How I Overcame Death Anxiety and Found Peace
- Shannon Jackson
- Jun 11, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 27
Death anxiety is a common fear—especially if you struggle with anxiety in general. At its core, anxiety thrives on control, and death is the ultimate unknown. So it's no wonder that this fear can feel overwhelming.
As someone who’s dealt with death anxiety since childhood, I want to share what helped me heal—because you can create peace in your life, even while navigating these fears.
My Story With Death Anxiety
I grew up in a strict Pentecostal religion, where there was a heavy focus on heaven, hell, and being “good enough” for God. These teachings surrounded every part of my life—church, family gatherings, and everyday conversations. As a child, this led me to deeply fear death, hell, and even going to sleep at night. I constantly worried about myself and my loved ones dying, and I felt incredibly alone in those fears.
But death anxiety doesn’t only stem from religion. You might be experiencing it after a personal loss, illness, trauma, or simply as part of your relationship with anxiety. Whatever the cause, I want to offer you this truth—one that set me free: Death is inevitable, but fearing it doesn’t have to be. When we stop fighting this fact and start embracing the uncertainty of life, fear loosens its grip. It’s not easy, but it is possible.
Let me walk you through the steps that helped me heal.
1. Healing My Religious Trauma
My childhood experience with religion left me living in fear—worried about hell, dying, and whether I was “worthy.” As I got older, I began questioning those beliefs and created a healthier relationship with spirituality. Realizing that I could choose what I believed was incredibly freeing, and a huge part of my healing.
2. Talking About Death (Yes, Really)
I know it sounds counterintuitive, but avoiding the topic of death only makes it scarier. You don’t have to talk about it all the time, but allowing it to exist as part of your life can ease anxiety over time. When we stop pretending death won’t happen, it loses the power it holds over us.
3. Embracing Uncertainty
At one point, I hated the word “uncertainty.” I wanted answers and control. But over time, I’ve learned to let uncertainty exist. Now, when I feel that familiar discomfort, I pause and remind myself: “I don’t have to solve this.” You don’t need to have it all figured out to feel peace.
4. Letting Go of Unhelpful Behaviors
When I stopped fueling my death anxiety, things finally shifted. I slowly let go of behaviors that kept my fears alive:
No more Googling symptoms
No more checking my pulse
No more obsessing over control or needing to know everything
When I released these habits and focused on taking healthy action, my fear started to fade. The biggest gift? I became more present in my life—for myself and the people I love.
You’re not broken, and you’re not alone. Healing takes time, but every small step forward matters. You can absolutely overcome death anxiety, just like I did.
✨ Be sure to tune into this week’s podcast episode for even more support and practical tips.
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