Are you afraid of dying ?

[kevin1981]

Recently, i was thinking about the fact that i could have a heart attack at any moment and die, it is a real possibility, even
though i am only 30 years old.

It frightens me a little to think this could happen. Then i was thinking about death and the fact i would not know i was dead, it
is a very bizzaire concept to try and wrap my head around.

Not sure where i am going with this to be honest. I was just wondering what people think about death and the fact that
we are aware of our own mortality, and does it frighten you at all ?

[Solfe]

I am not afraid of dying, I am afraid of my children dying. That really bothers me.

I don't have most accurate and effective method of risk assessment at my disposal. I seem to be defective in that regard.

[Buttercup]

No.

What does make me somewhat afraid is how I'm going to die.

Everyone wants to "go" peacefully and without pain. Many don't.

[danscope]

As far as dying, there's no stopping it. The secret of life is to live each day as best you can , and when your time comes to pass, you will have no regrets.

Dan

[profloater]

The acceptance of the inevitabilty makes it obvious that every day is important. As King Charles said (approximately) " the prospect of death in the morning concentrates the mind wonderfully" so the certain knowledge does nag at wasted time, but as someone else said the trick is to be sure at the end which was the wasted time. Tommorrow I may be myself with yesterday's seven thousand years.... so fill the cup that cheers- another mangled quote, that one from the Rubaiyat. as is... One thing is certain, that life flies, one thing is certain, the rest is lies. ... Reasons to be cheerful? Life is a great adventure.

[slang]

I was just wondering what people think about death and the fact that
we are aware of our own mortality, and does it frighten you at all ?

I think it's just "the end", and don't fear that at all. I'm somewhat worried how my absence would affect others close to me.

And what Solfe and Buttercup said.

[Luckmeister]

Recently, i was thinking about the fact that i could have a heart attack at any moment and die, it is a real possibility, even
though i am only 30 years old.

It frightens me a little to think this could happen. Then i was thinking about death and the fact i would not know i was dead, it
is a very bizzaire concept to try and wrap my head around.

Not sure where i am going with this to be honest. I was just wondering what people think about death and the fact that
we are aware of our own mortality, and does it frighten you at all ?

What you are experiencing is the extremely strong survival instinct humans have developed.

[Romanus]

Dying itself? No.

Not fulfilling what I want to do in the time allotted: definitely.

[parallaxicality]

I've contemplated suicide pretty much every day of my life since, oh I dunno, about 1985. I have gone over in my head every single conceivable method of ending a life, and envisioned every possible physical and emotional outcome. I haven't done it yet. I suppose that means I'm afraid of dying.

[Gillianren]

I've contemplated suicide pretty much every day of my life since, oh I dunno, about 1985. I have gone over in my head every single conceivable method of ending a life, and envisioned every possible physical and emotional outcome. I haven't done it yet. I suppose that means I'm afraid of dying.

My personal suicidal ideation goes back almost that far; the fact that I haven't done it, I do not attribute to fear. I attribute it to the fact that I generally want to live more than I want to die. Not to mention the fact that, when I'm depressed enough to consider suicide, I'm usually too depressed to move. As others have said, it's pain that worries me, and the prospect of my daughter dying, and things along those lines. My own death doesn't scare me; I adjusted to the idea that it would happen in 1983, when my dad died and nothing I could do would change that. The only thing which really worries me about my own death is the impact it will have on those around me. Everything else is just fear of pain, which is healthy and natural.

[Solfe]

I would like to amend my statement after reading other peoples posts: Pain bothers me a lot; not getting things done bothers me.

Not getting all I want to do done, then pain ,then death would bother me. I try not to think about it much.

I used to play a game that when you died would send a message in response to attempted actions:
"You are dead, you must await rescue..."

If you tried too many times the messaging would change to:
"You are obviously bored and dead. It could be worse, you could be bored and in pain."

[Trebuchet]

I don't particularly fear dying. I do worry about getting old and infirm. My wife and I have spent the last seven years looking after elderly parents. We have no children. My wife's health is not very good so I'm likely to wind up looking after her. Who's going to take care of me?

[HenrikOlsen]

Having witnessed death it isn't something I'm afraid of, how I die is a concern though.

[Moose]

I'm not afraid to die. I'm afraid to live past my quality of life. I'm terrified to live beyond my ability to die on my own terms.

[ravens_cry]

I'm not so much afraid of dying as saddened at the prospect of not seen more of the Story. Humanity could be on the cusp of some huge changes, changes that could potentially change in radical way what it means to be human, whether space will remain the final frontier or if it will be expanded into as a new home for humanity, or a new resource to be exploited.
I want to see how this all turns out.

[Cougar]

Recently, i was thinking about the fact that i could have a heart attack at any moment and die....

I had that stark realization at one time, too. I learned that an occasional premature ventricular contraction was common and nothing to worry about. Serious heart malfunctions don't typically happen out of the blue. Unless there's a history of heart problems, it would be highly unlikely. Even if there are heart problems, medical and pharmaceutical technologies these days are pretty sophisticated...

