Coping with the psychological fear of death (survival instinct)

[Zanexx]

Death terrifies most of us, whether we admit it or not, because it represents the unknown. None of us have any frame of reference for death.
A thought that has comforted me is that every day, many, many living things die. A gazelle is killed by a lion. A plant dehydrates through lack of water. And as for human beings, every one will die sooner or later. What is dying now, as opposed to in 40 years, when you consider how old the universe is?
Death is normal, mundane even. It is merely a part of the cycle of life and death. Once dead, we will all return to the Earth in one way or another, so as to repeat the cycle.
I am not a theist, so I don't ascribe to any religion. If you do, your take on death is probably quite different.
Each one of us wants to believe that our life is of extreme significance, but if you can try to view your life and what it means more objectively, dying can suddenly seem a lot more straightforward. The only question is: do you enjoy life, mostly? If not, it makes sense to end it. You wouldn't keep watching a TV show if you weren't enjoying it.

Please share your thoughts on coming to terms with death.

 

[NotAlive]

Death terrifies most of us, whether we admit it or not, because it represents the unknown. None of us have any frame of reference for death.
A thought that has comforted me is that every day, many, many living things die. A gazelle is killed by a lion. A plant dehydrates through lack of water. And as for human beings, every one will die sooner or later. What is dying now, as opposed to in 40 years, when you consider how old the universe is?
Death is normal, mundane even. It is merely a part of the cycle of life and death. Once dead, we will all return to the Earth in one way or another, so as to repeat the cycle.
I am not a theist, so I don't ascribe to any religion. If you do, your take on death is probably quite different.
Each one of us wants to believe that our life is of extreme significance, but if you can try to view your life and what it means more objectively, dying can suddenly seem a lot more straightforward. The only question is: do you enjoy life, mostly? If not, it makes sense to end it. You wouldn't keep watching a TV show if you weren't enjoying it.

Please share your thoughts on coming to terms with death.

I hope to die, tonight. I've had failed attempts by pills. My "preferred" method is by train. A few years back, I was standing between 2 train tracks and a few seconds before it was gonna hit me, it was like my body involuntarily stepped off the tracks. That involuntarily will to live, even when consciously you want to die, is very hard to overcome. In the last month or so, 2 different people both did suicide by train within a mile of me, I live right by tracks. The trains here are cargo only, not passenger trains. There have been many suicides around here by train and the local news online always says they died instantly. By standing up between both rails, I figure it's like getting hit by a car in that the force initially makes your body go backwards, like your legs being hit by the front of a car make you fall onto the hood of the car, instead of propelling your body forward. So, by standing with my back to the train, I'm logically assuming that even if the lower half of my body gets the first impact by a low metal connection at the front of the train, the impact should cause my upper body and most importantly, head, to move backwards, causing instant death by blunt force trauma to the head. But yeah, the willpower to not move when a big loud train, horn wailing, brakes screeching, is very difficult to overcome psychologically. I think that I over think it. I think in reality, I will be unconscious / dead "before I knew what hit me". I've seen video online of people who lay down and have actually had a train pass over them, untouched. Others not so lucky laying down have very serious injury. I definitely don't wanna remain alive and be maimed. I have yet to hear of anyone who stood up between the 2 rails and survived / supposedly didn't die instantly. Please wish me luck. I'm hoping for nothingness after death. Reincarnation I guess wouldn't be so bad. The one thing I don't want after death is being some sort of after life thing with any memory of my life, which has been beyond awful. I'm 52 and my life completely fell apart in 2009 when my wife left and divorced me for no good reason. Since then I've been put on disability for mental issues in 2015. I have no kids and no blood relatives who give a shit about me. Sorry for the long reply, I'm new here and I didn't see tonight how / where to create my own new thread. I may post again in a little while, it could be anywhere from 3 minutes to 3 hours waiting by the tracks for a fast train to come by.

 

[NotAlive]

I'm at the tracks. A train went by right before I got here. I took a pic but I don't know how to upload it here from my photo gallery in my internal storage.

