Discussion Does the idea of not existing freak you out?

[Bob_Luman]

I had to ask this as often when I contemplate death, I'll be overwhelmed of the idea of the fact we are so used to being conscious, being alive and having all of our senses, of awareness and being able to see, smell touch etc...And the idea of perishing this planet like before your parents ever conceived you apart from what is left is a rotting piece of meat that was once you is quite hard to grasp. But I guess none of us truly know. It often goes away but occasionally I'll feel like Woah that's so weird. Like the idea of eternal blackness and nothingness you cannot possibly imagine what that must be like. Also could you imagine if when you did die God is actually real and said, you killed yourself so therefore, you must burn in hell for eternity.

 

[a.n.kirillov]

It will probably not "be" like anything, because it will not "be"... You will not "be".
Of course this is impossible to imagine. Honestly it's holding me back somewhat because I don't like the idea.

The epicurean argument is quite convincing to me. He argued that death cannot possibly be a harm to someone, because as soon as someone is dead, there is no one there to be harmed by it anymore.

But still, I, who am still alive, don't like the idea of not being alive anymore, not at all actually.

I deal with it by not thinking about it.

 

[ghostspace]

Yeah! It totally freaks me out. I know that's most likely what happens, but hopefully there's something cool after death. I can't remember what it was like when I didn't exist, I keep worrying I'll be bored, as a ghost, but I know that in reality, I won't have the consciousness to feel bored.

But what if hell is real? And what if it's Catholic hell????

 

[R_N]

Both living for eternity in one shape or another and not existing scares me.

 

[Mustkeyknow]

Yeah i guess it freaks me out, but at my lowest it also brings me peace knowing this pain is going to end eventually.

 

[Bob_Luman]

To me apologies if this offends those who may be of Christian faith. But I feel as though heaven and hell are almost metaphorical ways of describing real life. A guy could be in heaven if he has kids, a wife he sees as beautiful in both personality and everything and has a great sex life. Whereas hell can be if you have lost someone and are grieving or if shit keeps going wrong for you. I hope it ain't real so I don't burn in flames for eternity for potentially choosing to exit this planet early. I do honestly believe though it was likely religion and the idea of going to hell if you sin, is to control people and to scare them. And clearly if it was then some geniuses they were who ever created the bible and christianity as it sure as hell worked. But again this is just my opinion.

 

[a.n.kirillov]

To me apologies if this offends those who may be of Christian faith. But I feel as though heaven and hell are almost metaphorical ways of describing real life. A guy could be in heaven if he has kids, a wife he sees as beautiful in both personality and everything and has a great sex life. Whereas hell can be if you have lost someone and are grieving or if shit keeps going wrong for you. I hope it ain't real so I don't burn in flames for eternity for potentially choosing to exit this planet early. I do honestly believe though it was likely religion and the idea of going to hell if you sin, is to control people and to scare them. And clearly if it was then some geniuses they were who ever created the bible and christianity as it sure as hell worked. But again this is just my opinion.

Even if God was real, would you really want to bow to such a malevolent creature? Nope I would be a rebel in heaven, fuck a god who creates such a horrible broken world out of boredom

 

[KiraLittleOwl]

No, it doesn't freak me out but it's a pity I didn't have to experience things that I wanted to.

 

[Blacksheep93]

I actually feel at peace when I think about my death. I kind of imagine it as being blacked out forever or maybe hallucinating for eternity, but of course we won't know what it's like.

There is this quote I like from David Firth (animator on youtube) who put this in one of his Health Reminder cartoons: "Death; she's a bitter mule. She won't have a bedtime story prepared so bring your own."

 

[Yomyom]

Alan Watts was the one who calmed me down about my anxiety of nothing, he talked about lot about death in such beautiful way, you can try listen to his philosophy

 

[Anxietykillsme]

Alan Watts was the one who calmed me down about my anxiety of nothing, he talked about lot about death in such beautiful way, you can try listen to his philosophy

I agree 100%. Talks about it so calmly.

OP: Not existing doesn't really scare me, it sounds quite nice. I think I'm more worried about being forgotten, like the only people who remember me would be my family. My friends don't really care about me now and sure as hell wouldn't miss me after I was gone.

 

[waterbottleman]

No, it doesn't freak me out but it's a pity I didn't have to experience things that I wanted to.

This.

Also I suspect when I actually drink my SN and have to wait the 20 min or so before I lose consciousness that is going to be scary.

 

[KiraLittleOwl]

This.

Also I suspect when I actually drink my SN and have to wait the 20 min or so before I lose consciousnesses that is going to be scary.

Idk.. If you are finally at piece with dying maybe it won't be.
We'll see I guess :)

 

[waterbottleman]

Idk.. If you are finally at piece with dying maybe it won't be.
We'll see I guess :)

Yeah I hope so

 

[PainfulGut]

It used to. Now it calms me. Freedom from pain, finally. Just existing is effort enough. I see death as just sleeping forever, and I have always wanted to sleep forever. The moments before I drop off into sleep are my calmest, and my only stress at that time is knowing I will soon wake up. Waking up is the hardest part of the day, the knowing you have to face all the same BS of eating and shitting and cleaning and wasting time with mindless crap you no longer enjoy.

 

[AcornUnderground]

I agree 100%. Talks about it so calmly.

OP: Not existing doesn't really scare me, it sounds quite nice. I think I'm more worried about being forgotten, like the only people who remember me would be my family. My friends don't really care about me now and sure as hell wouldn't miss me after I was gone.

That's a good video. I can't tell if he thinks there is nothing or something.

