Overcoming fear of nothingness

[penguinl0v3s]

It seems like most people want nothingness, but I am scared of it. How do I get over it?

 

[locked*n*loaded]

To me there's not a fear in nothingness. It's where I was before all this, whatever this is. I don't recall "feeling" anything bad before arriving here, so how bad could it be? I don't recall sorrow, pain, anguish, misery, guilt, or hunger, or ANYTHING. Sounds ideal and like bliss to me. No more of the shit that is this place. True freedom.

 

[b1cycle]

It's weird to think about because there is no positive content to nothingness, only what it deprives you of..... And you experience it every time you go to sleep, and sleeping isn't scary. The asymmetry of death is very weird to me. But when I am really in a bad mental state the nothingness is inviting, in the way that jumping from a window during a house fire is inviting. I think it's like a long nap that never ends.

 

[sugarb]

It seems like most people want nothingness, but I am scared of it. How do I get over it?

Well, I mean, what is there really to be scared of? You'll cease to be, like a lightswitch being flicked off. You won't know that you don't exist.

 

[Beyond_Repair]

I think about when I was made unconscious with anesthesia for a dental procedure.

One moment I was talking to the dental assistant, the next thing I knew I was waking up and the procedure was over. I didn't think or feel or remember anything. I imagine it's like that, and it helps me not worry too much about it

 

[justwannadip]

I think its tough to come to terms with it by imagining, because imagining nothingness isn't nothing, ur still experiencing it. And usually when people imagine nothingness they just imagine being trapped in a pure black landscape. But that's not nothing. I try to remind myself that nothingness is the lack of experience. So no matter how scared my body is, it won't have to experience that anyway. SI will always be there tho, and the desire to experience something over nothing at all. I guess for me it just depends on whether it continues to be like this or gets even more extreme, than I'll have no choice but to go. Hopefully I won't think about it too much, but I don't expect my last moments to be peaceful because of the anxiety about it.

 

[thewalkingdread]

I think its tough to come to terms with it by imagining, because imagining nothingness isn't nothing, ur still experiencing it. And usually when people imagine nothingness they just imagine being trapped in a pure black landscape. But that's not nothing

Exactly.

We only fear "nothingness" because we know that the moments before our death are the last we'll have. And usually they aren't very pleasurable, agreeable, experiences...

 

[justwannadip]

Exactly.

We only fear "nothingness" because we know that the moments before our death are the last we'll have. And usually they aren't very pleasurable, agreeable, experiences...

Ya its unfortunate that we have to suffer until the end, even in our last moments. But in a way its poetic. Like one last hoorah. For me, I may think about how I'm killing my brain thats been working against me my whole life. It may make it easier, but until then, idk.

 

[pthnrdnojvsc]

Fear is the anticipation of future pain

There can be no pain no experience nothing in non-existence

Why fear never being able to feel pain again ? It's not logical

It's like before u were born

 

[landslide2]

It seems like most people want nothingness, but I am scared of it. How do I get over it?

I think many are naturally scared of it, and that has very much to do with the survival instinct. But I wouldn't say most people want nothingness, rather they want the pain and suffering to end.

 

[penguinl0v3s]

To me there's not a fear in nothingness. It's where I was before all this, whatever this is. I don't recall "feeling" anything bad before arriving here, so how bad could it be? I don't recall sorrow, pain, anguish, misery, guilt, or hunger, or ANYTHING. Sounds ideal and like bliss to me. No more of the shit that is this place. True freedom.

That doesn't help the SI.

Well, I mean, what is there really to be scared of? You'll cease to be, like a lightswitch being flicked off. You won't know that you don't exist.

I have someone that I like. Don't want to forget. Fear of losing good things.

Why fear never being able to feel pain again ? It's not logical

Fear of losing the good in my life.

 

[charcoalcat]

Had a surgery before, on anesthesia and fully unconscious for hours. Total nothingness. It was awesome I assure you. Pure bliss.

 

[lacrimosa]

The fear of nothingness is an oxymoron. It's nothingness, so, essentially, there's nothing to fear as you won't be conscious.

To clarify... Is it that you fear not experiencing anything anymore? That makes sense and is a totally rational fear. I too fear not experiencing anything anymore and that is probably a good thing but I'm not afraid to die. I think I would be at peace, hence why I sleep 12-13 hours every night/day.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

That doesn't help the SI.

I don't see how it doesn't. If the fear isn't there, it should be a lot easier.