if you are scared of death you probably shouldnt die

[mariannelle]

i used to be an infamous 'scaredy-cat' but I have overcome my previous cattish ways. all the people who used to see me as a sensitive afraid being will realize how wrong they have been because I have overcome the greatest fear of all: the fear of death. congratulations to mari. joy joy and congratulations to mari.

i've heard the philosophy idea thrown around a few times that all fear ultimately stems from the fear of death, but I think I am living proof this is not true. My fear of heights isn't a fear of falling, my fear of spiders is not a fear of being bitten, my fear of the dark is not a fear of something lurking in it. My fear of heights, spiders, and the dark is just that, a fear of heights, spiders, and the dark-- nothing more. I think philosophers tend to overthink things to the point of inconclusiveness; it is very annoying. If all fear stems from the fear of death, I should have no fear because I don't fear death; I don't fear death but I still have other fears, so this claim cannot be true.

yes, i feel a little superior about overcoming my fear of death, i think that is apparent in my tone, sorry. I believe everyone's last moments should be moments of conclusion, not moments of fear. If you fear death your last moments will be nothing but fear.

I am in love with all of you. glory glory.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I think it's more complex than that. We also have survival instinct to get over- which mannifests as fear. Animals also demonstrate an innate fear of certain things- height, fire, snakes, other predators. We all presumably evolved that because it kept us alive more effectively.

I'm not sure an animal or a human necessarily even runs the whole entire thought process of- alert- danger! That thing may cause me severe injury or death! I think it's more knee jerk than that as in- shit, I'm about to fall! Shit, that pan handle is boiling hot! Shit- that's a snake! Beyond that, our reflexes quite often take over before we've even had chance to even fully register what we were afraid of.

I think that's why people sometimes fail suicide attempts. They may feel comfortable with the idea of death but, their bodies may want no part in it!

Have you actually attempted yet? May I ask? Not encouraging you to of course. I haven't attempted yet. I have this (likely ridiculous) delusion that I'll be able to keep myself calm because- this is something I've wanted for so long. I'm sure about the decision. I just need to do it. I'm not so sure I will be that calm when the time comes though.

Plus, it's not just death we're fearing. It's the experience of the attempt itself. In the case of SN, will it frighten me to watch my fingers turn blue? Yes. Will it frighten me to feel my heart race and breath become laboured? Absolutely. Feeling short of breath does make me panic. Will it even work? What if I incapacitate myself but, don't die?

I just feel like it's more complex than getting over the philosophical fear of death. We need to withstand all the practical stuff too. A bit like passive ideation- which can feel calming- one day, I will be free and active ideation- yeah but, I've got to find and enact a way to do it.

That all said though, I'm pleased for you that you feel more calm in yourself about it if that feels more peaceful. I see my own 'progress' as a kind of journey- overcoming this or that obstacle. I still think I won't actually know if I'm ok with it till I do it though.

 

[Mooncry]

I think it's more complex than that. We also have survival instinct to get over- which mannifests as fear. Animals also demonstrate an innate fear of certain things- height, fire, snakes, other predators. We all presumably evolved that because it kept us alive more effectively.

I'm not sure an animal or a human necessarily even runs the whole entire thought process of- alert- danger! That thing may cause me severe injury or death! I think it's more knee jerk than that as in- shit, I'm about to fall! Shit, that pan handle is boiling hot! Shit- that's a snake! Beyond that, our reflexes quite often take over before we've even had chance to even fully register what we were afraid of.

I think that's why people sometimes fail suicide attempts. They may feel comfortable with the idea of death but, their bodies may want no part in it!

Have you actually attempted yet? May I ask? Not encouraging you to of course. I haven't attempted yet. I have this (likely ridiculous) delusion that I'll be able to keep myself calm because- this is something I've wanted for so long. I'm sure about the decision. I just need to do it. I'm not so sure I will be that calm when the time comes though.

Plus, it's not just death we're fearing. It's the experience of the attempt itself. In the case of SN, will it frighten me to watch my fingers turn blue? Yes. Will it frighten me to feel my heart race and breath become laboured? Absolutely. Feeling short of breath does make me panic. Will it even work? What if I incapacitate myself but, don't die?

