You're laying in bed, the sounds outside your window fade into the night. Slowly, your body begins to unwind, the stress leaves your knees and lower back, and your breath falls to a low, even pace. You've started to fall asleep...
...when you suddenly realize the world is a horrifying place and we should be afraid at all times of everything.
Reddit user, u/artgetting, wanted to know:
What is your biggest fear? What are you afraid of more than anything?
Let's Start Off Big
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Not trying to sound edgy but.. fear of the unknown. It's definitely scary not knowing what's out there
Yes, I also actually have this fear... I am trying to convice myself that I know what will happen tomorrow etc. But no, in fact, we never know!!
What If They Don't Like Me?
Social rejection.
It hits me so hard when it happens that I stopped bothering to try to make new friends.
Totally Different Levels Of Flying
Heights ... and I even know its irrational at times but it's still crippling for me.
But for some reason I'm totally comfortable with flying
Im not sure but I think I'm ok with flying because my family used to travel alot when I was younger and my brain kinda just disassociated the situation looking out the window it almost doesn't seem real everything being so tiny and by the time I was old enough for that to not work I was just so used to it that I didnt care.
But there was one time I was on a plane that was so tiny it only fit 10 people and they made a second flight for our luggage due to weight. That lead to a 45 min panic attack so bad that my parents had to find me xanax in a foriegn country to get me back on the plane for the return flight. I was probably 12 or 13 at the time.
It's Just A Bunch Of Nothing
The ocean. Specifically, open water in the middle of the ocean. Nothing scares me more than being in the middle of the ocean seeing nothing but water in every direction with no way of escape. Also all those creatures. I'm helplessly sitting there at their mercy. Wow, I got goosebumps writing this. The ocean is such a scary and beautiful thing
I have never seen ocean, only see but you described it so well that I am scary as well now haha
Oh Crap, There IS A God??
That I'll discover at death that my agnostic/atheist views were wrong, and as such I'm in for some sh!t.
Losing The One Person Who Helped You The Most
Losing my grandma, she's my whole world and helped me more than my own mom
That I'm wasting / I've wasted my life.
But does that really matter in the grand scheme of things? As long as you enjoyed your life that's all that matters.
The way I look at it we are so small in the the universe we could ALL just disappear one day and nothing would change and that is much more terrifying!
Day By Day, Week By Week, Year By Year
Aging. I could care less for immortality I'm okay with death but the act of cellular degeneration over periods of time is what terrifies me the most. Imagine being old and practically incompetent, taking god knows how many pills a day for your countless prescriptions. I'm 20 years old and I still fear the act of aging. I hope when 2040 arrives there will be neccessary precautions to stop our body from breaking down and hopefully increase life expectancy.
Wunderkind's Are Dumb, Anyway
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That I am too late to achieve what I want in a reasonable amount of time.
I feel this way about saving for retirement. Am I too late to catch up? Am I going to have to eat dog food, like so many poor old people do?
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
Do you have something to confess to George? Text "Secrets" or "" to +1 (310) 299-9390 to talk him about it.
But sometimes, the wisdom imparted by friends isn't always helpful or relevant to the situation.
Curious to hear from strangers online who could do without specific knowledge, Redditor Saibotnl1 asked:
"What life advice can just f'k off?"
These Redditors have a problem with how certain people have on outlook on life.
Time To Rest
"Sleep when you’re dead."
"Cool, but you’re going to be dead a lot sooner."
– Tag2graff
Irrelevant Sadness
"People have it so much worse than you so don’t be sad!"
– notrachelmar
"To that I like to say, 'people have it so much better than you so don't be happy!'"
– ___jupiter____
Your Life Path
"Almost anything relating to what age you must be in order to buy a house, have children, marry, have a profession, or do anything else. Seriously, everyone's life is different from everyone else's. Make your life the way you want it to be. If you so desire. Up to you."
– Frn071
On The Contrary
“Cheaters never prosper”
"Yes, they f'king do."
– waqasnaseem07
People can get out of any situation they find displeasing.
But others feel people should just "stick it out."
Ignoring Bullies
"Just ignore bullys or get someone else to handle it for you. I have never seen this work, only makes it worse. The only effective way I've seen to deal with them is by not making yourself an easy target and make them scared to f'k with you again. If going psycho on their a** is the only thing they'll respond to that's their fault. Also want to add in schools they will punish you for self defense but that punishment is only sitting around a few hours in detention or sitting around at home with a suspension. The punishment is temporary boredom, it's absolutely nothing compared to being bullied and when it's over the important message will still stand that you will not tolerate being a victim."
– User Delted
Remain to be Miserable
"Stick it out"
"Whether that's sh**ty jobs, shi**y relationships, shi**y living situations..."
"By all means don't just give up on things when you face challenges, but if something feels wrong or is wrecking your peace then take some control and change it if you can!"
– petitezoey
"Easy for you to say," might be an auto-response to these suggestions for many people.
Invitation For Recklesslessness
"Live like everyday was your last"
Yall know what people do when they learn they have a single day left to live?"
– LimeGrass619
A Possible Consequence
"I did that as a teenager and ended up homeless and addicted to heroin. Didn’t pan out for me too well."
"19 years sober though today."
– Open-Section-7263
A Practical Approach
"If I knew with certainty that I had one day left, I'd double-check all my financials, my will, and my insurance policies, make sure my wife had all of my passwords and knew where all the money was, spend the rest of the day with her and the kids, then call the medical examiner and ask to lie down on the gurney so that when I die they won't strain their back moving my remains out of my house."
– Asteriad
Nose Stuck In A Book
"Work while they sleep. Study while they party"
"That's not a recipe for success, that's a recipe for a lot of white hairs, burnout syndrome and a stroke before your 40s..."
– Khomuna
Doesn't Apply To Everyone
"Do what you love and money will follow"
"I love walking my dogs and grilling food for my friends but That sh*t doesn't pay the bills as well as my engineering degree!"
– Elons_android
While people's intentions are good, they're better off keeping their two cents in their own pockets.
Not everyone likes to hear platitudes.
Sometimes, people just want to know they're not alone with their problems over listening to unlikely solutions that are nothing more than superficial pick-me-ups.
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