Are you afraid of death?

[Anonymous]

Someone that I was very close to recently passed away. This is the first time in my 40 years that I’ve experienced loss (through death) so intensely. I have been hurting for days. I’ve also been thinking a lot about mortality, and realize that I am afraid — truly afraid to die.

Anyone else feel similarly?

[Anonymous]

The process of it? Mildly. Hopefully it won't be a long drawn out painful process.

Actually BEING dead? No. Not at all.

[Anonymous]

Do we have a choice

[Anonymous]

Not at all. I'm scared of pain but death sounds wonderful. I didn't ask to be born and I don't like to be alive.

[Anonymous]

I am afraid of being infirm, losing my mind, and going through an agonizingly paintful death.

The thought of oblivion makes me incredibly sad. I like life too much, would love to see what happens in the world, see my children and grandchildren's lives and so on. I don't cherish the thought of not being anymore.

But once I am dead I won't feel anything, and my consciousness will be gone, so there's nothing to fear about that because I won't realize it since I won't exist any more. Just sadness at the prospect of it.

[Anonymous]

Naw. You just become worm food.

[Anonymous]

I don't fear death. I do fear dying slowly and painfully. I also fear not getting around to doing certain things. And I also fear not being able to trash my laptop or wipe it clean.

But death itself? Nope. I don't believe in an afterlife, so I don't understand fearing death.

And yes, I've lost people extremely close to me, including a parent at a very young age.

[Anonymous]

No. I believe that Earth is actually Hell and when we die we get out of Hell. I will do nothing to hasten my death but I have no fear of dying.

[Anonymous]

I sort of feel that death is like being under a general anesthetic - very fast asleep but will never wake up.

I am not fearful of death but I do feel sad that I'd be parting company with those I love.

[Anonymous]

Death no, living a long time with a major illness like dementia, yes. My MIL is suffering from dementia and visiting her at the nursing home is horrible. No one should have to live like that. I'm far more worried about living than dying.

[Anonymous]

I'm tired of living so no, death will be welcomed. It's the how I'm afraid of.

The second scary part for me is being alone and or having to be taken care of by my kids. They hate me.

[Anonymous]

Having almost done it, I can tell you with certainty that exsanguination (bleeding-out) is absolutely painless.

Whatever pain is associated with the injury to the blood vessel that causes the bleeding is the only pain encountered in the process.

You get very tired, extremely thirsty, and then you pass out.

That's about it.

[Anonymous]

Scared of dying and leaving my kids without a mom. But if I die old and I'm just tired and want it over with, I guess not.

[Anonymous]

OP its normal to dwell on death when someone close to you passes away. And its normal to worry that you and all your remaining loved ones are going to expire soon.

Its part of the grieving process which is not linear or the same for everyone at all, so please mitigate your fears in this knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Scared of dying and leaving my kids without a mom. But if I die old and I'm just tired and want it over with, I guess not.