Millions of people are affected by the fear of death.It can cause anxiety for some people."necrophobia" is a fear of dying people or dead things which is different from thanatophobia.Both of these fears can be related to a fear of the unknown aspects of death, known as "xenophobia."This can be especially true for people who are nearing the end of life, as uncertainties around the death process can increase as the reality of death becomes more imminent.To become more comfortable with the unknown end of life, you need to understand your fear and overcome it.
Step 1: When you think about death, write down the times.
How much your fear affects your life is the first thing to determine when dealing with a fear of death.We don't always know the causes of our fears and anxiety.Writing about the situations in which they arise can be useful.It can be difficult to answer the question, "What was going on around me when I started feeling afraid or anxious?"Start with the basics.Write down as much information as you can remember from when you thought about death.What were you doing at the time of the thoughts?It's very common to fear death.People have been concerned with the idea of death and dying for a long time.This can happen for a number of reasons, including your age, religion, level of anxiety, experience of loss, and so on.You may be more prone to have a fear of death during certain times in your life.There is a deeper preoccupation with death in the ages of 4-7, 10-16, 17-23, and 35-54.Scholars have thought about death for a long time.Jean-Paul Sartre said that death can be a source of fear for people because it is that which transforms them into the outside.The potential of death to transform our living bodies back into non-human beings was pointed out by Sartre.
Step 2: Take note of when you are afraid or anxious.
Write down the times when you decided not to do something because you were afraid or anxious.If you aren't sure if the emotions are related to death or dying, write them down.
Step 3: Think of your anxiety and thoughts of death in the same way.
Look for similarities between the two lists of thoughts of death and anxious moments.You might notice that when you see a particular brand of candy, you feel a bit uneasy, but you don't know why.You realize that you think about death when you are in the same situation.At your grandparent's funeral, a brand of candy was served.You began to fear the thought of death in general.Sometimes even more so than the scenario described, such connections between objects, emotions, and situations can be quite subtle.Writing them down can help you become more aware of them.You can influence how you manage in such moments.
Step 4: There is a link between anxiety and anticipation.
Anything you do can be influenced by fear.If you start to look beyond your fear, you may be able to see that the event is not as bad as you think.It's usually wrapped up in anticipation about how things will go.The emotion looks to the future.Sometimes fear of death is worse than death itself.It may not be as bad as you think it will be.
Step 5: Tell yourself the truth.
You have to face the fact of your own mortality.Until you do, it will eat away at you.When life is temporarily realized, it becomes more valuable.You don't have to live in fear when you face death.When you face your fear head-on, you will be able to start deconstructing it.
Step 6: What you can control is what you should be focused on.
Death exposes the limits of life and what we are able to conceive, which makes it frightening.While still engaging with what you cannot, learn to focus on control.You might be worried about dying from a heart attack.Family history, race and ethnicity, and age are some of the factors that can't be controlled when it comes to heart disease.You will be more anxious if you focus on these things.Instead, focus on the things you can control, like quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and eating well.You are more likely to have a heart disease if you have an unhealthy lifestyle.
Step 7: Guide your life.
When we want to control the direction of our lives, we are often met with disappointment, frustration and anxiety about things that don't go as planned.How tightly you control the outcomes of your life can be loosened.You can still make plans.You should guide the course of your life.There is room for the unexpected.The idea of water flowing in a river is a fitting analogy.The river bank can change, the river can curve, and the water can slow down or speed up.You have to let the river go where it leads you.
Step 8: The thought patterns should be eliminated.
Catastrophizing is a thought pattern when you try to predict or imagine the future.An unproductive thought pattern is when you think about a situation that causes you to have negative emotions.The emotion we feel from an event will be determined by how we interpret it.If you're worried about being late for work, for example, you might tell yourself, "If I'm late, I will lose my job."Positive thinking replaces unproductive thinking.Your thought patterns are to blame.If I'm late, my boss might be angry.I can tell you that there was more traffic than normal.I will offer to stay late to make up time.
Step 9: Have a period of worry.
During the day, allow yourself to worry for five minutes.Every day, do this at the same time.You don't want to lay in bed fretting over things, so try not to schedule this worry period.If you have a worrying thought during the day, save it for your worry time period.
Step 10: Do you have anxious thoughts?
Ask yourself if you have a chance of dying in certain scenarios.Statistics about dying in a plane crash can be used.The reality of what could possibly happen will likely inflate your worries.
Step 11: Think about how you are affected by others.
You'll think more about risks when other people's worries start to take over.Maybe you have a friend who is negative about diseases.You feel nervous about getting ill.Limit the time you spend with this person so that you don't have to think about it too much.
Step 12: Try something you've never done before.
Fears about what we do not know or cannot yet understand causes us to avoid trying new things.Pick an activity you'd never consider doing and commit to giving it a try in order to practice letting go of control.It's a good idea to research it online.Talk to people who have participated in the activity before.If you can't give it a try once or twice, then it's time to commit to it.This method of experimenting with life and new activities can be used to learn how to focus on producing joy in life instead of worrying about death and dying.You will learn a lot about yourself as you participate in new activities, especially in regards to what you can and cannot do.
