Discussion Why do we fear death?

[mutagen5577]

I don't exactly understand why I am afraid of death. Death = isolation, eternal, empty. Yet none of those words have negative connotations when I am not there to experience them. How can I fear something that only appears scary when the true reality of it is eternal peace?

 

[Imgonnahangmyself]

Probably cos no one knows for sure what's after

 

[TimeToDie]

I don't think I'm afraid of being dead. Rather what terrifies me is the process of dying which might be excruciatingly painful.

 

[puppy9]

Beautifully put my friend. Just this damn lizard brain of mine keeping me from taking the proverbial bus.

 

[pleasethistime]

because if there is a god, he must be a real psycho.

 

[Soul]

Will it hurt on the way out? Will something be expected of me? Will I be up to it or make an ass of myself? Will my butt look too big?

So many uncertainties

 

[RM5998]

Will my butt look too big?

Asking the important questions...

As for myself, I'm afraid of the void. I don't know or understand why, but it's the annihilation I'm afraid of. I'm afraid that I'll be there to perceive that I'm not there, and that thought terrifies me.

 

[LastFlowers]

Will it hurt on the way out? Will something be expected of me? Will I be up to it or make an ass of myself? Will my butt look too big?

So many uncertainties

I still can't believe they took away the laugh emoji!!

 

[Imgonnahangmyself]

I don't fear death. I just want to die. I didn't know why im even alive. Worthless.

 

[SinisterKid]

Its not fear of death per say, its more fear of the unknown. In all the time mankind has been around, with all the technological advances, we still dont have a clue about what it means to die. Lots of accounts of peoples experiences, but nothing definitive. That is the real fear.

My own experience is that death is just the beginning of something much bigger that right now, we cannot possibly understand. But it is certainly nothing to fear and maybe because it is not so unknown to me, its why I dont fear death at all, I will embrace it.

But if you are pumped all your life that suicide is going to mean you spend eternity in hell, or that you will return to this earth because you left too soon, or anything and everything that is negative about death, you are going to believe some of it, or it is at the very least, going to create some severe doubts and fears. Very clever psychology by the creators of such crap.

 

[Cleopatra123]

I don't exactly understand why I am afraid of death. Death = isolation, eternal, empty. Yet none of those words have negative connotations when I am not there to experience them. How can I fear something that only appears scary when the true reality of it is eternal peace?

I believe people fear nothingness, or the distress of the process.

 

[Scribble Fan]

I think humanity fears the unknown, plus I know I'm partially afraid of fading away forever, even though that's also one of my strongest desires.

 

[Cleopatra123]

I think humanity fears the unknown, plus I know I'm partially afraid of fading away forever, even though that's also one of my strongest desires.

Yes, although the known is what people are fleeing. Remember, "matter cannot be destroyed" (a scientific statement), so, in some way, we will be part of the universe, or heaven.

 

[Scribble Fan]

Yes, although the known is what people are fleeing. Remember, "matter cannot be destroyed" (a scientific statement), so, in some way, we will be part of the universe, or heaven.

Fleeing the known but fearing the unknown. Talk about a rock and a hard place.

I wouldn't mind being part of the universe, as long as I'm not conscious enough to notice.

 

[Cleopatra123]

Fleeing the known but fearing the unknown. Talk about a rock and a hard place.

I wouldn't mind being part of the universe, as long as I'm not conscious enough to notice.

Perhaps being another part of the universe will be a better existence.

 

[Numbtopain97]

People are afraid of death for the same reason as being afraid of the dark, because you have no way of knowing what's there. The things that always scare people the most are the unknown and unknowable.

 

[levymarie]

Its because all living creatures are hardwired to stay alive. Its the survival instinct.

 

[kkatt]

It is human nature to fear that which we don't understand.
Some years ago,I experienced heart failure and was resuscitated with a defibrillator.
I can tell you that I experienced absolutely nothing.
It has been suggested that maybe I wasn't gone quite long enough...this may be true.
All I know is I have no fear of death. But I absolutely DO fear the suffering that comes before it.

 

[TAW122]

All good reasons, survival instinct would be at the top, first and foremost (not many people are able to easily overcome it), fearing failure (and possibly ending up in a worse situation - ie being a vegetable) then after that, fearing the unknown, and then of course some who are religious or believe in an afterlife are afraid of the consequences that succeed it. Since I'm an atheist myself and don't believe in the afterlife, it would just mainly overcoming SI and making sure that I succeed (easier said than done, but I know if the situation is bad enough and timing is right, then even SI won't get in my way).

 

[kkatt]

The survival instinct is a crazy thing.
It operates at a subconscious level too.
There are many stories of people who have saved themselves whilst being completely unconscious

 

[malummo]

I'm not afraid of death. SI is a problem. how to overcome this? how to trick the brain to overcome that primal fear? I'm terribly annoyed that I can't find the courage. like an invisible force holds me. it's frustrating. i admire people who manage to point their middle finger at fear ... i just want that life reward called oblivion.

 

[Wayfaerer]

I don't fear death. It's the dying part that is challenging.

I don't actually want to die, but I am being driven towards it due to circumstances that are beyond my control. A real pity, finally feeling what it's like to have a life and then having it taken away almost immediately. So much left undone...