Fear of Death

Existential crisis is a pretty normal thing. But it's really important to not spiral into existential dread and nihilism - you'll only drive yourself mad if you dwell on it.

We can take comfort in religion or science, or find anxiety in those places as well. We "know" or have faith in things, but at the end of the day all humans throughout history have grappled with the same questions. Is there meaning or order to the universe? Do things happen for a reason? Is there life after death or is this it? You can accept one of the answers out there already and let that reduce your anxiety (because whether or not people admit to it, even subconsciously they are accepting those answers for that very reason), or make peace with the fact you'll never know the answer. And sometimes the acceptance that you won't know is comforting unto itself.

The only thing you do know is from your perspective is you're alive and what you make of that is ultimately up to you. Personally, I think it is important that you make the most of it.

From a pragmatic perspective, doing something positive for others can have ripple effects that echo through time. It might not be the most important thing that ever happens to a person, but it might lend itself to an overall tapestry that shapes that person and in turn others and continues to into the future.

I saw a documentary a long time ago with a bomb defuser guy who basically said this. Not sure if it's the same guy or just something that bomb defusers tend to say lol:

It's always stuck in the back of my mind as the right way to think about such things. You can't do much about some types of suddenlies except to try and minimize your exposure and to mitigate the problems that you're leaving for others.

On the other hand, I'm not sure there's a great way to deal with the not-so-suddenlies.

Ya I've had some trouble the last couple years with feelings of existential dread. My whole life I've always kind of looked at teh clock and told myself I still have plenty of time left. But approaching, and finally hitting 50, I look at the clock and realize that I have more time behind me than in front of me. I'm not the type of guy that's just sat around doing nothing, I have definitely lived my life to the fullest, but there is just something about The End that I can't wrap my head around and thinking about it makes me feel very anxious. I think it's one of the reasons my drinking got out of control for awhile there as it seems to completely turn off those thoughts and emotions but only brought other, bigger problems. Lately though, I've found that just a heartfelt prayer helps. Spending time with my kiddo also makes me feel better about this life that I've been given.

Tilluin said:

Strange one but lately I’ve found myself constantly contemplating death. Anyone else been in the same boat? It’s not making me morbid but rather very fearful of the world going on after I’m dead.

I’m not a religious man so I’ve always believed that when we die that’s it. I can remember not being able to sleep around age 8 as I couldn’t stop thinking about the world going on after I die.

I’m wondering if anyone has read / watched anything that helped them process the concept of death / existence?

I’ve experimented with recreationals a bit in my life and found that after a few LSD trips that even smoking weed makes me fall into a hole of thinking about consciousness, inner voice, time passing etc. I’m thinking of trying DMT after hearing so many stories of it helping people in similar boats.

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After by Dr Bruce Greyson helped me cope.
As well as the movie What Dreams May Come (1998).

After is a book about the science and studies behind near death experiences. It’s not religious in any way. Greyson is the head of psychology for the University of Virginia and is a skeptical man, but I gotta say, I’m convinced that NDEs show consciousness surviving physical death. (I’m an Atheist).

Read the stoics. Those people dealt with death on a daily basis.