 

[Yomyom]

That's a good video. I can't tell if he thinks there is nothing or something.

It's really hard to say, everyone takes Alan Watts differently, but I think Alan Watts believed in nothing.

 

[Cashewmilk]

I do sometimes think about this. I have made several real attempts where I truly believed I might die, I was expecting to die. I did a methadone overdose, and partial hanging a few times in case anyone was wondering, I slept almost non-stop for 3 days after the methadone OD, and the hanging never worked to make me unconscious. Anyways, it's a terrifying thought, those moments before, the feeling is so scary, I can't even describe it.

The other day I was in bed, thinking about it, and I was just freaked out. Exactly as what you described OP. The thought of my body shutting down like that, and I'm the one who has to do it, is terrifying. It's a fleeting thought, it's easy to ignore, but when it comes and that feeling comes over me, it's real and it's strong. By the way, I don't believe in hell, I'm 100% sure it doesn't exist. I spent a year researching and studying science and religion when I was 20, because of that thought. I came to the conclusion that all of the religions are man-made, all stories and fear mongering written by men used to control people and women. There were many "gods" back then, and the abrahamic god was among them. Evolution goes way back, humanity is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Trust me, there is no hell, if you were really hoping there isn't and you really don't want to believe it, I've done exhausting head exploding research and reading, watching hundreds of documentaries, I read the holy books and compared them with actual science. The way I see it, when we die, it'll be blank. Do you remember how it was before you were born? No? It'll be like that. But if you want to believe in that stuff, go ahead, I will respect your right to believe what you want.

 

[Green Destiny]

The thing is I liked not existing before being created and dragged into this life. And I feel fine going back into the void and not existing anymore.

 

[Alain]

To know what it's like being dead, just remember how it was before you were alive.
Nothing. You won't experience anything, because you won't be. I love this idea, because I don't want hell or heaven, I don't want to think for all eternity. I just want nothing. Nothing is perfect to me. But I can understand how this idea can be scary or too strange to be fully understood and accepted.

 

[Nem]

Bottom line is that we all eventually die unfortunately so it's just a matter of time
Peace/hugs

 

[faust]

I think nothingness is more natural to our Universe than life itself.
We have not existed for 13.8 billion of years and won't exist after death till all our Universe will consist of the black holes which eventually will become a superlarge black hole.
What is nothingness at all? It is essentially the nature of things. If you perceive nothingness as a deep sleep in which there is no place for dreams, then everything becomes much more clear. To live another 100 billion years in heaven or hell until everything falls apart is also a rather dubious prospect. Therefore, most likely it will be the same as if we had never been born at all.

 

[BridgeJumper]

Yes, it freaks me out.
In fact, I spent 3,5 months in a mental hospital doped up on meds to stop me from screaming, and all I said in between panic attacks was 'WHAT if I stop existing??'
It scares me so much

 

[Bob_Luman]

Yes, it freaks me out.
In fact, I spent 3,5 months in a mental hospital doped up on meds to stop me from screaming, and all I said in between panic attacks was 'WHAT if I stop existing??'
It scares me so much

Shit man that's awful I'm sorry you had to go through that. Hope you're doing alright now.

 

[reapandsow918]

Nothing. You won't experience anything, because you won't be. I love this idea, because I don't want hell or heaven, I don't want to think for all eternity. I just want nothing. Nothing is perfect to me. But I can understand how this idea can be scary or too strange to be fully understood and accepted.

this is what I think happens after death but the idea of not existing does bother me. This is the only existence I know of. When I die I will have no name, no family, no mind, no body and no consciousness.

 

[LonelySoul]

I had to ask this as often when I contemplate death, I'll be overwhelmed of the idea of the fact we are so used to being conscious, being alive and having all of our senses, of awareness and being able to see, smell touch etc...And the idea of perishing this planet like before your parents ever conceived you apart from what is left is a rotting piece of meat that was once you is quite hard to grasp. But I guess none of us truly know. It often goes away but occasionally I'll feel like Woah that's so weird. Like the idea of eternal blackness and nothingness you cannot possibly imagine what that must be like. Also could you imagine if when you did die God is actually real and said, you killed yourself so therefore, you must burn in hell for eternity.

I have often wondered the same thing. All we know is being alive, we don't know what the other thing feels like.

 

[TAW122]

Not really since I would imagine that it would be similar to what I was before I was born (unable to perceive or have any conscious of pain, pleasure, existence itself). In my predictions, it would be like going to sleep without any dreams or conscious and never gaining any conscious.

 

[BridgeJumper]

The more I read this, the more it terrifies me, but I cant stop
Time for xanax

 

[yetme]

Alan Watts was the one who calmed me down about my anxiety of nothing, he talked about lot about death in such beautiful way, you can try listen to his philosophy

Thank you for sharing this! been listening to him all night, really calmed me down

 

[Giraffey]

I wrote about this in another thread, to me death will feel like going to sleep. We can remember getting into bed, perhaps the last thing that we were thinking about before we fell asleep, but never the actual 'moment of blackness' itself.

But we can only remember this because we wake up the next day. That won't happen after death though, it'll be like going to sleep without knowing that you had ever fallen asleep, without knowing that you were ever born - like a personal time machine, erasing your entire existence (but only for yourself).

There is a certain appeal in that, all of my mistakes erased, my pain and suffering gone as if it never happened. The impossibility of ever losing anyone else or being hurt again.

The suddenness, the starkness, the finality is both the appeal and what I find scary, although I know that the only reason I find it scary is because I am alive, therefore if I can simply step off the edge and bungee, there will be no more fear, just flight and freedom.