I started having frequent anxiety / panic attacks related to death about 2 weeks ago, and am not sure why. First layer is, I am afraid of my own death, mainly because I am afraid of the unknown I believe. Second layer is I am afraid of the impending doom of humanity, even if it is in a trillion years when the sun expands and covers Earth's orbit. Do any of you know coping mechanisms to deal with this? I am hoping I am not alone in this issue, because it is really scary.
Ask HN: How to Deal with Death Anxiety?
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Re: Ask HN: How to Deal with Death Anxiety?
#2You are certainly not alone, perhaps investigate more about the subject, it's inevitable, yet treated in a myriad of ways by different cultures. Perhaps there is something going on around you that at this time has posed questions you've not considered before. It's common for people to have a short spell of panic attacks then not be bothered by symptoms again. Regarding the actual attacks, you would perhaps benefit from looking into the physiological background, what process this is triggering in your body, and how you can learn to exert control over it, it is my understanding that a panic attack should not cause any harm in and of itself, though of course, the experience is unpleasant and scary, both for the sufferer and those around them at the time.
Re: Ask HN: How to Deal with Death Anxiety?
#3three certainties of life
you will grow old, you will grow sick, you will die.
the uncertainties come from how you choose to act in the face of these certainties, and from external coincidences that are greater than yourself.
my strategy, strive to read/write something that will make you look good or enigmatic in some way if you are found dead with it open in front of you. create something bigger than yourself, that lasts beyond generations and screams "I was here, and this is what I was!"
Re: Ask HN: How to Deal with Death Anxiety?
#4I'm have no medical qualifications but suggest that you consider if taking magnesium may help.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/magnesium-the-most-powerf_b_4...
You may already be obtaining sufficient through your diet and should consider your doctor's opinion.
Perhaps religion may provide the answer? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism#The_cycle_of_rebirth
Re: Ask HN: How to Deal with Death Anxiety?
#5There are two kinds of things that happen in life. The ones you can control and the ones you can’t.
By definition, it doesn’t make sense to worry about things you can’t control.
It took my a while to accept that, but once I did life got better. Give it a try.
Re: Ask HN: How to Deal with Death Anxiety?
#6Some thoughts:
1. Blog or keep a journal. It may help you sort this.
2. Stop reading/watching "the news." Most news is bad news. It's known to negatively impact mental health to focus overly much on it.
3. Actively go looking for positives, a la "count your blessings." It can help counteract our tendency to only not bad news and not acknowledge things that are going right or doing well.
4. You might consider confronting your fear. Perhaps you could volunteer at a hospice.
(This list not comprehensive.)
Re: Ask HN: How to Deal with Death Anxiety?
#7possibly magic mushrooms?
https://vancouversun.com/health/local-health/b-c-counsellor-...
IMHO this is the first important existential barrier to break through. Nearly everyone goes through this, the sooner the better.
In this pursuit the Serenity Prayer is great. It sounds cliche, but repeat it enough it and becomes profound and comforting.
Re: Ask HN: How to Deal with Death Anxiety?
#8Some thoughts: 1. Blog or keep a journal. It may help you sort this. 2. Stop reading/watching "the news." Most news is bad news. It's known to negatively impact mental health to focus overly much on it. 3. Actively go looking for positives, a la "count your blessings." It can help counteract our tendency to only not bad news and not acknowledge things that are going right or doing well. 4. You might consider confront…
> Stop reading/watching "the news."
This. News is new, not necessarily deep or important, usually neither.
Re: Ask HN: How to Deal with Death Anxiety?
#9Some thoughts: 1. Blog or keep a journal. It may help you sort this. 2. Stop reading/watching "the news." Most news is bad news. It's known to negatively impact mental health to focus overly much on it. 3. Actively go looking for positives, a la "count your blessings." It can help counteract our tendency to only not bad news and not acknowledge things that are going right or doing well. 4. You might consider confront…
> Stop reading/watching "the news." This. News is new, not necessarily deep or important, usually neither.
To clarify how awful the news is:
The predicted the Kuwaiti oil fires would burn for years and be a global disaster. When they were put out in six months because crack teams from around the world converged on Kuwait and invented new techniques, we did not break out the champagne and dance in the streets around the world. We barely noticed as we moved on to talking about our latest crisis.
It's essentially brainwashing. It's not objective reality. Objective reality would celebrate something like that as vigorously as we lamented the expected coming disaster. But we never do.
Re: Ask HN: How to Deal with Death Anxiety?
#10Accept that you cannot control everything. Everybody dies. Make it count