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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lawrence s. on October 14, 2002, at 21:34:49
I have lost both of my parents: My Mom last july died in my arms. My friend at work passed away last spring.
I work next to Apostolics, Baptists, Bornagains. Each one claims that the other sector of religion is going to hell. Now there is all the pedophiles in the Catholic church. And I was raised Catholic. I think about death almost continuosly it seems. It is about as big of a mystery to me as life is. It scares me so bad. I feel doomed. I start to freak out. I feel half alive and sometimes I don't know if I am alive. Ocassionally I have delulusions that I am dead. This seems to happen when things get real bad and I'm lonely like working in a factory for fourteen hours and then driving home in the the dark one hour each way. Nothing seems real. I feel like I'm doing the same thing over and over like being caught in a time warp.Please don't tell me to go away from the people at work. I already have and the damage is done.
What med. or med combo's should I be on that could help? I have tried many and I am on quite a few already. I tried Risperdal for ruminating thoughts but cound't stand the zombie effect. Also I am a pilot. For me I can barely drive on the stuff and everyone at work could tell I was taking something. right now I'm on Lamictal, Ritalin Lexapro, Klonopin. I'm going insane. please help.
Posted by borderliner21 on October 14, 2002, at 22:32:28
In reply to Desparate!! Fear of death. What meds help?, posted by lawrence s. on October 14, 2002, at 21:34:49
I have similar problems. I always have my mind on myself. I am always thinking about what it feels like to be dead. Why I am living in this generation and I am always wondering about the universe and existence. Medications work, they do for almost everybody. You just need the right ones.
Posted by sleepy lizard on October 14, 2002, at 22:50:34
In reply to Desparate!! Fear of death. What meds help?, posted by lawrence s. on October 14, 2002, at 21:34:49
This may not help, but have you considered what some of the philosophers say. There is no death, but we just change forms? They say there is nothing to be afraid of because we are eternal. It seems that the body identified mind is afraid of the body death though. That can be a tough one. I found meditation helps (contemplation on a positive thought like joy or peace, or just watching the thoughts without controlling them).
Posted by FredPotter on October 14, 2002, at 23:33:33
In reply to Re: Desparate!! Fear of death. What meds help? » lawrence s., posted by sleepy lizard on October 14, 2002, at 22:50:34
I agree with the meditation idea. Read about Zen. Try to appreciate that all the fears and problems are caused by protecting the ego, the sense of self. Zen meditation allows you to realise that this self doesn't exist, but blends in with the One self. There is therefore no death in this sense. All religious experiences I believe are basically of this unifying nature. When this feeling enters your life you become less selfish (although I lapse a good deal) and best of all unafraid of the dreaded solipsism. I've been through all of that and I'm out the other side. Perhaps this discussion should proceed in psycho-babble.health
Posted by fachad on October 15, 2002, at 13:06:37
In reply to Desparate!! Fear of death. What meds help?, posted by lawrence s. on October 14, 2002, at 21:34:49
Officially, this post is off topic and should be over in PsychoBabble Faith. But you asked the question here, so here is my answer.
I had similar fears when I was a child growing up in a Baptist environment where eternal hell fire and damnation were preached.
I obsessed on death and going to hell, and all the people that were going to hell even if I managed to "get saved" myself.
When I was a teenager, I discovered philosophy, and after much study and serious thought, self honesty, and rational thinking, found that religion was just not true. Others may disagree, but I am convinced that if you take an honest, rational look at religion, you will come out agnostic or atheist.
Some fine works to read to free your mind from religious dogma are:
The Age of Reason, by Thomas Paine.
Why I am an Agnostic, by Robert Ingersol
Atheism: The Case Against God, by George SmithIf you only read one thing, read the essay "Why I am an Agnostic" by Ingersol.
Now freeing your mind of religious dogma is one thing, but facing death is another matter. Again, philosophy is really the best remedy.
There is much written on death, but I think two of the best pieces are:
Phaedo, by Plato
Design for Dying, by Dr. Timothy LearyPhaedo is a record of the conversation Socrates had with his friends in jail on the day he was executed by the Athenians. They sat around and talked about death, and Socrates explained to his friends why he was not afraid to die and how philosophy had prepared him for death. He explained that it is better for a man to die with dignity, than to live badly. Phaedo is a classic of western literature, and I have read and re-read it many times when I find myself dwelling on death.
Design for Dying, by Dr. Timothy Leary is a record of Leary's thoughts and feelings on death, and a record of the progress of his own death, after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Leary was an eternal optimist, and his bubbling optimism and good humor shines through in this book on death.
Meds may help you in many ways, but I do not think they will allow you to eliminate the need to think through the "big issues" for yourself.
> I have lost both of my parents: My Mom last july died in my arms. My friend at work passed away last spring.
