Afraid of death?

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naturally

I think a lot of people who claim not to fear death would feel differently if someone actually pointed a gun at their head, or if they were diagnosed with a terminal illness...

I said no, but I dont think I fully mean it. Im prepared cause of all the times I was convinced I would die in my past, but at the same time there are so many things I would still like to do before I leave this reality. So I guess its really a maybe.

I'm not so afraid of death as is the pain I would have to go through in order to die. That's what really scares me is the pain of dying.

Ive been murdered in my dreams before, the pain isnt as bad as it seems.

I understand what you're saying. I guess it seems like I'm trying to act 'tough'. I'll try to explain myself better.

I've had a knife pulled on me before, and another time I was surrounded by a group armed with baseball bats. On both of these occasions, I maintained my composure fairly well and dealt with them rationally despite my tension, waiting for a safe opportunity before calling the police.

Fear didn't cause me to hand them my money, it was common sense. I knew that the risks involved while fighting over such a small amount of cash would not be worth it. I also didn't really suspect that they would attack us unless we made the first move. Plus, I could easily identify them to police, who would have no trouble pursuing them since they were on foot. Both incidents led to the swift arrest of the criminals involved.

Would a gun to my head be different? Probably, as it's a rather intuitive reaction for humans to fear spontaneous threats - especially when instant death could be a consequence of the slightest false move. Those who say they could be completely calm in such situations are probably fooling themselves.

So I admit that I'd be nervous, but would still do my best to think rationally in order to live through the situation. It's important to note that I would still have some hope of survival, and obviously there would be some tension over the fact that I'm still very responsible for the outcome. There's also the fact that severe injury and pain (while still being alive) is extremely uncomfortable, as others here have previously mentioned.

Now let's assume I'm being executed by a firing squad. This is completely different, because I have virtually no hope of survival. At this point, I would have no choice but to accept death as an inevitability. Since there is nothing I can do to save myself, I can relax. Why? Because there is no responsibility on my part, I need only close my eyes and await a quick death.

Terminal illness - This would be largely the same as the firing squad scenario, except I'd still have some time left to enjoy life first. If I ever get cancer (which is a definite possibility, given statistics) I'll let the medical professionals do their work, but other than that I suspect I'll enjoy my life while I still can. The doctors have the burden of responsibility at that point (if surgery, treatment, etc. are involved) so there is little pressure on me. I only have to live while I can, follow treatment procedures, and accept the death which awaits me.

In my current situation, I'm relatively safe and healthy yet I still know that I'll eventually die. In this context, I have no fear at all. When I die, I cease to exist. For all I know, I'll return to the nothingness from which I originated, before my birth.. which I never asked for to begin with. What is so scary about that? I think of it as going home. Immortality would be much worse, in my opinion.

To conclude, the hypothetical situations listed above involved varying levels of fear. The degree of fear was dependent mainly on how much was expected of me. This is a stress brought on by high-pressure situations where a lot is at stake, rather than by the thought of ceasing to exist. Of course none of us can speak with absolute certainty on hypothetical situations, as speculation and reality are very different.

When it comes to responsibility, I'll admit I can be a wuss at times. But odd as it may seem, I don't fear the reaper.

After having been depressed, death just seems like eternal sleep to me--something to look forward to, in a way. What I fear is pain, and if I die in a painful way, the pain is what I fear. Death itself, no.

I don't fear death, I consider it a release.

Z

Death isn't something to be feared, its part of life, without death there can't be life, and it's something we all will have to go though eventually. I have seen both my parents die, and I was with my mom while is happened, I watched all the pain she had to endured all her life leave her face, and I got to be with her so she wasn't alone. And I absolutely know if my time is up, wither I die violently or from a terminal disease or get in some sort of accident, it doesn't really matter once your dead, just don't dwell on death in all its forms and maybe life would be more worth living.

The only thing I'll be thinking of as a draw my last breath is that I'm really sorry that I'll be the cause of feelings of grief for my kids and I'll be sorry that I can't be there to comfort them.