[Lizzy31]

I'm scared to death of aging. Most people laugh at me when I say that especially if they are older than me. I feel like I have no purpose right now so what purpose can I have even older than I am right now... Also the thought of death makes me have extreme panic attacks if I think of it to in depth. I know everyone gets old. It just makes me my skin crawl and gives me anxiety.. Any thoughts?

I know how you feel - in fact, I bet A LOT of people know how you feel. I'm 51; when I was younger I, too, wondered why get older...things are already so difficult. But here's what I can tell you: from my experience getting older is terrific! It is NOT easy (loss and grief hits me hard), but I am so much more comfortable with my place in the world.

[Travelinglady]

Hey, Lizzy31! I assume you are worrying about getting old because that will be leading you closer and closer to death?

I think having some concerns about dying is common. Some of us feel more comfortable with dying because of our religious beliefs about an afterlife.

Sweetie, if this fear of aging and death is interfering with your enjoying your life now, then please talk to a counselor about it. Okay?

Me, I try to find something to enjoy every day. I have a lot of chronic health problems, some associated with aging, and I do worry about how much more of a problem they will be as I get older. But I can't control the future.

I hope you can begin to enjoy each day, too, and not worry so much about the future.

[breakmystride]

This is one of my biggest fears! I've been having major panic attacks nearly every day because my birthday is coming up, and I'm going to be 23.

[Rayne Selene]

Originally Posted by Lizzy31

I'm scared to death of aging. Most people laugh at me when I say that especially if they are older than me. I feel like I have no purpose right now so what purpose can I have even older than I am right now... Also the thought of death makes me have extreme panic attacks if I think of it to in depth. I know everyone gets old. It just makes me my skin crawl and gives me anxiety.. Any thoughts?

I feel the EXACT same way. Ugh.

[Jolisse]

I worry about this everyday and it creates so much panic. I'm not afraid of dying, it's what I have to go through before I die. I work in the healthcare field and have seen horrible things.
If I knew I could just die in my sleep, I would be happy.

1 of my biggist anxieties has always been getting old and having nothing to show for it.

getting to 50 and looking back over my life and thinking.. well i've not done this, i've not done that, what's been the point?

as for death, i think my biggist fear about death is knowing that 1 day everything will be over. 1 day their won't be any music, any light, nothing. i also believe that i'll die any minit.

someone once told me that always live your days as if they were your last, and i've always had this fear that i could just reach over to pick something up, and that will be the end of it all

[Resonance18]

What scares you about aging?
Dying, wrinkles, not be able to do all the activities?
If you identify what exactly is scaring you, it will be easier for you to approach it and deal with it.

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

Ditto to the death thing. Not so much aging, it's more just death itself, but of course aging is part of that. I'm scared of being too weak/old to workout, go out, look anywhere near decent, etc. I want to live forever. There's so much in this world, and time is precious. I don't deal with the fear, I just get on with it, because it's not like I have any other choice, ... pills help. :P As does friends, family, goals, and distractions.

[PoorPrincess]

For me the issues of aging did not really set in upon my psyche until somatic ills set in.

[The_little_didgee]

I'm starting to notice the effects of aging on my skin. The changes sometimes remind me that my time here is limited.

Death scares me too. For me, the fear has to do with not knowing when it will occur and how. I fear dying of cancer the most, because I watched a family member die of the disease. It was a horrible process to watch.

Recognizing one is a mortal being can be one of the hardest realizations a person can make. In childhood and in youth we feel invincible. The sudden realization that we are not can be disturbing, I know for me it was. I was forced to deal with it after a good friend died suddenly.