I just feel like it's more complex than getting over the philosophical fear of death. We need to withstand all the practical stuff too. A bit like passive ideation- which can feel calming- one day, I will be free and active ideation- yeah but, I've got to find and enact a way to do it.

That all said though, I'm pleased for you that you feel more calm in yourself about it if that feels more peaceful. I see my own 'progress' as a kind of journey- overcoming this or that obstacle. I still think I won't actually know if I'm ok with it till I do it though.

This. All fear ultimately stems from a biological instinct to survive. Even if you think you're not consciously afraid of death, your monkey brain sure as hell is, and that's what is meant by "all fear stems from a fear of death." It does. Instinctively.

Yeah, you're right. This post does come off as very pompous and like someone who's never experienced what last minute SI feels like. Not that I want that for you, OP, but you sound naive. Pretty much just like me before SI kicked my ass the first time I mixed my SN and got stuck staring at it like a deer in headlights and ultimately poured it down the drain. When before the final moment, I was so sure that I wasn't afraid.

Anyway, I mean no disrespect, but definitely rubbed me the wrong way reading this. I still wish the best for you though.

 

[rozeske]

I think it's natural to be afraid of death. It seems to be in our nature to be afraid of the unknown and the reality is that there is no certainty when it comes to death, what happens during and what comes after coupled with the instinct of the body to keep on living and the fear of pain...it just depends on how determined you are to leave.

 

[Forever Sleep]

This. All fear ultimately stems from a biological instinct to survive. Even if you think you're not consciously afraid of death, your monkey brain sure as hell is, and that's what is meant by "all fear stems from a fear of death." It does. Instinctively.

Yeah, you're right. This post does come off as very pompous and like someone who's never experienced what last minute SI feels like. Not that I want that for you, OP, but you sound naive. Pretty much just like me before SI kicked my ass the first time I mixed my SN and got stuck staring at it like a deer in headlights and ultimately poured it down the drain. When before the final moment, I was so sure that I wasn't afraid.

Anyway, I mean no disrespect, but definitely rubbed me the wrong way reading this. I still wish the best for you though.

I guess that's the thing really. None of us truly know how we'll react until the time comes. Maybe some do actually cope better than others.

I have this hope for myself- or at least, I'm planning to tell myself that I have taken risks in the past. (Nothing illegal! Just, big life changes.) So, I have this dumb hope I'll be able to reason with myself. Better (or worse really) still is- there are things about life that truly frighten me. I'm hoping that fear will overcome the other.

That all said, I think we can be afraid of multiple things. The process itself, the idea of death itself and either the prospect of nothingness or, judgement and an afterlife.

I suppose thinking about it, it was actually a relief to me as a child (I started young) when I felt like I'd gotten over the (religiously) morally and socially unacceptable side to suicide- more or less.

That actually didn't take more than a few times thinking about it. First time was- shit- suicidal thoughts- these are wrong. I musn't think like this, to very quickly assessing that it was actually reasonable to think like it. Why should I want to live to be grieving, bullied and afraid everyday? So, I suppose when we are suicidal and hope to do it some day, any suppression of fear feels like a win. I just fear it's going to be more complex if/ when the time comes.

The interesting question I've seen posted here in the past is: Will we still be able to go ahead with it, even if we are afraid? Realistically, no one is going to be able to fully dispel my fears that I may suffer, panic and even fail during the process. I doubt I'll ever be certain either way about God and possible punishment too. So, there's that too. The question is more- will I still go ahead, even with those doubts/ fears?

But sure, I guess we have to analyse what it is we're afraid of. There's so much surrounding suicide. Is any of it fear of obliterating any opportunity we had to do something we may have wanted in life? Are there any hopes left? We may also legitimately fear the consequences our actions will have on others. That one is certainly keeping many of us trapped here. I think it's so complex. I suppose I envy people who seem able to just bulldoze through the lot and feel certainty.

 

[DoomCry]

He who is not afraid of dying dies only once.

 

[Gustav Hartmann]

I think, the fear of death subsides when it has no biological function anymore. I was on my parents side when they died - I would say - of old age. They had enaugh time to prepare, and they were finally willing to go. I could see no fear of death during their last hours.

