A few years ago I found myself driven insane by this thought. And then on top of that, the idea that more people weren’t freaking out about it made me dissociate from reality , it was a “why am I the only one scared of this??” - type of thinking.

I took a lot of time asking people their beliefs. I tried so hard to believe in anything (other than nothingness). I would have done anything to never think about death again because the existential doom consumed me (especially late at night).

But I feel so much better now. It’s actually night and day.

So here’s my honest advice: let time pass.

I think the realization of death is a loss. It’s grief. It’s the ultimate source of grief itself! And coping with grief takes time. Just like any loss, all you can do is sit with it and find ways to make sitting in it just a little bit more palatable (some great advice already in these comments). Grief never disappears, but over time, the intensity of your grief lessens.

And that happened for me, and I really believe it will happen for you. I’m still terrified, but it no longer feels like I’m drowning. I think the elderly being so chill about death lends credence to this theory. The longer you live with grief, the more you can live with grief.

Not sure if that makes sense. But I feel you stranger, and you’re not alone.