Poll of the Day > Are you afraid of what happens after death??

(+) Yeah! (+)

I don't know if it's my anxiety making me having these morbid, futile thoughts as of late but I find myself feeling very afraid of returning to the oblivion I were born from. I know death is inevitable and I probably won't even know it has happened when it does but I still can't stop being afraid of what happens after it.

Some folk believe it'll be like before you were born or being under anaesthesia but never waking up. I've been put under anaesthesia before, don't remember anything from it save for my spirit seemingly floating out of my body and looking down at me on the operating table with the the surgeons doing their thing. I suppose this was a lucid dream though. I wasn't afraid of being put under anaesthesia but that is because I believed I would wake up from it. The very thought of never waking up freaks me the hell out.

So how do you guys/gals feel about what happens after death?
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Whoops.

As I was saying before you deleted this...

I don't think anything happens after death, so I don't feel there's anything to be afraid of. I don't want to die, but if it happens then that's it and there's nothing else I can do.
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Yeah, the thought of nonexistence is my greatest fear

It may be irrational, but that is just how I am
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I'd love to know peoples thoughts on why they are not afraid at all. I assume it's due to religion but I could be wrong.
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wwinterj25 posted...

I'd love to know peoples thoughts on why they are not afraid at all. I assume it's due to religion but I could be wrong.

I'm non-religious, and I explained my thoughts in my post.

I don't believe in an afterlife or an oblivion. When I die, there will be nothing. There will literally be nothing to fear.
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RCtheWSBC posted...

I don't believe in an afterlife or an oblivion. When I die, there will be nothing. There will literally be nothing to fear.

Thanks for that. I believe the same too. It still doesn't stop me fearing it though. You're much stronger mentally than I am it seems. I never used to even think about it before this anxiety struck so maybe it's just that playing tricks on my brain.
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First thing that happens is the naturally occurring DMT in your brain begins to release and you experience severe hallucinations. Some people go to their version of heaven or hell, and some people stand outside their own bodies and watch what happens around them.

Whatever happens is extremely realistic, DMT is the most potent psychedelic known to man.
http://thescienceexplorer.com/brain-and-body/psychedelic-drug-may-be-released-our-brains-we-die

This is why I want my body to be burned. If chemicals in a dying brain can do that to people, I wonder if brains preserved for science are somewhat alive in some kind of insane limbo.
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No because I was clinically dead for several minutes during a surgery once (stopped breathing) and there was nothing. No bright light, no voices, nothing at all but silent darkness.
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No. It can't be any worse than life.
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I'm not scared of death or the afterlife (or the lack thereof).

I consider myself to be relatively religious, or at the very least, spiritual. I frequently spend time to reflect on religion, but I'm certainly not a fanatic or anything as such, I'm both confident and comfortable in my belief that there's an afterlife. It may be something that I can't comprehend, but I'm sure there's some form of continuation of conciousness.

With that said, I don't waste any time worrying about if there's nothing after we die, because if there was I quite frankly wouldn't be able to tell. I guess you could say my beliefs are:

Afterlife? Great, can't wait to see the answer to this mystery
No afterlife? Great, won't be dissapointed because I can't be anything other than gone.
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JamieTheWhite posted...

First thing that happens is the naturally occurring DMT in your brain begins to release and you experience severe hallucinations. Some people go to their version of heaven or hell, and some people stand outside their own bodies and watch what happens around them.

TyVulpine posted...

No because I was clinically dead for several minutes during a surgery once (stopped breathing) and there was nothing. No bright light, no voices, nothing at all but silent darkness.

So like when you faint or have a dreamless sleep only never waking up?
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wwinterj25 posted...

TyVulpine posted...

No because I was clinically dead for several minutes during a surgery once (stopped breathing) and there was nothing. No bright light, no voices, nothing at all but silent darkness.

So like when you faint or have a dreamless sleep only never waking up?

Exactly.
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Well obviously the hallucinations would end once you're totally dead. I can't imagine someone who had their brains destroyed would be able to hallucinate very well.
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TyVulpine posted...

Exactly.

As I expected. I know fear is a emotion for the living and I won't be afraid when I actually die as how can I be when my brain is gone? It's still a scary thought for me to think that's where I'm heading one day and there is nothing I or anyone can do about it.
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wwinterj25 posted...

So how do you guys/gals feel about what happens after death?

You rot/get eaten by other animals/insects. You're dead and don't care, it's no biggie.

There is nothing after death so no, I guess not.
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Why be afraid? If anything it should be a relief to have something so inexorable in life. It's a universal limitation, almost something like a guidepost for existance. The many roads of life all narrow down to the same path at the end, so why bother looking towards the destination when you haven't even checked the map?
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123pizza2 posted...

The many roads of life all narrow down to the same path at the end, so why bother looking towards the destination when you haven't even checked the map?

I like this. I should think more about actually living and not waste my time dwelling on things I have no control over. Thanks man.
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i believe you just start all over again

RCtheWSBC posted...

As I was saying before you deleted this...

I don't think anything happens after death, so I don't feel there's anything to be afraid of. I don't want to die, but if it happens then that's it and there's nothing else I can do.

This.

wwinterj25 posted...

I like this. I should think more about actually living and not waste my time dwelling on things I have no control over. Thanks man.