 

[NotAlive]

Well that didn't work tonight. I made the mistake of messaging a 1,000 mile away chat buddy, who I thought could chat with me until the time came. Instead she freaked saying she was gonna call the cops, so I won't make that mistake again. In about 12 hours I have to meet with my shrink which I'm dreading cuz she's tapering me off klonopin which I'm really pissed off about cuz they're the ones who turned me into a benzo junkie 4 years ago with a daily script. Now suddenly they're anti-benzo and trying to get everyone off it. It may be a blessing in disguise though cuz even slow tapering has some unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, which may agitate me to the degree that next time I'll let the train hit me.

 

[Deleted member 847]

The survival instinct at partial hanging kicks in when you're in the "starting to faint" stage. You can use my method. Plastic bag over your head until it's full of CO2 and you start to suffocate, then you hang yourself. The urge to breath will make you try to remove the bag, but when you try to do that you'll faint from the hanging and die. Maybe put something over your head to protect the bag from your hands, that will give you even more time. It only takes 10 seconds to faint.

 

[Comatose11]

I know this isn't very helpful, but during my attempt I just went ahead and did it because I knew I would regret it later. Obviously I ended up surviving, but I do wish I died. I figured out what to do differently next time so it's successful. I know that doesn't really help very much, but it's how I overcame it.

 

[skitliv]

Death terrifies most of us, whether we admit it or not, because it represents the unknown. None of us have any frame of reference for death.
A thought that has comforted me is that every day, many, many living things die. A gazelle is killed by a lion. A plant dehydrates through lack of water. And as for human beings, every one will die sooner or later. What is dying now, as opposed to in 40 years, when you consider how old the universe is?
Death is normal, mundane even. It is merely a part of the cycle of life and death. Once dead, we will all return to the Earth in one way or another, so as to repeat the cycle.
I am not a theist, so I don't ascribe to any religion. If you do, your take on death is probably quite different.
Each one of us wants to believe that our life is of extreme significance, but if you can try to view your life and what it means more objectively, dying can suddenly seem a lot more straightforward. The only question is: do you enjoy life, mostly? If not, it makes sense to end it. You wouldn't keep watching a TV show if you weren't enjoying it.

Please share your thoughts on coming to terms with death.

I love this

 

[Xmac000]

I hope to die, tonight. I've had failed attempts by pills. My "preferred" method is by train. A few years back, I was standing between 2 train tracks and a few seconds before it was gonna hit me, it was like my body involuntarily stepped off the tracks. That involuntarily will to live, even when consciously you want to die, is very hard to overcome. In the last month or so, 2 different people both did suicide by train within a mile of me, I live right by tracks. The trains here are cargo only, not passenger trains. There have been many suicides around here by train and the local news online always says they died instantly. By standing up between both rails, I figure it's like getting hit by a car in that the force initially makes your body go backwards, like your legs being hit by the front of a car make you fall onto the hood of the car, instead of propelling your body forward. So, by standing with my back to the train, I'm logically assuming that even if the lower half of my body gets the first impact by a low metal connection at the front of the train, the impact should cause my upper body and most importantly, head, to move backwards, causing instant death by blunt force trauma to the head. But yeah, the willpower to not move when a big loud train, horn wailing, brakes screeching, is very difficult to overcome psychologically. I think that I over think it. I think in reality, I will be unconscious / dead "before I knew what hit me". I've seen video online of people who lay down and have actually had a train pass over them, untouched. Others not so lucky laying down have very serious injury. I definitely don't wanna remain alive and be maimed. I have yet to hear of anyone who stood up between the 2 rails and survived / supposedly didn't die instantly. Please wish me luck. I'm hoping for nothingness after death. Reincarnation I guess wouldn't be so bad. The one thing I don't want after death is being some sort of after life thing with any memory of my life, which has been beyond awful. I'm 52 and my life completely fell apart in 2009 when my wife left and divorced me for no good reason. Since then I've been put on disability for mental issues in 2015. I have no kids and no blood relatives who give a shit about me. Sorry for the long reply, I'm new here and I didn't see tonight how / where to create my own new thread. I may post again in a little while, it could be anywhere from 3 minutes to 3 hours waiting by the tracks for a fast train to come by.

I'm using a train as well. All my previous attempts that i aborted were drug related. I've never tried a train before.

The advantages to drugs:
-Can be painless if you use the right ones.
-Can be done in private or in isolated areas.