Step 13: Discuss your end-of-life plan with your family and friends.
Most of the process will be out of your control when it comes to death.We can take some steps to become more prepared, even though we don't know when or where we can die.How long would you want to remain on life support if you were in a coma?Do you prefer to stay in the hospital or in your home?If an unfortunate event arises and you are unable to express your desires in the moment, talking about these issues with your loved ones can be incredibly helpful.It might help you feel less anxious about death.
Step 14: The cycle of life and death is the same.
Your own life and death, as well as the lives of other creatures, are all part of the same cycle or life-process.Life and death are always occurring at the same time.The cells in our bodies are dying and regenerating in different ways.Our bodies grow and adapt to the world around us.
Step 15: Think about how your body is part of the puzzle.
Our bodies are fertile for many different life forms after our own lives come to an end.Our gastrointestinal system is home to millions of organisms.Our bodies stay healthy enough to support proper immune functioning, and in certain ways, even complex cognitive processing.
Step 16: Your body is a part of the grand scheme of things.
Our lives fit together in unique ways to form societies and local communities which depend upon our bodies' energy and actions in order to sustain some degree of organization.The materials and mechanisms of your life are the same as those of other people.If you understand this point, you will be more comfortable with the thought of a world without you.
Step 17: Take time in nature.
Take a walk in nature.You can spend more time outside around different life forms.It is possible to become more comfortable with the realization that you are a part of a larger world.
Step 18: Consider the end of life.
You will go somewhere happy after you die.Many religions believe in this.You may find comfort in considering what your religion believes about the afterlife if you ascribe to a particular religion.
Step 19: Live life to the fullest.
It's best to not worry too much about death and dying.Each day should be filled with as much joy as possible.Don't let things get you down.Go outside and play with friends.Do anything you can to take your mind off of it.Focus on living instead of thinking about it.People with the fear of death think about it daily.It means that you have a lot of interests in life.Take the fear out of it and ask yourself, "What is the worst thing that will happen today?"
Step 20: It's a good idea to spend time with your loved ones.
You should surround yourself with people that make you happy.When you share yourself with others, your time will be well-spent.If you help your children develop happy memories of you, your memory will live on after you die.
Step 21: Don't forget to keep a gratitude journal.
A gratitude journal is a way to keep track of the things you're thankful for.It will help keep you focused on the good things in your life.Don't forget to think of good things about your life.Write down a moment or thing that you're grateful for every few days.Write in detail, savor the moment, and appreciate the joy you've received from it.
Step 22: Take care of yourself.
Do not get involved in bad situations or do things that can increase your chances of dying.Smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, and texting while driving can be avoided.There are risk factors that can lead to death if you stay healthy.
Step 23: Determine if you need help with a mental health issue.
If your fear of death has become so intense that it is interfering with your ability to carry out normal activities and enjoy your life, you should seek the help of a licensed mental health therapist.It is time to get help if you start avoiding certain activities because of your fear of death.You may need to seek help if you feel like you have to deal with your fear for more than 6 months.
Step 24: Understand what you can expect from a mental health therapist.
A therapist can help you understand your fear of death and find ways to minimize it.It takes time and effort to deal with a profound fear.Some people see a dramatic improvement in just a few sessions of therapy.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: If you are afraid of dying, you may have certain thought processes that intensify your fear.Therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy to get you to challenge your thoughts and identify the emotions associated with them.For example, you may think to yourself, "I can't fly because I am afraid the plane will crash and I will die." Your therapist will challenge you to realize that this thought is unrealistic, perhaps by explaining that flying is actually safer than driving.You will be challenged to revise the thought so that it is more realistic.Exposure Therapy says that if you are afraid of dying, you may start avoiding certain situations, activities, and places that intensify your fear.Exposure therapy will make you confront that fear.In this type of therapy, your therapist can either ask you to imagine that you are in the situation you have been avoiding or they can actually put you into it.If you have been avoiding flying because you fear the plane will crash and you will die, your therapist may ask you to imagine you are on a plane and describe how you feel.Your therapist may challenge you to fly on a plane.If your fear of dying is so profound that it is causing you to have severe anxiety, your therapist may refer you a doctor who can prescribe medicine that may help you.The medicines used to treat fear will only temporarily reduce your anxiety.The root cause will not be taken care of.
Step 25: Share your thoughts on death with others.
It's good to talk to someone about your fears.Others may have the same concerns.They may suggest methods for dealing with stress.Tell her what you think and feel about death, and how long you've felt that way.
Step 26: There is a death café.
Death and dying issues can be difficult to discuss in general.It's important to find the right group to share your ideas with.Death cafes are groups of people who meet in cafes to discuss issues around death.These are support groups for people who are grieving the death of a loved one.The groups decide how to live in the face of death.Start your own cafe if you can't find one near you.There will be a lot of people in your area who are concerned about death, but who haven't had the chance to share their concerns.