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Fear of death anxiety

20 years ago 0 +0 / -0 5

[size=2]For the past year and a half I have been having anxiety-induced breathing problems and fear of death, right as I'm trying to fall asleep. I've always been a very sound sleeper, no trouble falling asleep and even with this problem I don't have insomnia, but this thing has been very irksome. What happens is that just as I settle down to sleep, laying on my back, my breathing slowing down, I will either forget to inhale or I'll exhale and panic that I've stopped breathing. I will get startle and start to panic, then force myself to breathe, then it will happen again. Naturally I get even more anxious and worry that I might stop breathing in my sleep! Ways to stop this thing include a) actually stopping breathing and then reassuring myself that, yes, I do eventually breathe again and b) going onto my side, which doesn't seem to allow for as much panic. Has anybody else had this? The fear I would just stop breathing and die from that used to be very strong. It's not as bad now but I sure wish I would stop. It's like a schema and if I didn't think about it , maybe it would go away.[/size]

20 years ago 0 +0 / -0 21

Thank you for your response, I do appreciate it, however my mind is to muddled to figure out what you are saying. I want to explain that I don't have a problem with people who have a religious belief. I have been in to many situations that were extremely painful and have prayed to the point of exhaustion many times in my life. I have attended different churches and have found some comfort in my life from being around people who seemed to be positive people. I have also attended a 12- step group of al-anon for about twenty years and I can do the higher power thing at times. So I meant no disrespect to anyone. I had a bout with this in my early twenties and it went away. I don't know why. I am hoping that it goes away this time also. I know very well that I will die someday and have most of my life felt heallthy in that respect. It is just so baffling to me why now? It is at least some comfort to be able to express this. I don't think most people want to discuss these kinds of things and therefore I don't talk about it.

20 years ago 0 +0 / -0 149

Generalized Anxiety which often goes along or preceeds Major Depression does cause people to have obsessive thoughts about many things. If you are stressed out, and fear death, you might quite possibly fixate on dieing. Search out why you fear death. If you do not think that you can find out what death is, you will be stuck. Science does not disagree with the bible. It might disagree with some religious views which are erroneous. How did the Universe get here? Issac Newton had a friend who did not believe in a Creator. So, when he entered Newton's room and saw a scale model of the Solar System, he asked; "Who made this?" Newton replied, "Nobody". They repeated the same question and answer a few times, and eventually Newton's friend got the point. Will you? There is a rhyme and reason to the whole thing; but if you can't accept that you may never come to any conclusions about death. I hope you can.

20 years ago 0 +0 / -0 21

thanks for answering my inquiry. my fears i think are from general anxiety, i am aging and know that i don't have a lifetime ahead of me. i have anxiety about financial security as i age and i have a job that is very physical and really wears me out. i worry about how long i can do this and the effect it has on my life now. i am always tired and sore, i took cymbalta for a short time and it was wonderful, but it stopped working. i am back to wellbutrim for depression but it makes the anxiety worse. i don't know which is worse. i think about changing jobs and that brings up another whole battery of fears. i would love to be able to relax and enjoy life. i understand about space the big bang and black holes, i find it very interesting however i do not think that line of thought is helpful to me as far as this death or mortality thing goes. i am thinking it is intensefied because of the stress i am under. does this makes sense to anyone else? i would appreciate any thoughts. thanks sherrie

20 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8

Hi, Sherrie! I,m sorry, that you have the same terrible fear death anxiety. I,m moderate religious cristian. But at the same time I have conflict in my mind, when religious thoughts and physical science collide with each other. I,m too good educated in physics, chemistry, and other materialistic science to believe only in spiritual evidence. Maybe because of that I can not find the peace in my heart. I always analysing any events through the different, opposing each other prisms. I went to many websites, in order to find the answer: to astronomy,I have red about recent discovery of Big Bang, Black Hole, by telescope Hubble, have red evidence of people who had near-death experiences.They say that they been experiencing -like light at the end of tunnel, out of body sensations, referring it is a God you meeting over there.I think they promote their websites in order to sell their books. My theory is:( I do not insist to believe on it-it just my subjective opinion) When any individual is dying, brain suffers the lack of oxygen, because the heart stopped to pump.Even though heart is stopped, the chemical and electrical reactions and charges is going on in the brain for a while, which create the hallucinations: like very pleasant sensations, very bright light. I,d like to discuss more if you wish later.

20 years ago 0 +0 / -0 21

this is so strange, i have been having the same problem with the anxiety about death it seems to fluctuate in intensity. at first i thought it was wellbutrin that was causing it, but i stopped that and it was still there just not as intense. i hate the feeling and i already know that it is a waste of time and all that, it is still there. i am not religious nor do i want to be. there must be some explanation for this. if anyone has insight other than religion please respond. thank you

20 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

Hey again, I can I have your email address so I can write directly?? Or instant messaging of any kind??

20 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8

Hi, April76! Sorry, that you lost your brother, especially, so young, whose life was ahead of him. I would like to help you and comfort you, but I do not know how yet, because I,m still dealing with mine everyday. But I can talk to you. If you have some questions,please, do not hesitate. My condolences to you and your family. P.S. I think when people have their own troubles, it is good to help other people, as much you can. It is part of healing.

20 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

Easy, I am not sure if you will get this but I would like to get in touch with you. My young brother passed away a few months ago at the age of 14 and I have been having a terrible time and I experience the exact same thing that you are going through. I used to have death anxiety all the time many years back and was finally able to deal with it and his death brought it all back to me again.

20 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8

Thank you very much to all:to unrequited, to jojo, josie, and densam. You are all compasionate people. I really felt that i,m not alone. You brought me some releave, even though it will take a long process to work with my mind. But when I have people like you responded right away, it brought me sence of comfort. I will definetely read the bible. I wish you all happyness. easyrider

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Fear of death anxiety