Thanatophobia

[xmaiteee]

Hey, I was wondering if there are any people with thanatophobia on here. Yesterday I had a really bad panic attack, overthinking about this and now I can't get my mind off things. Wishing there is somebody to help me.

 

[Cuchculan]

The fear of death? Nobody wants to die. Think we can all agree on that. But too much news and such a fear can take hold. Even a death in the family can start it off. Case of asking yourself why you should die at the present time? Is there any real reason at all? Probably not. In which case you can tell yourself you are not ill. As in an illness that will cause death. Are you a risk taker? I would guess not. No risks that could cause death. Just using logic here as to why you should die at this present time?

 

[xmaiteee]

The fear of death? Nobody wants to die. Think we can all agree on that. But too much news and such a fear can take hold. Even a death in the family can start it off. Case of asking yourself why you should die at the present time? Is there any real reason at all? Probably not. In which case you can tell yourself you are not ill. As in an illness that will cause death. Are you a risk taker? I would guess not. No risks that could cause death. Just using logic here as to why you should die at this present time?

It's not that I want to die, but I can't stop thinking about what happens after this life... black nothingness? Reincarnation? Burning in an afterlife? It makes me scared and everything seems so fake like a simulation game. I'm so scared.

 

[bin_tenn]

Yes, I've struggled with this for years. I have no advice aside from live your life and enjoy it while you can. No one can possibly tell us what it's like with certainty. Many people have had near death experiences, even being clinically dead for minutes at a time. All the accounts are different - from stories of an afterlife, to nothingness. Don't worry about it. Just enjoy your time here.

 

[xmaiteee]

Yes, I've struggled with this for years. I have no advice aside from live your life and enjoy it while you can. No one can possibly tell us what it's like with certainty. Many people have had near death experiences, even being clinically dead for minutes at a time. All the accounts are different - from stories of an afterlife, to nothingness. Don't worry about it. Just enjoy your time here.

Thank you for the kind of advice and I agree with you on that, when I do the things I love it passes. But how do you deal with it when you catch yourself dozing off to thinking about it? I hate it when that happens, it makes me so scared.

 

[Cuchculan]

I know you don't want to die. Just the whole tought of death. When I was a kid I used to think people died according to age. Was happy to be the youngest. I kid you not. But I always say to people to try of think of after death. It is impossible. Why? Nobody has a clue what happens next. So we can't really get an idea no matter how hard we try. Maybe have a radio on at night. Talking low and slow music. Distract your thoughts.

 

[xmaiteee]

I know you don't want to die. Just the whole tought of death. When I was a kid I used to think people died according to age. Was happy to be the youngest. I kid you not. But I always say to people to try of think of after death. It is impossible. Why? Nobody has a clue what happens next. So we can't really get an idea no matter how hard we try. Maybe have a radio on at night. Talking low and slow music. Distract your thoughts.

I completely agree and also think that distraction is the best answer to this whole phobia. But how can I distract myself when I'm (for example) learning for school or making a test

 

[Cuchculan]

I would suggest some form of small object in your pocket. Maybe a small pebble. One example. You start to drift, take the pebble in your hand. Feel the weight. The shape. Nobody else has to know what you have in your pocket. Could even be a coin. Just anything you have easy access to.

 

[xmaiteee]

I would suggest some form of small object in your pocket. Maybe a small pebble. One example. You start to drift, take the pebble in your hand. Feel the weight. The shape. Nobody else has to know what you have in your pocket. Could even be a coin. Just anything you have easy access to.

I think this is a great thing and I will definitely try. Thank you so much

 

[bin_tenn]

I would suggest some form of small object in your pocket. Maybe a small pebble. One example. You start to drift, take the pebble in your hand. Feel the weight. The shape. Nobody else has to know what you have in your pocket. Could even be a coin. Just anything you have easy access to.

I also think this is a great idea. I actually do this with coins, but I never really thought about *why* I do it. But now that I think about it, that's exactly what I do - feel its shape, weight, etc. Particularly when I'm nervous.

 

[xmaiteee]

I also think this is a great idea. I actually do this with coins, but I never really thought about *why* I do it. But now that I think about it, that's exactly what I do - feel its shape, weight, etc. Particularly when I'm nervous.

I don't if you think the same about this, but when you're overthinking about does it feel like the humans we're talking to are kind of puppets and this could all be a dream? If you do does it help concentrating on that coin?