Are you scared of DEATH? (Poll)

I am not afraid. I don't want to die but it is part of the cycle. I would rather die than live with a poor quality of life. I have seen people suffer for years just existing.

I say I would rather die but when that decision is near one never knows what they will do.

ERich-356044

I don't fear him as he's a companion we all walk with all of our lives. I "died" in Vietnam 45 years ago and the Corpsmen and Doctors brought me back. I've had an additional almost 45 years since then that I never counted on having. Once you've seen it, it really isn't as scary as you may think. Let's just face it, the primary cause of death is Birth; none of us is getting out of this alive! If you live long enough, everyone dies of something; who says life isn't fair?

I like living and agree with Nick about the quality of life. My wife died from a Cerebral Aneurysm 6 years ago, but it was better for her as she had a very bad case of Rheumatoid Arthritis. So, when things stop working and I start becoming a burden to others and cannot enjoy the things that I want to do, I will be quite willing to go with him to the next "adventure" as FLNutmegger so eloquently said.

But, how sacred do you think you will be as you are dying, if you KNOW that you are dying?

That is a separate question. The process of dying is likely to be painful, messy, embarrassing (you poo and pee yourself when you die you know) and may be protracted. But being dead, meh.

Sometimes, death can be that welcome relief to end the suffering.

As an old (87) multiple cancer survivor, along with combat related injuries, we do reach a stage in our lives where death is welcomed. Pain as a constant companion and reminder that things could/should be better. There are mornings when I wake and say; "Damn, I'm still here!" This is truly not what I wanted, or expected, over the years but, you play the hand that the Lord deals you, as best you can.

Pain as a constant companion and reminder that things could/should be better.

Very well said and so damn true.

FlNutmegger-

My Grandmother was the same way. For five years before her death (almost 97), she just kept saying to anyone that would listen, "I didn't mean to live this long" and "I don't know why I'm still here"

So, her death was indeed a blessing for her.

And, Ms Cyprah, No, I'm not afraid. Just not ready! I just hope it's fast and as painless as possible!!

I don't know.

Almost, the same thing happened to me. I was in the hospital in labor and the next thing I know, I wake up and I'm attached to all of these machines, bleeping and clicking and the nurse says to me, "we lost you there for a bit, your heart stopped beating and you stopped breathing, but we brought you back." I thought she was joking until my mother later told me that they had told her what happened after I was out-of-the-woods.

I remember nothing. As you stated STH, it's just like going to sleep. I saw no tunnels, no lights, no welcoming arms, no past relatives, just nothing, like a dreamless sleep.

I don't fear being dead, I just fear how I'm going to die because so many family members have died from cancer and as you all know, that's a most painful way to go! Having an extremely low tolerance for pain, that does NOT bode well for me.

Right. Fear of dying is not the same as fear of being dead. I also worry about what my death will mean to the lives of my kids. Once they're out on their own it will be different.

I agree, I don't fear dying as much as I fear the way that I could die....Preferably old age and not a fiery car crash.

I always said that I wanted to be killed by a jealous huband climbing through of a window. The only thing was I wanted to be climbing out not in! :>))

if that jealous husband was 25 years old and his wife the same, i've had that vision of my life coming to an end in that way as well.

ms c, it may be factual that over time as men get older some parts of their bodies do not work quite as well as they used to. the saying goes that it takes all night to do what we used to do all night. well, our minds for the most part still work and our fantasies do not disappear. even through one might develop old-timers disease, the long term memories are still there.

yes i said old-timers.

one might develop old-timers disease, the long term memories are still there.

yes i said old-timers.

I call it some-timers disease. Sometimes I remember, sometimes I don't.

You can tell mostly because we will get out of our chairs, go into another room, and say to ourself, "Self, what the heck did you come in here for anyway?" ;=||

Sometimes I remember, sometimes I don't.

What were we talking about again?

*Scratching thinning grey-haired head*

he chose risky treatment rather than imminent death. He lived another year of existence.

