Anxiety about death, getting old, losing loved ones.

Posted , 4 users are following.

I am constantly worrying about when my parents are going to die. I'm 23 years old and just can't seem to shake this obsessive thought. Then I think of myself being elderly and freak out also. I have no idea why I'm obsessing over all of these things as I used to be able to just talk about them in passing. Death, old age and the passing of loved ones.

I feel trapped, I just finished college in May and have a degree but I'm afraid to move forward as it means its closer to my parents dying or even me dying. it's just so frustrating as I KNOW it's something I can not control. In any shape of form. I'm just writing to see if anyone went through this and if there's any type of treatment. I'm thinking intense CBT?

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi! I am currently going through this, but have improved a lot over the past 3 months. I still have anxiety everyday, but the constant thoughts and depression caused by them are mostly gone. I've been on Prozac for 10 weeks and it's helped the ocd thoughts and depression, but not the butterflies in my stomach.
    • Posted

      Thank you for replying to me Julian. I am a bit apprehensive to take any type of meds. Have you much experience with them? It would ease these thoughts yes?
    • Posted

      Hi! I've been on Prozac for 10 weeks, I had virtually no side effects but it seems to be different for everyone. The ocd thoughts about dying went away in about 5 weeks after starting medication and so did the depression. I think considering medication would be a good idea, they actually do help.
  • Posted

    Hey Sinead, I was going through something very similar to your situation awhile back. I don't know what came over me, but i was chronically thinking about getting old and dying. I'd forget about it during the day sometimes but at night when I’m alone trying to sleep, the thoughts would crawl all over me of never being able to get time back and the inevitable consequence of living. 

    This almost became an obsession because i actually started reading blogs, articles anything i could find in order to come to terms with my own demise. It took a lot of searching, to get over this phase, but i haven't had it since I’ve gotten into mediation. 

    I was never a spiritual person whatsoever, i was more closely related to an atheist belief; i just thought that life was just a series of fortunate events and that’s it no more no less. However once I stumbled across mindfulness and other forms of mediation my system of beliefs started to shift and the worry of death started to subside.

    Try not to engage too much with the thoughts of it, when you realise what you're thinking, stop the emotional charge you are giving it and focus on something else. I know it’s simple but it surprisely works, rather than giving it too much attention use that time to perhaps contact them or plan something that you enjoy. 

    In the videos and research i've done, most people in the end when they accept it generally start to feel optimistic about what follows. 

    I hope you start to feel better soon Sinead and that you have an amazing year to follow us ahead

    Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

    http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398316-adding-links-to-posts

    http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

  • Posted

    You sound scared and thats not abnormal. Its frieightening growing uo and enetering the real world. You might find you love it by the way. Feels great to be independent. I think you feel very vulnerable right now and its intensyfying your fear of your parents passing as you heavily rely on them at this time.  After you get a job within a few months it becomes like your second home..all familiar faces and such. Might be very calming for you.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.