Death Anxiety/OCD

[Whauwkanna]

Hi,

Hope everyone is well

This is my first post I have severe death anxiety for the last 1 month and a half.

I keep picturing myself in my grave and feel physical symptoms in myself.

From the moment I wakeup to the moment I sleep I am thinking of death it has immensely affected the quality of my life. Sometimes I think I am currently dying then other times I imagine myself when I die. But these thoughts are constant. The only rest I get is sleep. I am unable to think of anything else

I am off from work and unable to keep up with basic personal hygiene. I feel very weak. I am on quetiapine 50mg and fluoxetine 25mg prescribed via a private psychiatrist.

I have also been referred for CBT.

Is anyone going through the same thing or has gone through it and recovered if yes please can you advise how.

I would appreciate this greatly any advice is appreciated

[Zhangliqun]

I don't have death anxiety or OCD related to it or otherwise. (Like a lot of people in here, my problem was in the other direction, couldn't wait to get to the other side and almost short-circuited the process.) Although when I was about 11, I did obsess for a little while about death. I'd look at people 40 years old and pity them, knowing they were over halfway there. And then I would remember I would be 40 someday. It was a very depressing time, luckily it didn't last very long and was replaced 18 years later with a wish to die from terrible depression and anxiety.

But I'm wondering if duloxetine (aka cymbalta) might help with the daytime anxiety. Sounds like you're able to sleep okay but if not, trazadone is wonderful for nighttime anxiety. Both certainly help with mine.

As for the worries about death, have you always had it or did some event trigger it? This may seem a silly question but what do you fear about death? The potential pain? What comes after? Something else?

Anyway, there are other people in here with exactly your situation so hopefully they will chime in and give you better help.

[Daveacr1959]

There are some good breathing exercises free on you tube. I like the Wim Hof guided breathing exercises. They really center you. After your shower rinse in cool water with the goal of a cold 5 minute rinse. Daily cardio exercise is good.

[Taylormidnights]

I used to struggle to with that but know that god hasn't been done with you. To overcome that fear is to rely on god do u know why r u fearing death? Well what ive found out is because we feel shame about our lifes and wewe dont know much life after death but if u turn to god u wont got worry .

[Batman77]

am suffering in a similar way tired all the time basic hygiene struggling brain fog all the time and am on the same meds