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How do I stop thinking about death?

207 Answers
Last Updated: 06/24/2023 at 8:53am
How do I stop thinking about death?
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Tracy-Kate Teleke, PsyD, M.A., LMFT

Marriage & Family Therapist

I assist adults and couples in CA experiencing relationship challenges and interpersonal struggles including anxiety, depression, and a myriad of other life challenges.

Top Rated Answers
overtherainbow17
August 24th, 2018 12:26am
I'm sorry that's a topic on your mind right now-- That sounds stressful. I'm glad you've asked this question, though. It seems like you want to change something. So first off, after years of pondering what death would be like, it came time for me to change my mindset. I was not tired of life, I was tired about thinking of death. There's no immediate fix to things like this; It's much more on how you perceive things and changing your mindset. One way, one method I use is a DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) skill called "Opposite Emotion". This is basically you catch yourself having a negative or unrealistic thought. You change your thought to the opposite thing. It can also help some people with managing their emotions. Say, I'm having thoughts of yelling at someone who cut in my lane during driving. Instead, focus on something other than that. Think of the scenery, think of art, but try to shift your focus off the topic of whatever is troubling you. It doesn't work for everyone, or it might take time to work. There's no magic. It's a long process in retraining your brain to think different.
Anonymous
May 7th, 2016 12:20am
Whenever i feel like I would be better off dead I think of the people you leave behind. You may not think people love you but you'd be surprised how many do and how many people would be genuinely sad about it. And a lot of problems are fixable, it's just finding the help and taking that leap of faith :) and remember any reason, however small or silly it may feel, is always enough to stay alive
lovingWords70
May 25th, 2016 4:59pm
I stopped thinking about death when I started thinking about the simplest things that make me happy while I'm alive. Try it.
kazzin
September 17th, 2017 12:49pm
Take a moment of your day to just lay on bed, and listen to your surroundings. Close your eyes if wanted. Then, stand up and look out a window. Look at trees, look at the clouds, look the people walking. You're feeling like there's no point to any of this, but look closely to a bird, or perhaps a butterfly. Look how beautiful this world actually is, and realize that without you, it wouldn't be the same.
SuperSandi
July 19th, 2018 4:26am
I get in that mode every so often and it's hard for me to get out of it and I really really hate that feeling. What I found that helped me is going out and doing things that I like to do and having fun. Eventually I realized that I have stopped thinking about that and feel a lot better.
LoveIsLife94
April 26th, 2018 11:42pm
Fill your time with meaningful activities and surround yourself with good people. Idleness is an enemy..
Anonymous
February 22nd, 2018 10:14pm
You can start by doing stuff you like and finding stuff that helps you forget about it you can also find somone to help.
Anonymous
June 24th, 2018 10:51am
Death is a part of life. No point fearing it as we all gonna face it one day. All we can do is focus on our now life. Cherish it and make the most out of it.
Anonymous
July 2nd, 2016 7:10am
I would surround your self with people that care and that give you strength to be strong again to focus on the positive things in life to make you feel safe and secure. Keep your mind on something that you love and enjoy that makes you happy ......hobbies? .
Anonymous
August 12th, 2017 12:16pm
You have to try to focus on the things that you love. It can be anything from a sport, to your friends/family members. You have to keep in mind that life is a precious gift and that you being here is a 1/100000000000000000000 chance, I mean when you think about it, that's amazing to be able to experience life. Also, you have kept it going all those years, don't stop now! You mean something to a lot of people even though it may not seem like it !
Anonymous
August 4th, 2017 10:01am
Make a list in your head/on paper about each and every single thing (big and small) that you are thankful for. Think about ways you could positively impact the lives of people in your local community, globally online, and through any volunteer work. Engage a hobby or interest you enjoy and pursue it. Try new and fun activities you have not tried before. Explore new areas of interest to learn about. Find your passion in life and let that be your motivation. Find an activity that not only makes you feel good, but makes you feel part of something important or part of a community.
lifefighter1012
April 8th, 2018 7:25pm
Think about all the reasons you enjoy to live even if they seem small. You can find those reasons within people, places or even things. Also keeping yourself distracted with things you like also helps repel those thoughts of death.
eternalWriting37
May 15th, 2016 11:12am
Try thinking of the opposite, if that doesn't help try figuring out why you are obsessing to begin with and try to face that fear.
Anonymous
June 8th, 2018 1:04pm
To be honest there isn't a simple answer to it. You can't stop thinking about dying because some time in your life you'll feel burdened by your problems and again you'll feel like dying. Just don't let it overcome you.
Anonymous
June 2nd, 2016 11:21pm
Think about life? Think about how well you are doing in the life your living now and how it would hurt people of you wasn't around
Sindi00
June 3rd, 2016 4:01pm
Start thinking about life! The amazing opportunity you have to live. Appreciate every moment that u have, every memorie. When u learn how to be thankful to the life that u own, u don't have anymore space on your mind to think about death 💕
ShiningWolf
May 28th, 2016 5:10pm
By thinking of all the people who care about you. Think how they would react if you passed away; and even if you don't think anyone would care, they would. A death affects so many people, some that you might not have even known.
delicateZebra