The disadvantages to drugs:
-You have to sit there and wait until you die which can be frightening.
-not instant so cant be done on impulse.

The advantages to trains:
-Is instant and can be done on impulse.
-Wont have much time to think about it.
-Can use alcohol to impair survival instinct before attempt (can do this with some drugs too).

The disadvantages to trains:
-Painful.
-Cant be done in private others will be involved.

Just weighting the pros and cons and such.

 

[NotAlive]

I'm using a train as well. All my previous attempts that i aborted were drug related. I've never tried a train before.

The advantages to drugs:
-Can be painless if you use the right ones.
-Can be done in private or in isolated areas.

The disadvantages to drugs:
-You have to sit there and wait until you die which can be frightening.
-not instant so cant be done on impulse.

The advantages to trains:
-Is instant and can be done on impulse.
-Wont have much time to think about it.
-Can use alcohol to impair survival instinct before attempt (can do this with some drugs too).

The disadvantages to trains:
-Painful.
-Cant be done in private others will be involved.

Just weighting the pros and cons and such.

I don't share the same pros and cons about trains. I'm not saying you're incorrect, just that I see it differently. I've been on the tracks sober and scared, I moved. I've been on the tracks drunk and high, but the intention of being so mellow that I wouldn't care if it hit me, backfired cuz I felt good / numb. For me personally, I'm at my most "self destructive" when I'm angry, which is becoming more and more frequent. I think I'll finally succeed very soon when I'm really angry about any number of things in my shit life. Fortunately the tracks are not even a 5 minute walk from this crappy apartment I'm in, but the freight / cargo trains go by frequently, especially at night. I could go from sitting in my chair, to being hit by the train, within 15 minutes. That's helpful because fits of anger / rage are often short lived. I also don't agree with your assumption of it being painful. News reports almost always say the person died instantly. If you you're standing up between the 2 rails with your back to the train even if your legs or mid section take the initial impact from a lower protruding part of the train, the impact will instantly jerk your head back. A massive blunt force trauma to the head that suddenly, pain receptors won't even have time to register as your skull will be crushed instantly. You're not going to be alive, let alone conscious, to see or feel blood, brain, body parts get scattered. For me that's the illogical psychological hang up. I KNOW I won't be alive to see myself mangled, but just knowing that in literally a span of about a second, you go from live and uninjured, into unrecognizable dead body remains, that's a mind fuck which isn't easy to overcome.

 

[Xmac000]

just knowing that in literally a span of about a second, you go from live and uninjured, into unrecognizable dead body remains, that's a mind fuck which isn't easy to overcome.

I agree that can be a mind fuck. Knowing that you"ll become nothing in an instant. Thats kind of what the topic creator is talking about. That existential terror.

 

[Suicideisnirvana]

I just remember that eveynight, i never complain in deep sleep, problems start only at waking up.

I only have fear of non 100% reliable means of suicide, that's why i'm orderning Nembutal.

 

[NoPillPhilosophy]

• Fix your afterlife fear.
• Get hella drunk.
• Get a quick reliable low pain method
• Think about life and see if you really don't want to live anymore
• Tell your friends/family everything they need to know (you love them..etc)
• Fix everything else left behind. Your will. Where your assets if you have any go when you die. Delete browser history. Reset devices. Throw away all evidence...etc
• Accept that it will hurt and stop complaining like a little bitch

That is part of my recipe for beating the survival instinct. You can change it depending on the person...

 

[Smilla]

• Fix your afterlife fear.
• Get hella drunk.
• Get a quick reliable low pain method
• Think about life and see if you really don't want to live anymore
• Tell your friends/family everything they need to know (you love them..etc)
• Fix everything else left behind. Your will. Where your assets if you have any go when you die. Delete browser history. Reset devices. Throw away all evidence...etc
• Accept that it will hurt and stop complaining like a little bitch

That is part of my recipe for beating the survival instinct. You can change it depending on the person...

Damn. This list is awesome. Comprehensive, thorough and covers everything.

Best ever.

Your list should be in the resources thread.

Well done.

 

[FairyAlys]

I heard someone once describe death as like leaving a party that just carries on without you.
I've never really enjoy parties and all that enforced " hey what a great time we're all having ".
Death represents peace for me.

