Can't Stop Thinking About Dying

geerex

no1catman wrote: »

Oh the contrary - as I believe in life after physical/biological death - I have no fear of death - only the manor of it happening!

Some people don't get to die in mansions...

BarryBlue

BigAunty wrote: »

It's not necessarily depression (could be) but a normal part of being human as we are the only animal with language and are likely to be conscious about our future demise.

I am an atheist who takes comfort from the fact that I will leave no trace once I am cremated and scattered.

For me there's no afterlife, and this isn't a bleak outlook at all.

I have an interest in secular buddhism, meditation, mindfullness and yoga. This type of Buddhism insists that the path is more of a philosophy, an outlook, a guide for living. It focusses on suffering and how to ease it. The really old fashioned term 'Nirvana' which is about the end of suffering might be better described in modern terms about achieving contentment or the 'end of worry'.

The principles behind the things I've listed are brilliant because they provide techniques in how to enjoy the present moment without being obsessed with the past or fretting about the future. That way, anxiety, worry and sadness are eliminated.

I also enjoyed parts of the book by Eckhart Tolle called The Power of Now because it outlined the difference between clock time (chronological time) and psychological time (if your mind wandered to the past or to the future or could maintain a healthy focus on the present). It outlined the suffering that came about if clock time and psychological time were out of synch.

It also came up with various strategies to challenge the voice in your head that you assume comes from within you and is The Truth. In fact, the author is mischievous and misleading. With the book, you can learn to push back and not be affected the The Voice that you assume comes form you and stop it from having authority over you. Parts of the book are tedious but it does contain some great nuggets that aren't too far out in terms of New Age Woo-Woo.

Another thing you might benefit from exploring is 'Constructive Living', a psychological therapy with its roots in Japan. It deals with anxiety. Look it up on the internet. It's about acknowledging your anxieties but not letting them overwhelm you. It indicates the type of fear you have is common but that it shouldn't paralyse you. It helps with grounding you, considering what you have rather than how you imagine you are wronged or what you don't have.

Welcome to being human - you are worried about death.

Excellent post. This is what I was alluding to in my earlier post. Far too many people waste their lives worrying about the non-existent bit afterwards and thinking that they must somehow prepare for it and win a right to it through their actions.

Once you accept that we have one life and that's it, you can get on with enjoying it as best you can, and with no regrets. This acceptance brings true contentment once you find it.

DermotFlanigan

pinpin wrote: »

Update us on how it goes etc.

I went to the appointment. As soon as a tried to talk I broke down crying.

Told the doctor my thoughts and he printed a leaflet. I couldn't relate at all to the leaflet as it was all about depression from money, family and work problems. He did book another appointment in this Thursday but with another GP as he is away.

Scrapaholic

Doctor wasn't a lot of help then ! Anyway , some people believe that there's something after we die , others don't . I think that no one really knows . Would it help you to think there's something , some afterlife ? Some find that thought unbearable too . While you're waiting to go back to the doctors would you consider going to the library . I've just read a book by Mark Anthony called Evidence of Eternity . He's a psychic lawyer . He's written others too . There'll be other books like this . I find them interesting and I'll keep an open mind . Others might not believe in anything like this but that's up to them . See what you think and that's all that matters .

Jagraf

BarryBlue wrote: »

Excellent post. This is what I was alluding to in my earlier post. Far too many people waste their lives worrying about the non-existent bit afterwards and thinking that they must somehow prepare for it and win a right to it through their actions.

Once you accept that we have one life and that's it, you can get on with enjoying it as best you can, and with no regrets. This acceptance brings true contentment once you find it.

Non-belief is your religion. In exactly the same way as believing is someone else's. like it or not you have a faith. If you are so sure there is nothing, why do you have a problem with others being sure there is something? You have no proof either. I would respect your posts more if you just related contentment to your beliefs, rather than needing to dismantle everyone else's, whatever they are. It's very ironic.

Tlg1991

Jagraf wrote: »

Non-belief is your religion. In exactly the same way as believing is someone else's. like it or not you have a faith. If you are so sure there is nothing, why do you have a problem with others being sure there is something? You have no proof either. I would respect your posts more if you just related contentment to your beliefs, rather than needing to dismantle everyone else's, whatever they are. It's very ironic.

Non-belief is not a religion!

"Religion - the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods."

Jagraf

Tlg1991 wrote: »

Non-belief is not a religion!

"Religion - the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods."

And also "a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion". It doesn't have to be anything to do with god. Perhaps faith would be a better word, however.

red_devil

catkins wrote: »

You don't know for certain there is no afterlife. You believe there isn't and that's fine but you can't call it a reality and I find it extremely rude and disrespectful to anyone who doesn't share your views


I believe 100% there is an afterlife but I don't expect everyone else to believe it. I am not scared of dying just the way I will die

there is no proof there is an afterlife, its a fantasy abit like the Virgin Mary and the tooth fairy. People only believe it because it may be a comfort that they may well rejoin loved ones.

When you ask how that is possible, nobody can explain so therefor not proved. Do cats and dogs and bunnies and fish have an afterlife too, it cannot be possible.

msb5262

With respect, people, I don't think the posters arguing about the existence or not of an afterlife are helping the OP in the slightest. If anything, he will be made to feel worse as he is apparently being ignored on his own thread!

Please take your discussion elsewhere and to the OP, I am glad you went to the doctor - hopefully this week's appointment will be more helpful.

Best wishes

MsB x

Gigervamp

red_devil wrote: »

there is no proof there is an afterlife,

Equally, there is no proof that there is no afterlife either, so both viewpoints are hypotheses.