 

[SoulWhisperer]

The book I'm reading would 100% cover this, a whole 300 pages yap about habituation, provocative experiences and whatnot. I agree with philosophy part, the whole deal with philosophy is yap, which I think is cool as hobby or something. And for fears, maybe suffering could also play a role. If you're afraid of snakes or spiders you may be afraid of being poisoned and suffer a lot, but not directly of death, I don't think it's necessarily included sometimes.

 

[pthnrdnojvsc]

I don't fear Death because Death is non-existence forever

The only thing I fear is extreme pain

I fear a suicide attempt failing and remaining alive with brain damage

Death is going to happen anyway. Death is inevitable.I don't see how it's logical to fear something that is an impending inevitability. And furthermore something in which no pain no suffering no problems are possible

I agree with your post

They want us to fear Death so that i continue to be a slave

I thought the same things i or another animal fears a lion because there is a model in Our brains to fear a lion. I don't fear Death but I fear A lion. If I were sure the lion was going to kill me quickly painlessly then I would not fear it. Who here fears a bottle on Nembutal?

Other animals don't even know they are going to die anyway

Are even adult humans aware that they are going to die to die anyway? and soon because life is short? They sure don't act like it

 

[alwaysalone]

I have been on the very edge of suicide. Probably about as close as you can get and still be alive. I don't fear death. I fear the unknown. No matter what you do or do not believe no one alive knows what is after death. There is no escaping that truth. I often wondered if getting hypnotized to believe there's nothing or there's something good (whichever the individual prefers) would help.

 

[J&L383]

This. All fear ultimately stems from a biological instinct to survive. Even if you think you're not consciously afraid of death, your monkey brain sure as hell is, and that's what is meant by "all fear stems from a fear of death." It does. Instinctively.

Yeah, you're right. This post does come off as very pompous and like someone who's never experienced what last minute SI feels like. Not that I want that for you, OP, but you sound naive. Pretty much just like me before SI kicked my ass the first time I mixed my SN and got stuck staring at it like a deer in headlights and ultimately poured it down the drain. When before the final moment, I was so sure that I wasn't afraid.

Anyway, I mean no disrespect, but definitely rubbed me the wrong way reading this. I still wish the best for you though.

Never attempted, but even putting an unloaded gun (which I checked multiple times!) to my temple and pulling the trigger made my heart race. . Theoretical ponderings is one thing, taking the giant step is another.

 

[mariannelle]

This. All fear ultimately stems from a biological instinct to survive. Even if you think you're not consciously afraid of death, your monkey brain sure as hell is, and that's what is meant by "all fear stems from a fear of death." It does. Instinctively.

Yeah, you're right. This post does come off as very pompous and like someone who's never experienced what last minute SI feels like. Not that I want that for you, OP, but you sound naive. Pretty much just like me before SI kicked my ass the first time I mixed my SN and got stuck staring at it like a deer in headlights and ultimately poured it down the drain. When before the final moment, I was so sure that I wasn't afraid.

Anyway, I mean no disrespect, but definitely rubbed me the wrong way reading this. I still wish the best for you though.

I understand that you think I am disillusioned and that makes you a little upset. I am marauding all over a serious issue with little tact and even unwarranted joy. These emotions do not line up with your experiences. I think I understand where you are coming from. I am sorry that I have rubbed you the wrong way. I would love to rub you the right way given the chance.

Part of why I dislike philosophy is because I think all humans work differently and oftentimes philosophy is used to overgeneralize. I work differently from you I think. I am young and naive, I accept that. But I don't believe what I think is necessarily wrong or pompous, I think it is different than what you think. I am not more important than anyone and I am not more right than anyone.

I have went through and attempted SI multiple times too but I have come to different conclusions about why that was than you. I think that is okay. glory glory. If you have anything specific with what I said that you think is wrong, please tell me. now I think I sound passive aggressive. I do like you, I don't want to come off as mean.

I have been on the very edge of suicide. Probably about as close as you can get and still be alive. I don't fear death. I fear the unknown. No matter what you do or do not believe no one alive knows what is after death. There is no escaping that truth. I often wondered if getting hypnotized to believe there's nothing or there's something good (whichever the individual prefers) would help.

death to me is by all regards the ultimate form of the unknown. I think being hypnotized to believe in a good afterlife would help. I assume the martyr is happy at the end, maybe not fearless, but possibly happy.