>
> I work next to Apostolics, Baptists, Bornagains. Each one claims that the other sector of religion is going to hell. Now there is all the pedophiles in the Catholic church. And I was raised Catholic. I think about death almost continuosly it seems. It is about as big of a mystery to me as life is. It scares me so bad. I feel doomed. I start to freak out. I feel half alive and sometimes I don't know if I am alive. Ocassionally I have delulusions that I am dead. This seems to happen when things get real bad and I'm lonely like working in a factory for fourteen hours and then driving home in the the dark one hour each way. Nothing seems real. I feel like I'm doing the same thing over and over like being caught in a time warp.
>
> Please don't tell me to go away from the people at work. I already have and the damage is done.
>
> What med. or med combo's should I be on that could help? I have tried many and I am on quite a few already. I tried Risperdal for ruminating thoughts but cound't stand the zombie effect. Also I am a pilot. For me I can barely drive on the stuff and everyone at work could tell I was taking something. right now I'm on Lamictal, Ritalin Lexapro, Klonopin. I'm going insane. please help.
Posted by celesteloveage on October 15, 2002, at 14:07:39
In reply to Rationalism and Philosophy, not Meds » lawrence s., posted by fachad on October 15, 2002, at 13:06:37
You stated that you work up to 14 hours a day in a factory. I once worked in a factory 10 hours a day and remember that those 10 hours of doing repetetive mindless work gave me alot of time to think, and think, and think. I'm not saying that your work is mindless but if it is...14 hours a day sure can be alot of time spent thinking and analyzing. I know for me personally it was and I also know that that is when I too started obsessing, analyzing, and contemplating the topic of death. I literally became terrified of death and also because of my christian up bringing I thought that God would strike me dead for some of the thoughts I was having. I think we all go through where you are at today and each of us find our own ways to cope with our immortality. For me I worked through my fear by reading books, educating myself on several religious and spiritual belief systems and then choosing to believe what I wanted to rather then what I was raised to believe. Finally I became a volunteer with a hospice spending time helping terminally ill patients. Being with someone as they die helped me realize that death is only the shedding of your body and going onto another plane...to feel a person leave their body after taking their last breath confirms to me we don't die we just merely go somewhere else. Best of luck to you I know that you are going to be just fine.
> Officially, this post is off topic and should be over in PsychoBabble Faith. But you asked the question here, so here is my answer.
>
> I had similar fears when I was a child growing up in a Baptist environment where eternal hell fire and damnation were preached.
>
> I obsessed on death and going to hell, and all the people that were going to hell even if I managed to "get saved" myself.
>
> When I was a teenager, I discovered philosophy, and after much study and serious thought, self honesty, and rational thinking, found that religion was just not true. Others may disagree, but I am convinced that if you take an honest, rational look at religion, you will come out agnostic or atheist.
>
> Some fine works to read to free your mind from religious dogma are:
>
> The Age of Reason, by Thomas Paine.
> Why I am an Agnostic, by Robert Ingersol
> Atheism: The Case Against God, by George Smith
>
> If you only read one thing, read the essay "Why I am an Agnostic" by Ingersol.
>
> Now freeing your mind of religious dogma is one thing, but facing death is another matter. Again, philosophy is really the best remedy.
>
> There is much written on death, but I think two of the best pieces are:
>
> Phaedo, by Plato
> Design for Dying, by Dr. Timothy Leary
>
> Phaedo is a record of the conversation Socrates had with his friends in jail on the day he was executed by the Athenians. They sat around and talked about death, and Socrates explained to his friends why he was not afraid to die and how philosophy had prepared him for death. He explained that it is better for a man to die with dignity, than to live badly. Phaedo is a classic of western literature, and I have read and re-read it many times when I find myself dwelling on death.
>
> Design for Dying, by Dr. Timothy Leary is a record of Leary's thoughts and feelings on death, and a record of the progress of his own death, after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Leary was an eternal optimist, and his bubbling optimism and good humor shines through in this book on death.
>
> Meds may help you in many ways, but I do not think they will allow you to eliminate the need to think through the "big issues" for yourself.
>
>
>
>
> > I have lost both of my parents: My Mom last july died in my arms. My friend at work passed away last spring.
> >
> > I work next to Apostolics, Baptists, Bornagains. Each one claims that the other sector of religion is going to hell. Now there is all the pedophiles in the Catholic church. And I was raised Catholic. I think about death almost continuosly it seems. It is about as big of a mystery to me as life is. It scares me so bad. I feel doomed. I start to freak out. I feel half alive and sometimes I don't know if I am alive. Ocassionally I have delulusions that I am dead. This seems to happen when things get real bad and I'm lonely like working in a factory for fourteen hours and then driving home in the the dark one hour each way. Nothing seems real. I feel like I'm doing the same thing over and over like being caught in a time warp.
> >
> > Please don't tell me to go away from the people at work. I already have and the damage is done.