I totally get where you're coming from so I'm happy to offer even a modicum of solace.
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No. The thought of dying scares me, because I can't imagine its a pleasant situation. But i'll worry about what happens after I'm dead, after I'm dead.
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Have you ever woken up and though "fuck. I still have to deal with _______"


When you die you dont have to go through that :D
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I try not to think about it, honestly.

But when I do... I wouldn't say it scares me, but it does make me a little uncomfortable.
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Consider this: if you fall here, now, you will never rise. But if you choose another way, the Necromonger way, you will die in due time, and rise again in the Underverse.

This is actually the biggest issue I'm dealing with in my life right now. I've had depression basically since birth, and for most of my life I've been planning to die. I'm finally at a better, happier place in life now. Surprisingly (or perhaps not), this has caused me to develop a deep fear of death. The concept that my consciousness will one day end terrifies me.

It's not that I'm afraid of what happens after. Most likely, nothing does. It's dealing with that fact right now that scares me. I am completely powerless to do anything about it, too. My wife says it gives her some comfort to know that as unfair as the world is, everything is fair in death. I find no comfort in that. Hell would be preferable to me than oblivion.

thecolorgreen posted...

Have you ever woken up and though "fuck. I still have to deal with _______"


When you die you dont have to go through that :D

But what if we do? What if life right now is just one big dream?
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i used to
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Nope

"Lots of things happen after you die. Just none of them involve you" - Louis c.k.

I'm scared at the prospect of Hell/other hell-like places, but other than that the though of actual death doesn't bother me as long as it isn't boring.
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as long as the funeral directors dont take advantage of my corpse no Im not worried what happens will happen.
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return to nothingness like you used to be
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Only if Hell exists and if I'm destined for it.

Otherwise no; at worst I'd be indifferent toward it.
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No. If it exists I've accepted I'm going to hell.

Don't be so afraid of death that it makes you afraid of life.

The best you can do is to postpone death for as long as possible -- but it is going to happen to you at some point. It's the one 100% guaranteed certainty in your life, and you will have to face it sooner or later; we all will. No getting away from it. Just make the journey there a worthwhile one, try not to have too many regrets, and hope that you won't be too afraid when you feel yourself sliding down into the dark forever.
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No, I don't believe in afterlife of any sort and have accepted my mortality at a very young age.
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It's hard to say.

As sad as it is, I pretty much live for food, TV, and video games.

Like, the last time I was really, really down, I thought to myself, "But that Iron Fist TV series is coming, I can't wait for that!"

Har har.
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I just find myself curious. I don't go actively seeking my death, but i find that my curiosity generally overrides my fear.

Nope
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I used to be when I was young. I don't anymore, now I worry about life.

No fear of non existence.
Actually, when I think about it, being unaware of how stupid the world is, I actually look foreword to it.
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Yeah life is a journey and we're all born dying blah blah blah.

The only thing that scares me about death is if I've done enough to ensure my loved ones will be ok.
Thanks for making the topic to remind me to get an official will written up.
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Funkdamental posted...

Don't be so afraid of death that it makes you afraid of life.

The best you can do is to postpone death for as long as possible -- but it is going to happen to you at some point. It's the one 100% guaranteed certainty in your life, and you will have to face it sooner or later; we all will. No getting away from it. Just make the journey there a worthwhile one, try not to have too many regrets, and hope that you won't be too afraid when you feel yourself sliding down into the dark forever.

I'm like this most of the time. I don't limit my life out of fear of death, but at the same time, as I get older and the inevitable is closer, I do irrationally fear it if I think too much on it. Like reading this thread. :-)
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PKMNsony posted...

I used to be when I was young. I don't anymore, now I worry about life.

Pretty much my case as well.

I'm a Christian, so I naturally believe in Heaven and Hell. Over the years I've come to realize that life without God doesn't make any sense, hence there's a natural fear for what's coming next. I used to speculate many things, many of them are pretty similar to what has been already mentioned (endless sleep; your own version of eternity; etc.).

I'm not trying to force anyone to believe in God, nor I want to offend anyone by any means. I totally respect your points of view. But I can assure you, when I realized my inevitable condition of going to Hell and accepted the pay for my sins through Christ, that fear disappeared.

Now I worry about life, knowing that I have to make the best of it for me and others.
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Apparently there is no such thing as death (made up concept like time) and we essentially are living the same "life"
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Advokaiser posted...

I totally respect your points of view. But I can assure you, when I realized my inevitable condition of going to Hell and accepted the pay for my sins through Christ, that fear disappeared.

I understand religion is comforting to get some folk through life and for them to accept what's after it. Despite being a atheist I can't fault people for having faith as you need to believe in whatever works for you. It really doesn't matter if it's real what you believe in or not as in the end you'll never know the answer to report back anyway.
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For those destined to live upon the Elysian Fields, no fear is necessary. For those doomed to fester in the pits of Tartarus, well, cling to this life while you can because your next existence won't be nearly as pleasant.
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I'm not afraid of death because when I'm dead I'll be dead. It's not like I'll have a consciousness to think, "Wow, this really sucks being dead".

It's like sleeping and just never waking up.

The act of dying might suck, but being dead won't. I've never understood how atheists could be afraid of being dead unless they really believed in some form of afterlife.
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Smarkil posted...

I've never understood how atheists could be afraid of being dead

Survival instinct. The threat of personal extinction.
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