Fear of Death

I have severe Thanatophobia or fear of death. A lot of this came from when I was 16 and saw my Grandmothers body (2007) in the ER after she died from pancreatic cancer. This was my first encounter with death up close. It's so extreme that I have panic attacks about it. I cannot stop thinking about the fact that when I die I will cease to exist and stuff like "Carpe Diem" "Religion" and "Well you won't know because you won't exist" have never helped me. I just feel like an alien on this planet. I feel so......other. I wish I believed in something. I almost envy religious people that have something to hold onto in this life. However I am far too rational to ever believe something without proof. Oh, that's "faith" right? Sorry, guess I wasn't created that way

i have been suffering from a pretty bad existential crisis lately because my religion was getting harder to swallow.

But honestly, I have been getting in touch with the true roots of my religion (there is so much BS added on that ruin its core) and it has kind of moved me in the direction of "everything is pointless" to "God is a total prick" which I guess is progress.

I read a book, if you have any interest, by a scientist (gerald schroeder) who explores the writings of the old testaments with the original biblical commentaries, and he ties in evolution and physics. I was surprised to learn that the bible does not in fact oppose evolution in the way that creationists do. He goes on to explain that the world is millions of years old, but "Adam" has the first soul, (rather than the first human) for example. He does not bend science, or the bible to show this.

I know what you mean there. I started thinking about death when I was 8 and I have never fully let the thoughts go.

I have had over 10 near death experiences in my whole life. I had 3 seizures in the hospital and the nurse told me i was pronounced dead 3 times, i don't remember it or the seizures, i'm just happy to be alive now. I was also in about 5 different car accidents, one of which i was crossing the street not in a car but was hit head on by a huge van. I am still afraid to die and think about it all the time, so all i do is pray when it gets really bad.

I don't fear death, in the sense of no longer being in existence. I fear leaving loved ones behind.

I've seen a few dead bodies, in my lifetime. Those, images, don't leave. And I am not referring to the ones that were at a wake, I am talking about loved ones in a hospital.

My mom, looked in pain. My stepdad, looked peaceful. I have no idea how to help overcome the fear of death. I am not sure if it's[fear of death] more about faith or just a way of thinking about life?

What movie is the quote "today is a good day to die?" It's a way of looking at life.

Yes the quote Live like everyday is the day you will die

I've never really been afraid of death until recently. I was always afraid of having to keep living after I couldn't take care of myself. Recently, though, I have a massive blood clot and faced with the fact that I could suddenly die. And it scared me. Now I'm scared of both living and dying. I'm not sure which scares me worse. I'm still not out of the woods on the blood clot so I'm still scared about it. I have faith in life after death, but it doesn't seem to be easing my fear. I think I fear most leaving the ones I love. Hope you find a way to get past your fear. I hope we all do.
Gayle

I've always feared the thought of dying, even as a child. Just the thought of everything ending scared me. I've never been particularly religious, I used to be somewhat religious but not anymore. That still didn't take away the fear of death. When I was religious I used to think, "What if there is no afterlife, what if there is only blackness?" My mom always tried to comfort me by saying things like, "Being dead is like before you were born". I guess that is a more comforting thought because I don't recall the experience of not existing whatsoever. The mystery of death still scares me nevertheless. I guess I have that to think for still being alive. I try my best not to think too deeply on the subject because if I do I will worry myself sick on the thought.