I was just wondering what people think about death and the fact that we are aware of our own mortality, and does it frighten you at all ?

Well, yeah, i don't want to die. Life is the ultimate "trip." Death is something to be avoided. But everybody dies. That doesn't mean you shouldn't give death a reasonable fight. But it's not something to obsess about, either. Living is too valuable to waste it worrying about dying.

[danscope]

I take a vitamin called CoQ 10 each day. It is very good for your heart muscles. Be good to your body and prosper.
Dan

[kevin1981]

I take a vitamin called CoQ 10 each day.

Thanks Dan, i will look into that. I do take daily vitamins so another can not do any harm !

Actually, i am not scared of death so much but as other people have mentioned, i do not want to be in pain. But as also mentioned above
i guess that is a natural thought process.

[Gillianren]

Thanks Dan, i will look into that. I do take daily vitamins so another can not do any harm !

Not true. You can overdose on vitamins just like anything else, and most vitamins are better gotten from food than pills.

[kevin1981]

Not true. You can overdose on vitamins just like anything else, and most vitamins are better gotten from food than pills.

It is okay, I only take 1 multi vitamin a day

[banquo's_bumble_puppy]

yes and no....curious about what comes after though....hopefully I'll get a do-over...

[Swift]

I was just wondering what people think about death and the fact that
we are aware of our own mortality, and does it frighten you at all ?

Yes, I am extremely afraid of death; it is almost certainly my single greatest fear. It is the no-longer-existing that scares me the most. I have spent untold nights awake about it since I was in my early teens.

[LaurelHS]

Yes, I am extremely afraid of death; it is almost certainly my single greatest fear. It is the no-longer-existing that scares me the most. I have spent untold nights awake about it since I was in my early teens.

I have similar feelings. I have an anxiety disorder and I'm a naturally thoughtful person, so that's probably not surprising. For some reason, it makes me feel better to know that I'm not alone in worrying about death and feeling uncertain about what (if anything) comes after... all of humanity is in this together.

[P Timmy]

Yes, I am extremely afraid of death; it is almost certainly my single greatest fear. It is the no-longer-existing that scares me the most. I have spent untold nights awake about it since I was in my early teens.

What do you imagine the worst thing about "no-longer-existing" could be.???

[Buttercup]

But Swift, once we're no longer existing we won't know it.

Raven's Cry:

I'm not so much afraid of dying as saddened at the prospect of not seen more of the Story. Humanity could be on the cusp of some huge changes, changes that could potentially change in radical way what it means to be human, whether space will remain the final frontier or if it will be expanded into as a new home for humanity, or a new resource to be exploited.
I want to see how this all turns out.

I wouldn't want to see how it ALL turns out, but I am glad to have been young during the transition from the Space Age to the Digital Age.

I think of a handful of people my age who died, say, around 1993; they missed so much. And just barely missed it!

My one desire is to see a human mission to Mars before I die. I'll be very disappointed if that doesn't happen in my lifetime.

Otherwise? I'm ready to check out at a certain age.

[publiusr]

My one desire is to see a human mission to Mars before I die. I'll be very disappointed if that doesn't happen in my lifetime.

We got folks working on that.

When young, I used to think that I was the only person who liked Star Trek. It was special in a pre-internet age. I once thought (in the pre-internet age) that a storm-chasing movie would be cool. Then we got blogs and the movie TWISTER.

Now, I know that if I pass on, I won't be missed. There are others who will have interests in the same things. It makes one less unique, yes--but it is comforting all the same...

[ravens_cry]

Raven's Cry:

I wouldn't want to see how it ALL turns out, but I am glad to have been young during the transition from the Space Age to the Digital Age.

I think of a handful of people my age who died, say, around 1993; they missed so much. And just barely missed it!

My one desire is to see a human mission to Mars before I die. I'll be very disappointed if that doesn't happen in my lifetime.

Otherwise? I'm ready to check out at a certain age.

Well, I've seen how 2001 and 2010 actually turned out and I could potentially live to see 2061, but it is unlikely I'll see 3001.
Am I selfish to want to?

[Buttercup]

Well, I've seen how 2001 and 2010 actually turned out and I could potentially live to see 2061, but it is unlikely I'll see 3001.
Am I selfish to want to?

No, not at all.

[Jim]

If someone knows an alternative, I'm all ears.

I'm not afraid of death, I just don't look forward to it. With any luck, it will come quickly and painlessly, although a little warning so I can say my goodbyes would be nice.

I hope there's an afterlife and I really want there to be a Rainbow Bridge. But if there's not, I'll never know.

[Buttercup]

I hope there's an afterlife and I really want there to be a Rainbow Bridge.

I have conflicted feelings about this. If there is a next life and it's NICE...yes.

Otherwise? Speaking only for myself of course, if once I'm dead "that's it," I wouldn't mind.

Probably a lot of individual hope vs apathy towards the concept of a next life has to do with how much the individual has enjoyed this one.