Apr 26 2008
Fear of Death
Does the thought of death ever hit you unexpectedly? For me, every once in a while, usually as I’m in bed about to go to sleep, my mind temporarily becomes obsessed with the thought of death. I start thinking about what happens when you die, and I momentarily panic to the point where I have to literally jump out of bed and do something to take my mind off of it.
I don’t panic because I think I may be going to hell for things I have or haven’t done. I panic because I start thinking about the fact that there could just be nothing after death. You’re just gone. It’s very frightening when it happens.
Usually I don’t put much thought into it. I think most of us just try to put it out of our mind. Don’t get me wrong, usually I have faith in God, and I think it’s grown stronger since I’ve been married and have started going to Mass regularly, but still, the lingering doubt hits me every once in a while, and I really hate when it does.
What about you?
i can’t say that i think about death often…i think more about what people would say or how they would feel or react if i were suddenly…gone. would i be missed? who would come to the viewing/funeral?
sounds morbid, but its something that i actually wonder about often
For me it’s not about my own death, but that of my loved ones. It happens to me just like you - at night in bed. I hate it!
I never was concerned about death. That is until we had our son. Now every time I step on an airplane questions of my mortality invade my thoughts. It’s not that I’m afraid of my own death. I’m afraid of leaving my wife and child alone to survive. I don’t ever want their lives to be a struggle.
Libby: I wonder about that too. Sounds like a good idea for a future post!
Avill: It sucks, doesn’t it.
Jason: I think about that too. Not only how they would survive, but how The Babito would grow up without a Daddy. I’ve seen the effects on some kids with only one parent, and, with many exceptions of course, the children don’t seem as well as adjusted as kids with both parents involved in their lives.
Having being through situations where I could have met my demise and having to go through relatives passing away when I was a child, the thought of death pops up now and then. From the morbid to the child-like questions.
VS: Hey, VS! Long time no see. Where have you been???
i’m a christian so to me i never worry about death. i mean, i mainly worry about the people i’ll leave behind…esp if like hannah’s still young…and i’d hate to leave matt so lonely. but i dont worry about what will happen to me. to me, i know there is a heaven and that it’s not just over once you die
Becky: I’m glad you have such faith. I’m a christian too, and I usually have a strong faith, but on occasion, for a brief moment, my faith slips a little bit. I think it may have to do with the fact that I never went to church growing up. I never really went at all until I met my wife, to be honest.
Sometimes that fear hits me all of a sudden. But I don’t fear my own death, I think about the death of my parents. It scares me a lot.
Sarah: I’m starting to feel self-centered here! Everyone else is talking about their loved ones and here I am focused on myself.