 

[No Future]

And as for human beings, every one will die sooner or later. What is dying now, as opposed to in 40 years, when you consider how old the universe is?

Exactly. For all the subjective prestige and accomplishment humankind has been responsible for, death is still something we stupidly try to defeat; or postpone. And for what?

A lot of people would like conditions to be in place so that they may live forever. Not only is that unrealistic and stupid, it's selfish and self-defeating. 4.3 babies are currently born every second - imagine what that number would look like if we were immortal. Imagine how much more of the earth we'd need to corrupt to support that, baring in mind overpopulation is already a big issue with our current, modern lifespans.

The planet is dying as is, and a lot of people would prefer the planet die before themselves. Death is of immense benefit to the planet, and that notion shouldn't be as depressing as it's made out to be! We should be thankful for death!

 

[Deleted_9cKnXB34QG]

• Accept that it will hurt and stop complaining like a little bitch

More people need to adapt this mindset.
They way I see it - what's a minute or two of pain and discomfort compared to years/decades of constant mental and physical suffering that life brings.

 

[Deleted member 847]

Exactly. For all the subjective prestige and accomplishment humankind has been responsible for, death is still something we stupidly try to defeat; or postpone. And for what?

A lot of people would like conditions to be in place so that they may live forever. Not only is that unrealistic and stupid, it's selfish and self-defeating. 4.3 babies are currently born every second - imagine what that number would look like if we were immortal. Imagine how much more of the earth we'd need to corrupt to support that, baring in mind overpopulation is already a big issue with our current, modern lifespans.

The planet is dying as is, and a lot of people would prefer the planet die before themselves. Death is of immense benefit to the planet, and that notion shouldn't be as depressing as it's made out to be! We should be thankful for death!

Immortality is a stupid concept I can agree, especially in a physical place because you eventually run out of resources and everything becomes chaotic. The planet is not dying. We are destroying ourselves, not the planet. If an asteroid would hit the earth right now, in millions of years the earth would regenerate at its current conditions and life would rise again. I believe in an after life, but I also believe I will be able to dissipate or wipe out my personality and all of its memories. Eternal life with ego, that would be hell. But eternal life itself isn't bad.

 

[Ashpac]

I have also heard ''Death is the best trip, thats why they save it for last''

 

[Ashpac]

More people need to adapt this mindset.
They way I see it - what's a minute or two of pain and discomfort compared to years/decades of constant mental and physical suffering that life brings.

I agree massively with this.

 

[No Future]

The planet is not dying. We are destroying ourselves, not the planet. If an asteroid would hit the earth right now, in millions of years the earth would regenerate at its current conditions and life would rise again.

We have given ourselves requirements and expectations as people, and those requirements have to address everything we're attempting to surmount. We'll wipe out more and more land, more and more organic life to try and prolong something that'll obviously end in heartbreak, regardless of the effort. It's selfish and unsustainable. The more people here, the quicker that process will go. An asteroid would be a reset button of sorts, but as for the here and now, it's safe to say we're not doing old gaia any favors.

An afterlife is a kettle of fish I'm not interested in. Sounds like it'd either be very busy, or very lonely.

 

[Deivis]

Speaking of nitro or hanging..

Setting a timer on your smartphone does miracles in weighing "yes" vs "no".

Just set it to beep after 30 seconds, after 1 minute, and after 15 minutes.

30 seconds - you'd be passing out
1 min - guaranteed unconsciousness
15 min - legally ceasing to exist.

Just notice these beeps while doing your daily autopilot routine, or chatting in here or elsewhere.
Feels like nothing, like a spark in the dark.

 

[Deleted member 847]

Speaking of nitro or hanging..

Setting a timer on your smartphone does miracles in weighing "yes" vs "no".

Just set it to beep after 30 seconds, after 1 minute, and after 15 minutes.

30 seconds - you'd be passing out
1 min - guaranteed unconsciousness
15 min - legally ceasing to exist.

Just notice these beeps while doing your daily autopilot routine, or chatting in here or elsewhere.
Feels like nothing, like a spark in the dark.

Naaah it doesn't work like that, you will know when you're dying. I tried to listen to music while hanging, closing my eyes and counting to 10 and other things of that sort. Everything becomes black and dizzy and you stop.