> >
> > What med. or med combo's should I be on that could help? I have tried many and I am on quite a few already. I tried Risperdal for ruminating thoughts but cound't stand the zombie effect. Also I am a pilot. For me I can barely drive on the stuff and everyone at work could tell I was taking something. right now I'm on Lamictal, Ritalin Lexapro, Klonopin. I'm going insane. please help.
>
>
Posted by FredPotter on October 15, 2002, at 14:49:54
In reply to Re: Desparate!! Fear of death. What meds help?, posted by FredPotter on October 14, 2002, at 23:33:33
sorry I meant faith not health
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 15, 2002, at 17:31:15
In reply to Re: Rationalism and Philosophy, not Meds, posted by celesteloveage on October 15, 2002, at 14:07:39
> > Officially, this post is off topic and should be over in PsychoBabble Faith.
Yes, here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021001/msgs/1086.html
Bob
PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration, thanks.
Posted by McPac on October 15, 2002, at 20:20:20
In reply to Desparate!! Fear of death. What meds help?, posted by lawrence s. on October 14, 2002, at 21:34:49
Lawrence,
you need an anti-obsessional medication, such as Zoloft, Luvox, Anafranil, etc.
Get one.
Posted by lawrence s. on October 16, 2002, at 0:13:26
In reply to Re: Desparate!! Fear of death. What meds help?, posted by borderliner21 on October 14, 2002, at 22:32:28
> I have similar problems. I always have my mind on myself. I am always thinking about what it feels like to be dead. Why I am living in this generation and I am always wondering about the universe and existence. Medications work, they do for almost everybody. You just need the right ones.
Borderliner, Thank you. It's comforting to know I'm not alone. You have described my thoughts/symptoms exactly. I'm going to print out this page for refference to show to my Pdoc because it is hard to describe and put these thoughts into words when he has his pen and notebook in hand. You described it to a tee. I think isolation really brings this on.
Thanks everyone for your responses! they have all been helpfull.
Lawrence.
Posted by Kat26 on October 16, 2002, at 13:20:14
In reply to Desparate!! Fear of death. What meds help?, posted by lawrence s. on October 14, 2002, at 21:34:49
You know what really eased my fear of death? Reading books on near death experiences!!!
Kat
Posted by gabbix2 on October 16, 2002, at 15:28:50
In reply to Re: Desparate!! Fear of death. What meds help?, posted by Kat26 on October 16, 2002, at 13:20:14
I tried desperatly to ease my fear of life and death through extensive reading and trying to 'believe something'
It didn't work not even a bit.
Medication did though, because the anxiety was a symptom of severe depression and at the time, I simply focused it on the fear of death. If i erased that fear, it would simply sprout new arms and legs. When the depression lifted so did the anxiety. The proper medication prescription is an art form and it is for many a process of trial and error. Expanding your horizons is essential i.m.o but I wouldn't count on it to make your fears liveable.
Posted by Dinah on October 16, 2002, at 16:08:40
In reply to Re: Desparate!! Fear of death. What meds help?, posted by gabbix2 on October 16, 2002, at 15:28:50
I'm on klonopin and depakote, and in the past have been on an SSRI, and I haven't found death anywhere near as frightening as life for years and years.
Posted by wcfrench on October 16, 2002, at 16:21:36
In reply to Rationalism and Philosophy, not Meds » lawrence s., posted by fachad on October 15, 2002, at 13:06:37
Thanks for those book recommendations, fachad. I read reviews and ordered them both. Though I'm not afraid of death at all, I find the topic very interesting. I love philosophy and Buddhist principles. I find death very peaceful, and would love to read what Socrates and Leary have to say.
To make this more relevant, I felt more peaceful about death on Geodon. In fact, it pretty much changed my views. Also, watching Crossing Over has given me a different perspective.
Einstein once said that if humans used 100% of their brains, we would be pure energy. And that though our bodies die, our energy doesn't. If you ask me, just as the moons and the cosmos were once magical and are now science, death and the afterlife will soon follow.
-Charlie
Posted by gabbix2 on October 16, 2002, at 18:36:04
In reply to Re: But what meds help fear of life?, posted by Dinah on October 16, 2002, at 16:08:40
Posted by sleepy lizard on October 18, 2002, at 1:00:09
In reply to Re: fear of life? I hear you! even mentioned it. (nm) » Dinah, posted by gabbix2 on October 16, 2002, at 18:36:04
Well, the medications did make me feel worse, nighmares and all. I did have some good moments on Paxil though. All in all the meditation has helped me, but I don't think you have to approach it as a religious thing at all. I see religion mainly as beliefs and I am rather suggesting a practice. But I can see how it could make one more afraid. It must be individual. If the medications work then great. How to overcome the fear of life? I just try to do things, even when afraid. Sometimes it works.
This is the end of the thread.
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