_Olo
Thanks for the support. I've guessed before that the only way to combat fear of dying are various distractions, a life as somebody may say. Brandon9 and ciderguy, I am so sorry to hear your misfortunes. Hope you can find peace within. Similarly to ciderguy, I'm afraid not of death per se, but of ceasing to be, a state of being or non-being that follows it. My mind cannot understand it and it totally breaks my mind if I dwell on it. But it's rather seldom occasion. But my parents on the other hand, I'm afraid for them all the time. Just can't look at how much older and weaker they have become.
Because of this fear reading anything philosophical or religious depresses me significantly, so I try to avoid it a. I've visited a therapist and he said this fear won't concern me after I find a girlfriend, marry her and have kids. Do you think this is a sound advice? How often do you think it is normal to think about death? Also therapist advised to remember pleasant moments from the path when the fear takes hold, maybe it'll help somebody.
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I appreciate your well-wishes. I have made peace with myself, at this point - I'm not scared of fires, I help my friends family as much as I possibly can since that accident, and I never have felt guilty about shooting that bastard that came into my house, but I think THAT was a defining moment in my life for sure. I realized I'm not scared to do what I have to do to survive in this world, dramatic as it may sound. I never wish that decision on anyone though, it weighs on you like nothing else ever will. Even if the guy lives.
If I may ask, are you religious? Do you believe in a God, or an afterlife of any sort? I admit I may be totally wrong in assuming this, but I get the vibe that you may be athiest. Again, I may be wrong. I bring this up because I haven't really encountered many religious people with this fear of "ceasing to exist", as you put it. Please don't mistake me for pushing religion - I am not overly religious myself, I don't attend church and I admit to having some doubt about God and etc - but I feel as if maybe that, if applicable, could be an underlying cause for your fear, subconsciously or some such way. Or I could be entirely wrong. If so I apologize.
As for your therapist... I would say it might help distract you, as ciderguy pointed out, if you had a relationship or family, but he's also probably shooting a bit of **** too by saying that. That's just my opinion though.