this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2023
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Comradeship // Freechat

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Ever since I was a child I was afraid of getting older and dying. It has been in the back of my mind for most of my life.

I had phases were this fear was not really around and then phases where it is the only thing I can think of. Ever since Corona it has gotten worse and worse. It just struck me one day while playing video games with my friends. Suddenly I was like "I WILL die one day. I will not be anymore ... forever. I won't even know that I am not anymore." and I broke down pretty much immediately.

What followed was a phase of everlasting fear and anxiety. It was so bad that I just couldn't fall asleep unless I watched comedy until was physically not able to stay awake. Back then I thought it was a result of the isolation of Corona. Since then I moved back in with my mother (due to different reasons). Everything was fine for a while but now it is back.

I should be happy. I handed in my bachelor's thesis a while back, will soon move out again and have gotten a job in my dream career. I finished my therapy and while I am still not completely over my social anxiety but it is getting better and better. And yet the fear was never as bad. Last night I cowered into a ball under my desk and started crying.

It has gotten to a point were I thought about killing myself to end it. It is the same result either way. I won't remember anything anyway. Even the pain and grief friends and family would feel is only temporary. They too will be gone with everything that made them up one day.

I have no intentions of going through with it but it frightens me that I even think like this.

I don't know were this is coming from. Maybe from the feeling that I am wasting my life, that I am a failure and too far behind peers, that I am too old to have so little but I also know that it's not like I could have done a lot better. Due to circumstances outside of my own control I am were I am right now but I am doing my best to get better. It's just that it takes a lot of time and I fear that it takes too much time. I also lost a good friend recently so this probably plays into it as well.

Is there anyway of changing my way of thinking about death? I know I can't change the fact that I will die but how can I accept it without falling into existential nihilism like I currently am?

Edit: I also already called my therapist but since it's the weekend they won't answer before Monday.

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[–] frauddogg@lemmygrad.ml 13 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

negl homie I ache for the end of mine. I don't see beauty, or majesty, or any breathtaking superlative in life anymore. I despise the country I was born into, and the majority of its people. You couldn't pay me to consider educating these genocidal settler peckerwoods anymore. No educating. No camaraderie. Not even a buck for cab fare.

I just want it all to stop, if not for these murderous ghouls who don't deserve the blood, sweat, and spittle, then at least for me so I no longer have to see what further crackery the dogs'll perpetuate. I stopped fearing death when it first started occurring to me that these settlers will visit death on my community at a whim. Now I wish for it. The only dream I have anymore that doesn't involve me dying with a smile on my face is one where I'm running some bookstore in another country, far from this place, with a sign in the local language on top, and english on bottom, settled in the corner of the window right next to the door, in big block capitals-- "NO FUCKING AMERICANS".

[–] felipeforte@lemmygrad.ml 11 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I've felt exactly how you feel several times in my life, and I'll probably feel again, too hehe.

To be conscious is both a gift and a curse. You are conscious of your death whereas most animals simply live and die, though they can also be afraid of death even if they aren't aware of it. To be aware of it means you are afraid even though death is not around the corner.

Death is a part of life, it's an experience like any other. One thing that helped me be more at peace with my death is psychedelics, because they are an experience different from regular life, which is an insight to the experience of death. It's been shown that natural death releases DMT in our brain, and numerous people who've had an almost death experience reported a trip before they "returned."

Another thing you can try to diminish your anxieties is meditation. If you practice meditation enough, you'll be able to enter a conscious state where you shut off normal activity and you experience self-nothingness. When you blend in with the environment in meditation practice, you learn to not be afraid of nothingness. Death suddenly doesn't sound that bad, and you lose attachment to this life, so that you're no longer afraid to lose it.

In short, we shouldn't feel anxious about death. We will die eventually, why worry? Everything will come in its time. Even if we suffer the most violent and painful death possible, it'll be over eventually, so what's the worry? Consciousness is an experience, death will be another. Enjoy both when the time comes!

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 11 months ago

This answer is great. It pretty much summarizes what I was trying to say in the old post (that I linked), but better.

[–] JK1348@hexbear.net 10 points 11 months ago

"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside while still alive. Never surrender." -2pac

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

There was a similar post a while back with some good answers. I’ll try to find it.

Edit: found it, hope that helps

[–] Catfish@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 11 months ago

I was immediately reminded of this too. :P

[–] Catfish@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 11 months ago

You have to prepare for death, a lot of people's fear of death stems from unpreparedness. Sort out a will, decide what will happen after you die, snuff out as many regrets as you can. Tie up your loose ends. These things helped me mitigate the fear a bit.

