by Natasha Levy

Created on: March 25, 2008

Near all emotions and actions for that matter, can be traced back to fear. And, nearly all fears can be traced back to the one age old fear of death. It is the one inevitability, and yet our greatest unknown. People simply manifest the fear into different avenues of expression. It is, however, a mask, a complex and diverse simplification of the true underlying emotion of the individual. Therefore if we are aware of these subconscious fears, we may seemingly overcome the fear of death.

Those who fear death in fact fear life itself. They are essentially the same; for living is what delivers us to death, the mysterious end. The conundrum arrives: is it life or death that is the original fear? Which is the mirror and which is merely the reflection?

The most important step in overcoming a fear of death is to keep a daily emotion record. Have a log book ready to record each strong emotion. Different emotions hide within the pretences of others. For example, "Jodie told me I had to re-write my Anthropology article, that it wasn't up to standard" received an "ANGER", rated 100 x a billion. Weeks later the subconscious might re-assess this initial emotional naming, and decide you in fact felt fear; a doubt in your own writing abilities.

Now consider the following realities about the supposed "fear of death":

- Death emotes sorrow and pain. Children fear death because their first thoughts turn to losing their parents, their safety net. We grown older and watch our friends and family pass. The trauma leaves an unpleasant residue of heartache and we come to despise the entire cycle of life: including not only death, but life it's self. When we lose someone "before their time" it seems incredibly unjust and we become afraid of living because we are angry at life. Are you afraid of human pain and trauma?

- Death is the ultimate unknown. To fear it is as natural as our apprehension before getting an exam back, or something of the like. It is important to acknowledge the REAL fear here: the unknown, a state in which you have absolutely no control.

- Death is symbolic. People who have experienced traumas (which everyone has in varying degrees), particularly those who have experienced loss or rejection, fear death the most as the psyche sees it as the ultimate loss. The world has released you into the unknown.

- Death is lonely. I'd have to argue that loneliness is the second largest, most universal emotion and fear. The thought of leaving everyone and everything you know and love

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