Death Anxiety: Why Am I So Scared Of Dying?

Having some fear about death is a normal part of being human, but death anxiety is more than that. It is an intense fear of death and/or the process of dying that, in extreme cases, can affect how you function in your daily life and keep you from doing things you enjoy.

Common Fears That Can Lead to Death Anxiety

Fear of the unknown Not knowing what happens at the moment of death and whether the act of dying will be painful and prolonged can be scary. These are legitimate fears. Even Jesus, in His humanity, felt the fear of the way He was going to die and the pain that lay ahead.

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” – Mark 14:32-35, NIV

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Fear of not being in control Death is not something you can manipulate or control. Awareness of the inevitable reality of your mortality can evoke feelings of powerlessness and fear.

Fear of dying prematurely You may love your life and what you have, and fear the sudden loss of it and leaving behind the people and things you are attached to.

Practical Steps You Can Take to Decrease Your Death Anxiety

Plan ahead Even though you cannot control when or how you will die, you can alleviate much of your death-related anxieties by planning ahead and getting your affairs in order so that when your time comes, your wishes will be known and your next of kin prepared with what they need to carry them out.

Make a list of your financial information This list should include everything from bank accounts to insurance policies, mortgages, and credit cards, as well as information regarding how to access them and when bills get paid.

Put all important documents in one place Put all important documents in one place so your next of kin can easily access them. Include a list of your digital accounts as well, such as subscriptions and social media accounts, a list of keys and where they can be found, and a list of people who need to be contacted.

Draw up a will Draw up a will or trust and designate an executor so that your assets and personal possessions are distributed according to your wishes. If applicable, it should also include who you want to take care of your children, pets, and/or business.

Create a living will A living will is an advance directive of your medical care preferences that is legally binding and spells out the kind of care you do or do not want, as well as your wishes concerning life support and organ donation.

Detail how you want your end of life to be celebrated Plan your funeral or memorial service and document your preferences regarding how you want it to be conducted.

Hope And Encouragement from God’s Word

Death was not an original part of God’s plan for His creation. It was a consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. However, in Christ, we have the promise of eternal life.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23, ESV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16, NIV

The devil uses the fear of death to keep us in bondage to him, but those who have a personal relationship with Jesus need have no fear, knowing that Jesus conquered death so we could have eternal life.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. – Hebrews 2:14-15, NIV.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you. – 1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV

Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?… But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:55,57, NIV

God is always with you and will never leave you. If you bring your fear to Him and ask Him to help you, He will comfort you and replace your anxiety with His peace.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7, ESV

This world is not our forever home. We are just passing through. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you can look forward to a much better home yet to come.

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. – Hebrews 13:14, ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. – Philippians 3:20-21, NIV

For those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and have accepted His gift of salvation, death is not something to be feared. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Death ushers us into a place Jesus has prepared for us that is far better than anything you have experienced during your stay in this fallen world.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the LORD. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. – 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, NIV

I am hard-pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. – Philippians 1:23, ESV

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. – John 13:1-3, NIV.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. – Revelation 21:4, ESV.

If you have questions about how you can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, please give us a call today.