[–] lhotze@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 11 months ago

Hey comrade! I think I somewhat understand the way you are feeling. In the past years I have been dealing with some panic attacks and anxiety over it. The best approach is going to therapy, but in my case what really helps is trying to not think about it, focusing on the good things around you. Even though that normally is bad advice, in this case I think is different since death is inevitable, it will come one way or another, its out our control. This creates a void that chases us, a darkness that is ever present, I know this feeling is horrifying, but there is no changing it, so thinking a lot about it only feeds the void making it bigger and stronger.

I hope you can find solace eventually and learn to accept this, since I believe there is no cure for the darkness, but learning to live with it makes it easier to carry on. Maybe I'm full of shit and you do find a solution. Who knows.

In any case, remember that you are good for the world, and we never know what the future holds. Who knows if maybe even a revolution. Try to stay as long as possible, you want every chance of not missing that out.

Stay strong and stay safe comrade, best of luck.

[–] HaSch@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Comrade, I don't know anything about psychology, psychiatry, or neurology, but I do know it would be a real shame if you were outlived by Henry Fucking Kissinger

[–] RedCat@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 11 months ago

See that's what I was looking for.

Why bother with living if we all end up in the neverending void of death?

Out of spite for Kissinger.

[–] LarkinDePark@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 11 months ago

I read this a while back, I think it addresses your vibes. I don't know who the guy is otherwise but there's some good takes in there.

[–] CannotSleep420@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 11 months ago

I'm already dead inside. Not much would change when I die except for my consciousness being gone.

[–] fuckmyphonefuckingsu@hexbear.net 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Personally, what motivates me is knowing that as long as I'm alive, the proletarian vanguard has +1 comrade, and I don't want to go without making a difference. Use the time you have to put your back into the things you think are worth fighting for. Don't be complacent; don't fall into the trap of thinking it's meaningless, for naught, or that your decisions amount to nothing. There are people who seriously would love to know you, and people who need your help. Every second you spend thinking about death is a waste of your time, so don't get caught up in it. It's an inevitability not worth thinking about. And try to find some comfort in the fact that literally every other organism that has ever lived crossed that same threshold.

Tl;dr - focus on the present moment and don't let it go to waste. When you're really in despair, try to draw attention to the pure phenomonology of being, the feeling of breathing, the reflection of light off the wet pavement; bring yourself back to the world, and then remember... there's much yet to do.

DMs are always open. :stalin-heart:

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 11 months ago

I agree overall, but death is still worth contemplating. Just don’t let it eat you up.

[–] yearningforfreedom@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 11 months ago

I don't care I'm hungry

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

Death is an abomination. My only hope is that humanity might someday conquer death, and I want to contribute to that even if I don't make it.

If I can help make a world where no one ever has to say goodbye again, I think I could die for it.

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 11 months ago (12 children)

I disagree with this type of answer. I was trying to come up with a way to respond last time the topic came up and now I think I have. Death is a part of life. All things created must be destroyed. Negation of the negation, dialectics.

Let us not, however, flatter ourselves overmuch on account of our human victories over nature. For each such victory nature takes its revenge on us.

-Friedrich Engels, The Part played by Labour in the Transition from Ape to Man

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[–] HerbalGamer@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

fuck me sounds like you've never experienced proper depression..
I don't want to live any second longer than I have to and even that's pushing it to be honest.

Please don't make me live even longer.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I am trans and didn't get treatment until 29 a few years ago; I was suicidal for most of my life.

I still believe death is an abomination. I'm so fucking glad I lived through that.

And someday depression will be defeated too, just like death.

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I doubt society will be rid of depression. As Breht said on Revleft a while back, it is impossible to seek a world without contradiction. We seek to end unnecessary material suffering through socialism and ending the class contradiction, but new contradictions will arise and life will probably be more rich and complex. When economic and physical barriers are no longer there to produce inequality many may feel bad in a different way because their own faults are truly the cause of their problems.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Depression is not caused by contradiction. Depression is not simple adversity. It's a sickness that makes people stop wanting to live.

People will still feel bad when we cure depression, but they won't want to lay down and never get up again. It's very different.

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

As long as we are mortals we will feel nihilistic at times. I think society will be able to greatly reduce alienation with socialism, but that doesn’t mean people won’t be in awe of existential mystery and apparent darkness. Capitalism crushes people more than is natural, but there is also inherent feeling of not being enough and wanting more in humans.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Depression isn't just feeling nihilistic at times. It's literally the desire for nothing. Nihilists can at least be hedonists and pleasure seekers, but depression robs even that from us. We become almost unfeeling, except for a low droning of despair that's never quite enough to make you do anything but always enough to drown out everything else you might feel.

