Fear of Aging

Misfit · 01-03-2004, 03:38 PM

Is anyone else literally scared of aging? I know it's ridiculous and vain, but I'm terrified of it! Getting old is one of my biggest fears...I don't know why. It could be because everyone in my family is close to 50+. There's no real youngun's here. My cousins who are younger than me live in Wales, Italy, New Zeland, anywhere but here. I've pretty much always been surrounded by elderly people and have watched them get all crippled and helpless so I guess I'm just scared of getting like that too. At the same time I'm also afraid of losing my looks. Not that I have any but I just don't want to age in apperance. I'd be more than happy to look like a 20 year old for the rest of my life.

Can anyone else relate to these feelings or do I just need help?

*damnhooligan* · 01-03-2004, 04:30 PM

You've got what they call good ol' gerontophobia, the fear of old people or growing old. It's a rather natural fear, I'd think. Growing older often means losing mobility, independence and various things/people we hold dear. Few people like to face up to their own mortality.

Me, I'm scared of fish/whales/sharks/dolphins. Really.

*Anarky* · 01-03-2004, 05:05 PM

I am not afraid of getting old, it's just that i don't feel like getting old right now. I think it can be pretty neat to be old. when i see my grandfather, walking around with J.J. (the dog) and enjoying what he does, then i think it can't be that bad.

But: I am afraid of heat(more than 100°C). not fire, just heat. I don't know why but you should see me taking a pizza out of the oven

may i ask why you're afraid of fish and stuff, hooligan?

Misfit · 01-03-2004, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Me, I'm scared of fish/whales/sharks/dolphins. Really.

Sharkes I can TOTALLY understand - they creep me out. Jaws gave me nightmares for weeks. *shudders*

I adore Dolphin's and Whales though. Such beautiful creatures.

*damnhooligan* · 01-03-2004, 05:39 PM

I'm not sure why I'm so creeped out by them. Even guppies give me the jibblies. I blame it on childhood nightmares, Sea World, the Gordon's Fisherman fishstick guy, the Gulf of Mexico and that my brother once fell onto a manatee while fishing in Florida when he was 7. Actually, the latter was kind of funny.

Some fears make sense, others don't. *shrugs*

Misfit · 01-03-2004, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Some fears make sense, others don't. *shrugs*

Yep. I've seen people on TV or have known of people who are afraid of things like kittens, tin foil, cotton balls, balloons, flowers, leaves...the list goes on.

**Karpo_007** · 01-03-2004, 05:55 PM

Actually, I think I have a fear of old age. After 50 or so you will only get weaker and sicker... I hope I never have to experience that, even if it means dying young.

**Kali** · 01-03-2004, 06:26 PM

Like was said, it's a fairly natural and understandable fear, growing old. I don't really think I'm afraid of getting old, but it's not like I like the idea. It would be fantastic if I could stay like this (well, okay, maybe not exactly like this) forever. But no dice, so I'm gonna make the most with what I got.

As for other phobias, I have none. At least, none that I've discovered. Of course, I'm cautious of things like going too fast in a car, standing too close to edges/cliffs, dangerous animals, etc., but that's survival instincts talking.

Nosferatu · 01-03-2004, 06:28 PM

I don't have a fear of aging, so I can't relate to that.

My fears are water, bridges, strange dogs, and the strangest...reflective surfaces. A dark window or mirror is what I mean by "reflective surfaces". I don't know why I'm afraid of it. I just always have been. I guess it's because I'm afraid I might see something I don't want to. Admitting I have a fear of of mirrors can bring on some pretty stupid jokes.

*Stone Ill* · 01-03-2004, 06:56 PM

I only have one fear.. and that is death and beyond.

Oh well..

*Kid Icarus* · 01-03-2004, 09:06 PM

I have a fear of loosing my memory. Injury, death, getting old, getting diseased, crippled, whatever...... i can deal with that.... but not being albe to remember anything at all would really bother me i'd think.

raphael90 · 01-03-2004, 10:04 PM

Sometimes I stop and think "Ya know time is gonna pass you by and before you know it you'll be forty or fifty" Not something that scares me really, but maybe lightly disturbs me or dampens my mood sometimes.
It gets me thinking that I should try to live my life to the fullest and stop being so lazy and ritualistic. Hopefully I will have a full, happy life for the most part, but you never know what life can throw you...