 

[Deivis]

Naaah it doesn't work like that, you will know when you're dying. I tried to listen to music while hanging, closing my eyes and counting to 10 and other things of that sort. Everything becomes black and dizzy and you stop.

Sure, I agree, it was just an illustration. To show to yourself that "If I've done that yesterday, then *now* I won't be sitting here and overthinking it again and again".

There are other tricks to prepare yourself mentally and physically. I like to read about historical figures who've ended their lives.

 

[Zanexx]

Exactly. For all the subjective prestige and accomplishment humankind has been responsible for, death is still something we stupidly try to defeat; or postpone. And for what?

A lot of people would like conditions to be in place so that they may live forever. Not only is that unrealistic and stupid, it's selfish and self-defeating. 4.3 babies are currently born every second - imagine what that number would look like if we were immortal. Imagine how much more of the earth we'd need to corrupt to support that, baring in mind overpopulation is already a big issue with our current, modern lifespans.

The planet is dying as is, and a lot of people would prefer the planet die before themselves. Death is of immense benefit to the planet, and that notion shouldn't be as depressing as it's made out to be! We should be thankful for death!

God, it's a horrendous thought if all human lives were eternal. It would be like an ant infestation sucking the planet dry and other animals would be running for the oceans in terror. Resources would dilapidate in a matter of weeks.

And then Elon Musk would turn up and take everyone to Mars so they can destroy another planet.

 

[DoneFighting]

• Fix your afterlife fear.
• Get hella drunk.
• Get a quick reliable low pain method
• Think about life and see if you really don't want to live anymore
• Tell your friends/family everything they need to know (you love them..etc)
• Fix everything else left behind. Your will. Where your assets if you have any go when you die. Delete browser history. Reset devices. Throw away all evidence...etc
• Accept that it will hurt and stop complaining like a little bitch

That is part of my recipe for beating the survival instinct. You can change it depending on the person...

Leave a note, don't contact people before that's how you get "saved" trust me nothing worse than having a shotgun in your mouth ready for it and the person you love the most busting in your bathroom and grabbing it from you .

 

[Fixin’ToDie]

Naaah it doesn't work like that, you will know when you're dying. I tried to listen to music while hanging, closing my eyes and counting to 10 and other things of that sort. Everything becomes black and dizzy and you stop.

When I tried (partial) hanging a few years back I heard music, but I sure didn't have any music playing. Then, like you, I became dizzy, on the verge of unconsciousness, then stopped.

 

[GoneSeptember2018]

I know a lot of people followed your last post but this post is IMO your very best. Thank you for sharing it with us. We miss you.

 

[MeltingHeart]

Death terrifies most of us, whether we admit it or not, because it represents the unknown. None of us have any frame of reference for death.
A thought that has comforted me is that every day, many, many living things die. A gazelle is killed by a lion. A plant dehydrates through lack of water. And as for human beings, every one will die sooner or later. What is dying now, as opposed to in 40 years, when you consider how old the universe is?
Death is normal, mundane even. It is merely a part of the cycle of life and death. Once dead, we will all return to the Earth in one way or another, so as to repeat the cycle.
I am not a theist, so I don't ascribe to any religion. If you do, your take on death is probably quite different.
Each one of us wants to believe that our life is of extreme significance, but if you can try to view your life and what it means more objectively, dying can suddenly seem a lot more straightforward. The only question is: do you enjoy life, mostly? If not, it makes sense to end it. You wouldn't keep watching a TV show if you weren't enjoying it.

Please share your thoughts on coming to terms with death.

I just feel distraught cos I didn't used to enjoy life - then I really learnt to love it - then had a severe breakdown (for multiple reasons) - and now I don't enjoy anything at all- not in the slightest - but am so distraught how I got to this point after working so hard to begin to enjoy life . That prob doesn't make much sense without knowing the whole story - but I'm devastated for myself that death feels like the only option now - and it really strongly does feel like the only option- like not even a choice . Just a -it has to happpen kind of thing - once I can get over my fear of pain & discomfort

I know a lot of people followed your last post but this post is IMO your very best. Thank you for sharing it with us. We miss you.

whose last post if youdont mind me asking?