When depressed, you don't want more. You want nothing.

Depression is a sickness. It's not being sad. It's not feeling bad. It's another abomination that must be destroyed.

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I don’t disagree, I just don’t know whether it’s possible.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I don't know, but I'm optimistic about depression. My meds help, and they were made when very little was known about the brain.

Someday, somehow, depression can be cured. I'm sure of it. Just like every disease and just like death.

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It doesn’t matter if you think immortality is possible in the future. Your argument that it would be a good thing is unfalsifiable. However, it’s a material reality that you will die and thus it’s best to come to terms with it.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It's a material reality that I must sell my labor for a wage. Should I also come to terms with it?

I don't think so - I think I use material forces to abolish wage labor and change material reality.

Material reality isn't inevitable. That's cynicism.

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Fair point, assuming immortality is possible. It is best to try to survive as best you can under capitalism while working for its overthrow. If we are assuming this is an accurate parallel then you should try to extend your life as long as possible and maybe research things you think will bring immortality closer, while finding ways to make death less scary, as you will die.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Absolutely agree!

I also have a separate belief that an accurate enough simulation of myself is actually just another aspect of myself, thus a reasonably accurate simulation of me created 10,000 years after my death is the same as being brought back to life! ...but that's just a cooky thing I personally believe and don't expect other people to agree 😅

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Interesting, you’d need a lot of correct variables. There may or may not be randomness that changes the outcome. In my opinion the world is knowable, but mortals can only scratch the surface. There will always be more for collective humanity to learn.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah it would require a lot of forensic heavy lifting from technology I can't even imagine outside of science fiction. Doesn't have to be a perfect simulation either - like, I was in the hospital for a few weeks with a TBI. I lost three weeks of memory that haven't come back even years later. I'm also certain I experienced some personality and personal taste changes as well. I still think I'm the same person, though, and prefer being alive as I am to have died when I was hit by that car. So, an imperfect simulation that's mostly accurate is just fine.

Also, if mortals can only scratch the surface then that's just another motivation to leave that "mortality" behind!

EDIT er uhm okay so this convo has gone so far afield - had fun tho! 😅

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

If the simulation were accurate it would pretty much have to know everything about the world , and thus be able to simulate everyone else into the future. Without that I don’t think it’s actually “you.” Either way it’s a bit of a ship of Theseus type of situation. Also, how could you give consciousness to a computer, and even so, there is no self so I doubt it would be “you” anyway. Well, this is all hypothetical anyway. It was good talking.

[–] HaSch@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What has that got to do with seeking a world without contradiction? We eradicated smallpox just fine without ending up in dialectical limbo, why can't we do it with depression?

[–] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 11 months ago

I’m saying there will be new and different reasons to feel bad even under socialism.

[–] Rasm635u@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

No offence but I wish Lemmy had a “hide post” feature like r*ddit

[–] RedCat@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 11 months ago

Don't worry I understand.

[–] Buchenstr@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 11 months ago

Death doesn't much concern me, I sometimes ponder it but never really have crippling anxiety over. Unfortunately that's been replaced by another anxiety. The fear that no matter what the proletariat do, the ruling class will simply win next time again. I fear that all the great progress we've made in these last years will be tarnished in a cruel replication of the 1980s collapse of the left-wing movements. But I know this will not happen, we will learn, we will evolve, and we will prepare, and we will finally be liberated.

If I die for a good and just cause such as building up the revolution to free the misery of others, then I'll be content with it. But it if was for naught, well I would continue to live to spite the ruling parasites, but I would see humanity refusing to evolve past its current stage of development, this is what I greatly fear.

As if right now I'm playing through disco Elysium, and one of the paths is Harry becoming a communist. He abandons alcohol, and takes up organizing, but in truth he simply replaced an addiction for substances, for an addiction to liberation. That's how I operate within this capitalist inhumane system, replace your rage, anxiety and aspirations for the liberation of this evil system.

You are a comrade, You see the true injustices of this system, it isolates and oppresses those who do not fall under its drunk inducing propaganda. And to lose someone like you, we will all lose the potential successes of your talent in our collective liberation, contact your local socialist organisation, be it the CPUSA or similar, and begin organising, and in the future, look back and be proud of the millions you helped in achieving our struggle.

This is only coming from me, as I found that my passion belonged to the communist movement. If this does not work do not worry! It just means you've yet to find your passion. You're never too old to find talent, or meaning, never, we humans change throughout our lives. We will all fix our problems collectively.

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