June 30th, 2018 10:59am
Try to focus on now, Focus on what you have and what makes you happy, The more you focus on being happy the more your thoughts of death should leave you
betsy2019
May 5th, 2016 12:53pm
Ask for help it's okay to need it. If you want to die your best option is to get help from an adult.
zealousSun36
April 29th, 2016 9:35pm
You can engage yourself in various works you like like painting, cleaning dishes, exercise, meditation. But if it bothers you more than normal then immediately without hesitation contact someone who can help you maybe he/she is your relative or your health care provider.
LifeenRiched
July 30th, 2016 6:05am
The best way I have found to stop thinking about death is to first distract yourself with anything art, cooking, cute puppy videos on YouTube and then continuing to be mindful and present.
Anonymous
March 11th, 2017 3:13am
think about life and what you love about it and just go and enjoy the simple things like your lover's laugh or a nice sunset
calmingFriend2210
November 4th, 2020 12:34am
Ok, on June 17 2020 I asked myself this question why do I fear death, cause no one has come back alive. So that‘s my reason for thinking about it. But as for you I have no information on why you may be thinking about this. These are my conclusions is that you want to die, or you just curious about death or that death is just something we learn to talk to ourselves about. So as for me when you want to stop thinking about something try to do something that prevents you from thinking of death. So probably no horror assassin movies or cemeteries ok. But to be real the thought of death is normal cause it’s going to happen. It’s something inevitable but there is always now, the present that we should worry about. So try to do other activities and learn that death is not something to be scared of cause it going to happen and that how life is. Wish best of luck with this. :)
TsuBerry
August 2nd, 2019 8:44am
All people have anxiety about death, and it can be triggered to everyone. The fear about human inevitability is an overwhelming thing to come to terms with and more often than not, it can be all encompassing. Coming to terms with the inevitability to life is a hard step for anyone, but in the end, its not a bad thing to think about it, to think about what will happen to the people around you, and slowly come to terms with it is one of the only ways to truly confront it. Confronting the chaos and generating personal order throughout your thought processes can be very comforting and soothing throughout the journey of life. There are lots of personal accounts on a multitude of medias that can help people overcome the fear of death, or at the very least be at peace with it. At the very least, living a life overcome by fear of death detracts from living a life that is whole and full of all the benefits of life itself. Finding peace in it, the fact that you will die, that the people who you love will die, and the people you've never met before will die is just a part of life, but its a part that you're not alone in fearing. Surrounding yourself with people who understand this fear, who love you and want to help you overcome this fear by being honest about it might be one of the steps, be it with your social network, or by looking on the internet. Everyone is scared at one point of another and its normal, but living a meaningful life can help you overcome this fear, even if its gradually and at the very end, knowing you lived a life concentrating on life, rather than death will help you feel fulfilled and sometimes, thinking about the future, a little closer to now, rather than the then is the best way to handle your fear.
huggerLover14
September 22nd, 2017 6:31pm
In my opinion, in order to get through depressive thoughts and stop thinking of things such as death you need to turn to the people who will support you and take your mind of such things. Go and do something you have never done before, explore, read, write, or just take some physical activity which will get you moving or going. It is always better to do it with someone else of course.
Schultzy
September 21st, 2017 10:24pm
Death is something that comes for everyone, and will of course be something that you think about. That being said, We don't know what happens for sure after death. That's why I like to try and focus on the living. For all we know, We've only got one chance at life, So might as well try to make the most of what were given. Enjoy the little things in life like sunsets, or a good song. Cherish the people around you that make you happy, Just take things one day at a time. If today is a rough day, Tomorrow is always a brand new day to try again. Things might look like all rainy and thunderstorms, But at the end of every thunderstorm, The sun always comes up and a rainbow might just make it's appearance.
SongBird7
October 5th, 2016 4:49am
Look to the present, and look to the things you cherish. You have to know that you are significant and valued, and that you are surrounded by people who are very endeared to you.
Anonymous
October 7th, 2016 12:52am
Start thinking about life. Everything and everybody dies. There's no way of avoiding that. Living is a bit difficult, yes, but you get to live only once. Better to live, try and fail, then give up and die forever.
avocadoallyson
February 6th, 2017 7:13am
Thinking about death can be very time consuming and very detrimental to mental health. When you find yourself thinking about death, try to replace those thoughts with thoughts about people you love and care about. Remind yourself that you are important and valued.
blossom220
February 24th, 2020 12:28pm
You were not born to worry about death, every living being has to experience it, so why wasting your precious time thinking about it? Life is short enjoy it, embrace it, live it, live every second of it. Do the things you love, travel, eat, read good books, spend time with your family and friends learn new things, do good deeds, and most importantly love yourself. Life is really precious, just live it and stop thinking of negative things. Your life has a value, a meaning, if you didn't you wouldn't be here, so embrace it. Surround yourself with all the positive things in life. Feel every moment of your life