Anyone experience death anxiety?? - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

0603david · 07-11-2003, 09:47 AM

My whole day is consumed thinking that I am going to die. I am driving my husband crazy because I want to do family things all the time and I get mad if he wants to go up north with out me. I feel like life is so short and that I may only live a few more years. I do have extremely high cholestorol but medications make me even more scared because there are so many side effects. Zoloft helps me but then I feel like a zombie. I just have this thought of me or my husband dieing and it makes me want to throw-up. My Grandma said that sometimes when people are happy in life they think that it is going to be taken away from them. I think that's what I have. I feel like life is so good that it's going to have to end soon. Anyone have this fear??????

ShannonKay · 07-11-2003, 10:16 AM

The constant feeling of doom and death is definitely common in anxiety and obsessions; I'm sorry you're having to go through this.

How long have you been on the Zoloft? Have you seen a therapist? I think seeing someone is a good idea.

Let us know how things go, we're here for you!

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Shannon

0603david · 07-11-2003, 10:21 AM

I usually take Zoloft only in desparate situations.
I take one pill to calm me down and knock me out. Like when I can't stop crying. Or when I feel like I am going to have a useless fight with my hisband about spending time together. I think he thinks I am smoothering him. I think I am too but I feel like him, my son and I should be together alot more than we are. I feel like I only have a few years left. And when I hear stories about people dieing at age 35 of cancer, I get even more scared and have chest pain.
I think I need to talk to someone. They helped when I was 16. I was severly depressed in highschool and was skin and bones. But talking to a therapist helped me out of it. I may need to go so she can help me live life and not be scared of it.

Lonely810810 · 07-12-2003, 02:54 PM

I have an undying fear of death so bad that it consumes my life my everyday activites and my family life. I am always checking my mouth and body for HIV symptoms. I had cancer,emphysema,brain tumors,heart attacks, HIV, hepatitis C,(in my head) despite medical tests I believe my case have "slipped through the cracks it is controlling every aspect of my life even work. I handle large amounts of cash and I believe that every dollar that comes through is infected with a disease. I tell you what helps is knowing there our people out there like you. I have posted a message on a web site called "www.ocdfoundation.org" I have recieved several replies with people in the same situation as me.Please believe you are NOT alone for so long I thought I was the only one with this feeling since no one in my family suffers from OCD. I several types of OCD I have to repeat questions SEVERAL times I am constranly asking people if I do a good enough job. I feel like I have to do things a certain way or I will die from the disease or illness I have at that time. I really believe that people's responses to these postings are some sort of self medicating stress relief. Well I am going to go before I take up to much room but keep care and good luck. It is hard but somewhere there is help for you, you just have to find it....

poreoilyme · 07-14-2003, 12:42 AM

Would it help to turn this around and use it to your advantage? Become obsessed with LIFE and maybe this will help. By this I mean putting your energies into things you can cultivate yourself that takes some of the responsibility off others to provide this for you, like reaching out to others (strangers you meet in public, friends, etc.), learning new things, finding a project that interests you, volunteering, self-improvement tapes and courses, etc. If you have personal interests and goals it goes a long way toward helping divert your attention from obsessions and gives your life purpose and meaning. Don't we all want to jump out of bed in the morning when we have something important we want to do? The self-fulfillment these activities offer is also beneficial for calming fears of death because what you really fear is wasting your life. Start living now and make each day count to the fullest. It starts with you.