Good for him, truly. I do not advocate giving up in the fight for life for I have been to the door too many times in my long life and still refuse to go through it. I understand your Dad's decisions, too, for I am in recovery right now from extensive surgery following both bladder cancer and colon cancer which will garner me, at best, another year. I'll also bet the farm that your Dad also refused to just sit in the corner and wait, right? A good idea to live by is: If it ain't fun, don't do it, and if it doesn't move, eat it! ;~)) Never lose your sense of humor, in particular, the ability to laugh at yourself.

and if it doesn't move, eat it!

In the Navy we used to say:

"If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't move, paint it."

I'll also bet the farm that your Dad also refused to just sit in the corner and wait, right?

Well he didn't want to. But the 3 day a week treatments kept him weak and unable to do much else. But at least he did something he loved all his life. He was an avid reader.

But the 3 day a week treatments kept him weak and unable to do much else.

I know the feelings about that, too. My first bout with cancer was throat cancer in 1985 where they did 3 separate surgeries and took my Thyroid and a bunch of other stuff and I did the Chemo, Radiation thing. The Chemo was the most horrible experience I have ever had before or since, including being shot twice during the war, and so I politely refused it again this past year for these two onsets. At my age it is the quality of my remaining life that has become paramount not the quantity of it. The deep radiation thing where they burned me so badly that they weren't sure I would ever speak again turned me off from that, too and forced me into retirement. The doctors who treat us are young and vigorous and recommend aggressive treatments when in fact if they were our age they would see our needs for comfort instead of their ego need to conquer it. My only plea now is do not let me suffer any longer. I watched my Dad die, of this, in the most horrendous agony any one could suffer and his doctor would not give him any more medications to ease the pain for, in his words, he was afraid that my Dad would become addicted. The man was dieing for gosh sakes and in fact did die within hours of that stupid self serving statement. What made it worse was that he and my Dad were golfing buddies and still he let him suffer.

That's awful, FIN.

While my mother was on hospice care, the general rule was if the patient is terminally ill, addiction isn't an issue any longer while their comfort is paramount. I'm so sorry your dad had to go through that as it was so unnecessary.

UNA_Lion, I know first hand about the being the target of, as well as, the recipient of enemy fire. My military career spanned my teen years to twenty so no wife or family which I'm not at all sure I would know how to handle under combat conditions. My greatest problems occurred after combat related injuries and the battle back then to get the VA to help me since mostly we were in uncharted waters concerning those and mistakes, IMO, were made by them that do not occur today, thankfully. Good for you and thank you for your service.

You too, FlNutmegger!

I call BS on your comment about non-believers not going in peace

Pascal's wager with a little twist. Hindus die screaming I guess.

In reply to both of you I am saying these are the words of nurses in my Church and there are many. Not working in that profession watching people die every day I can only take their word but I know them well. Perhaps you can ask a few around you if you doubt my words.

my mother was a nurse and I asked her about this, she calls BS on your little statement and she's a Christian herself. I've also personally held an Atheist friend of mine as he died.

if you notice, texasguy hedged the question and used this thread to preach his church beliefs again.

Thanks Ms CYPRAH she loved the job and I spent many an afternoon sitting in the waiting room doing my homework while she ran about and did her work.

I agree and it's been shown that if someone convinces themselves of something hard enough they will start to see evidence of something that isn't there

WTF-Really

I agree and it's been shown that if someone convinces themselves of something hard enough they will start to see evidence of something that isn't there

The term for this is Confirmation bias, and it is psychologically similar to the Observer-expectancy effect.

I didn't know it actually had a term thanks for the info Zen-Hydra

Cheers, mate.

In islam there are many stories about the Mulla Nashurdin. Once one of his students asked him as he blew out a candle, " Where did the fire go?"

The Mulla asnwered, "Tell me from where it came, and I will tell you where it went."

you drink a glass of milk these day i taste like chemicals also water, meats, vegetables, anything you eat, as far is freedom, in those days you can carry a gun to defend yourself these days the law lets criminals do what ever they wan't. as far as abusing children and starving people, what do you think the tea party republicans are going to do if Obama lost the election. this is why i wished i was born in 1900. it was a way better life then these republicans are going to do to the poor if they win the white house. think about it cyprah. because these republicans couldn't care less if your poor.

If you think life was so much better in 1900, I think you'd be in for a rude awakening if you suddenly found yourself there.