*Stone Ill* · 01-03-2004, 10:07 PM

Well, throughout the entire Winter Break, up until today, I've been going to be at 4-6 in the morning and waking up at 3 in the afternoon. The days went by so quickly.. but today I woke up at 10 in the morning and so far the day seems so long.

*Mars-Chan* · 01-03-2004, 10:19 PM

I can't say that I fear growing old...

...BUT, I do have one phobia and here it is:
Ophidiphobia

*shudders at the animal that she is scared of*

**ThirdMarioBro** · 01-03-2004, 10:31 PM

I had a dream a long time ago. I dreamed that in the future, the aging problem was solved. When people reached a certian age, they were given an option. Grow older and older until they look like the people in that Sonic Heroes commercial, or they could have an android body built for them, based off of pictures of them when they were young. Then the person's brain would be digitized and downloaded to the android, and they would live for another 1000+ years. I never quite knew what to make of that dream. A person would loose a lot of the things that make them human, yet they wouldn't die. It makes you wonder what some people would choose if that ever happened. Maybe this whole dream came from that AI movie. Man, that scared the hell out of me. Guess it was the fact that humans had such little respect for artifical life. I never approved of that. Oh well, now I'm getting off topic.

Misfit · 01-04-2004, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Ophidiphobia

That's fear of snakes right? Or am I'm way off?

Nosferatu · 01-04-2004, 06:17 AM

I'm pretty sure it is since Mars said:

"mmm-hmmm...

I remember you mentioning him putting tarantulas and whatnot in people's pockets....well...as long as he doesn't get near me with ANY kind of snake, I'm fine.

"

...in the "Criss Angel" thread.

Michaelangelo|DAH · 01-04-2004, 07:14 AM

Hell yeah i'm scared of aging. But not because of my looks or anything. When I get like 30-40 or something like that, I'm scared If I will still like TMNT then, cause I use All my money on TMNT.

I'm a bit scared of HIGH heights, but it's no biggy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwgtrunks

but not being albe to remember anything at all would really bother me i'd think.

Why would it bother you??? cause then you wouldn't be able to remember anything which bothers you

*That Matt Guy* · 01-04-2004, 08:09 AM

I have a fear of being crushed to death.

**ThirdMarioBro** · 01-04-2004, 10:33 AM

by what?

01-03-2004, 03:38 PM	#1
Misfit Stone Warrior Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK Posts: 508	Fear of Aging Is anyone else literally scared of aging? I know it's ridiculous and vain, but I'm terrified of it! Getting old is one of my biggest fears...I don't know why. It could be because everyone in my family is close to 50+. There's no real youngun's here. My cousins who are younger than me live in Wales, Italy, New Zeland, anywhere but here. I've pretty much always been surrounded by elderly people and have watched them get all crippled and helpless so I guess I'm just scared of getting like that too. At the same time I'm also afraid of losing my looks. Not that I have any but I just don't want to age in apperance. I'd be more than happy to look like a 20 year old for the rest of my life. Can anyone else relate to these feelings or do I just need help? __________________ My LiveJournal My Fanfiction "I'm the pretty one!" - Mikey in "Meet Casey Jones".

01-03-2004, 04:30 PM	#2
damnhooligan Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Dorksville, USA Posts: 1,745	You've got what they call good ol' gerontophobia, the fear of old people or growing old. It's a rather natural fear, I'd think. Growing older often means losing mobility, independence and various things/people we hold dear. Few people like to face up to their own mortality. Me, I'm scared of fish/whales/sharks/dolphins. Really. __________________

01-03-2004, 05:05 PM	#3
Anarky Outlaw Hero Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tannhauser Gate Posts: 4,867	I am not afraid of getting old, it's just that i don't feel like getting old right now. I think it can be pretty neat to be old. when i see my grandfather, walking around with J.J. (the dog) and enjoying what he does, then i think it can't be that bad. But: I am afraid of heat(more than 100°C). not fire, just heat. I don't know why but you should see me taking a pizza out of the oven may i ask why you're afraid of fish and stuff, hooligan? __________________ Because it's... I dunno... brutal.

