Anyone else have constant fears of mortality?

I’m new to this app, and this is a really big step for me. I’m 19 and as I get older my anxiety about death has been increasing in unimaginable levels. I can be on my phone, at work, or when it’s at its worst, when I’m trying to sleep. It’ll hit me like a train and send me into a spiral and it’s truly something I feel like only I go through. Would love to hear any other viewpoints or if anyone potentially relates.

victoriaelise

Date posted: 22h

I definitely understand how that feels! For me I start to disassociate really bad. I just have to ground myself with reality. Yes death is apart of life but why worry about it now when you are alive. We just have to accept it. What helps me the most is to enjoy the present moment. Disconnect from the internet a little bit and enjoy the peace of silence. Sometimes silence is horrible for me to I’ll listen to music, spend time with family or friends or go outside! Be must not be afraid to live. That’s what OCD wants. And in the moments of being alone think about yourself, give yourself some love. “You, yourself, as much as anyone in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection” - Buddha

M1ch43l

Date posted: 22h

@victoriaelise Thank you so much! It’s so refreshing to hear someone else’s point of view instead of the cliche “we all die eventually get over it” I definitely agree about silence not being preferable, when I’m sitting in silence doing nothing my thoughts run wild and it gets overwhelming so fast. Getting older just scares me and at 19 I feel my time is running out, but like you said that’s what the OCD wants, me to not live my life. I’m gonna remember that quote because it’s something I haven’t thought about. I deserve some love from myself. Thank you so much :)

recoveryisne...

Date posted: 21h

Hi, I havent struggled with this in particular, but I am also 19 and found out recently I have OCD. My anxiety has been so much worse as I have got older too. Sending support 🫶

Anonymous

Date posted: 18h

Yeah I'm 35 now and I still struggle with this but it's important to remember the imagination running wild and imagining being old or imagining sudden illness or accidents happening is just that it's your imagination and it's also trying to run scenarios so that you're prepared for any outcome but the truth is there's no preparing. You can be more or less adaptable to situations but all it does is take away the enjoyment of the moment. One can have extreme care to stay cautious in their life and safe as much as they can but OCD seeks absolute certainty and so it's why it's never good enough. You're not alone and sometimes just remembering this can be a big relief. Of course you don't want to try to neutralize the thoughts but you don't have to accept them as true. Even if you might be dealing with inevitabilities eventualities it's the crazy thing about life we don't know how we got here really and we don't know where we go but we do know we're here right now and we know we're in it together so the best way to enjoy the ride and to make it your own is to embrace the moment and your values and what you love to do

Anonymous

Date posted: 18h

My talk therapist was listening to me going on a long sort of monologue and then he quietly reflected for a second and said well that's what faith is right? We don't know what all the outcomes are but we know if we live our lives running simulations of what might happen then we're just broken down and not actually taking actions aligned with our values

M1ch43l

Date posted: 17h

@Anonymous This was absolutely beautifully worded. OCD will never be satisfied because it wants absolutely certainty. And that’s not something we can ever really have on this topic, so I truly just have to accept the fact that I’m here right now and enjoy it. Im working on that every day! Thank you very much for the supportive words :)

Anonymous

Date posted: 13h

@M1ch43l Gave me the chills a little there. I'm inspired by your declaration. And you're very welcome. I like how you said working on it everyday because that's something I need to work on accepting is that even though I might have a good day I need to have a good day tomorrow and the next day and the next day too haha so it's not like I put the effort in and then I get to quit because the effort and the showing up for your life is where the meeting is I think. Thanks for your question too

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