01-03-2004, 05:39 PM	#5
damnhooligan Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Dorksville, USA Posts: 1,745	I'm not sure why I'm so creeped out by them. Even guppies give me the jibblies. I blame it on childhood nightmares, Sea World, the Gordon's Fisherman fishstick guy, the Gulf of Mexico and that my brother once fell onto a manatee while fishing in Florida when he was 7. Actually, the latter was kind of funny. Some fears make sense, others don't. shrugs __________________

01-03-2004, 10:04 PM	#12
raphael90 Stone Warrior Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: ...down in the sewer listening to Skinny Puppy... Posts: 618	getting old Sometimes I stop and think "Ya know time is gonna pass you by and before you know it you'll be forty or fifty" Not something that scares me really, but maybe lightly disturbs me or dampens my mood sometimes. It gets me thinking that I should try to live my life to the fullest and stop being so lazy and ritualistic. Hopefully I will have a full, happy life for the most part, but you never know what life can throw you... __________________ "Babies? These things haven't even been BORN yet!" -Raphael

01-03-2004, 05:55 PM	#7
Karpo_007 Inactive Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 8,798	Actually, I think I have a fear of old age. After 50 or so you will only get weaker and sicker... I hope I never have to experience that, even if it means dying young.

01-03-2004, 06:26 PM	#8
Kali Inactive Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California! Posts: 11,101	Like was said, it's a fairly natural and understandable fear, growing old. I don't really think I'm afraid of getting old, but it's not like I like the idea. It would be fantastic if I could stay like this (well, okay, maybe not exactly like this) forever. But no dice, so I'm gonna make the most with what I got. As for other phobias, I have none. At least, none that I've discovered. Of course, I'm cautious of things like going too fast in a car, standing too close to edges/cliffs, dangerous animals, etc., but that's survival instincts talking.

01-03-2004, 06:28 PM	#9
Nosferatu Hench Mutant Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 283	I don't have a fear of aging, so I can't relate to that. My fears are water, bridges, strange dogs, and the strangest...reflective surfaces. A dark window or mirror is what I mean by "reflective surfaces". I don't know why I'm afraid of it. I just always have been. I guess it's because I'm afraid I might see something I don't want to. Admitting I have a fear of of mirrors can bring on some pretty stupid jokes.

01-03-2004, 06:56 PM	#10
Stone Ill Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Burlington, Ontario Posts: 2,397	I only have one fear.. and that is death and beyond. Oh well..

01-03-2004, 09:06 PM	#11
Kid Icarus Foot Elite Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Angel Land Posts: 4,150	I have a fear of loosing my memory. Injury, death, getting old, getting diseased, crippled, whatever...... i can deal with that.... but not being albe to remember anything at all would really bother me i'd think.

01-03-2004, 10:07 PM	#13
Stone Ill Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Burlington, Ontario Posts: 2,397	Well, throughout the entire Winter Break, up until today, I've been going to be at 4-6 in the morning and waking up at 3 in the afternoon. The days went by so quickly.. but today I woke up at 10 in the morning and so far the day seems so long.

01-03-2004, 10:19 PM	#14
Mars-Chan I'LL BE THE HERO!!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Practicing Alchemy in Risembool Posts: 6,297	I can't say that I fear growing old... ...BUT, I do have one phobia and here it is: Ophidiphobia shudders at the animal that she is scared of __________________ clings to award THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! cries in joy RED DAAAAAAAAAAAAWWN!!!! PROUD Member of the Risembool Rangers! (icon made by bakergirl69 on glitter-graphics)

01-03-2004, 10:31 PM	#15
ThirdMarioBro Tea Time! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,905	I had a dream a long time ago. I dreamed that in the future, the aging problem was solved. When people reached a certian age, they were given an option. Grow older and older until they look like the people in that Sonic Heroes commercial, or they could have an android body built for them, based off of pictures of them when they were young. Then the person's brain would be digitized and downloaded to the android, and they would live for another 1000+ years. I never quite knew what to make of that dream. A person would loose a lot of the things that make them human, yet they wouldn't die. It makes you wonder what some people would choose if that ever happened. Maybe this whole dream came from that AI movie. Man, that scared the hell out of me. Guess it was the fact that humans had such little respect for artifical life. I never approved of that. Oh well, now I'm getting off topic. __________________

01-04-2004, 06:17 AM	#17
Nosferatu Hench Mutant Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 283	I'm pretty sure it is since Mars said: "mmm-hmmm... I remember you mentioning him putting tarantulas and whatnot in people's pockets....well...as long as he doesn't get near me with ANY kind of snake, I'm fine. " ...in the "Criss Angel" thread.

01-04-2004, 08:09 AM	#19
That Matt Guy Honey Bunches Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 5,840	I have a fear of being crushed to death.

01-04-2004, 10:33 AM	#20
ThirdMarioBro Tea Time! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,905	by what? __________________