What if you learned you had only 6 months to live?

[gustavofring]

Seems like you've really identified the stuff that was keeping you in a bad state, and chose to actively change these things and truly commit yourself to it.

I think positive change is a lot about creating momentum.

 

[kilojoule]

Truth is if you never change anything, nothing will ever change

So I thought; Ill change everything and everything will change, and it did.

 

[xDreamseller]

That's some pretty awesome progress Jewel! Well done.

I know some "magic pill" wouldn't fix everything, but I think that knowing you were going to die soon, you just wouldn't care about any of the stupid little things that annoy us all so much currently. Plus, who cares what people think if you're going to be gone in a few days? Screw social norms and just do whatever the hell you want to

I wish I could be my own motivational coach. It works for about 6 hours then I'm back in a rut. ;(

 

[gustavofring]

Motivation can be a bit of a b^tch. You psych yourself out too much, are on a high and then crash. And give in to the same self-destructive self sabotaging behavior as before. I have read and listened to a lot of self help/motivational stuff, so I know all about this. It can be a faux way of giving hope to yourself.

I think part of keeping on going, is accepting that life is gonna be tough and you're gonna have to take some blows. But keep enduring is the key.

 

[JuiceB]

I was actually afraid to answer the question at first because I didn't know what I'd do, but now I know. If I only had 6 months left to live I'd worry myself to death trying to figure out just what to do with my remaining time.

 

[Hellhound]

I would commit suicide to avoid dealing with 6 months of nothing but panic.

 

[MikeyC]

Going great actually

biggest changes of all, I started college which has been the singularly most terrifying experience for me but I absolutely love it and I'm getting on great with my classmates. Love it! And they have no idea at all that I have issues or that I have health stuff, I am one of them. It's crazy

And I picked up and moved my whole life away everyone from everyone and everything I know. I now live on the other side of the tracks. It is to my old neighbourhood as shelbyville is to springfield. People just don't cross over. Pretty drastic but I became aware that a lot of my friendships were actually quite toxic and I decided it would be in my best interest to get away and become my own person without poisonous influences. I don't really have anything to do with any of them anymore including family for the most part (with exception of sister) and I'm a lot better off.

Since I decided to change

-lost 40+ lbs (dont actually know what I weighed at peak...hid from scales)
-exercise
-eat healthily
-stopped smoking
-stopped drinking
-no caffeine
-started college
-moved away
-Been attending therapist
-Did a group therapy course
-Sleep regularly

I am a completely different person, I still struggle here and there but its nothing like the infinite hell I was stuck in...I can't even describe how awful...I'm sure people can relate. I was so desperate for change, now I'm quite content I feel secure and I even have been able to switch off the light at night time lol (that's a big deal)

You should really be out publishing a book on your life. So awesome.

 

[GarbageOfTruth]

I doubt it would change my fear regarding normal social situations, but I'd probably become a lot more impulsive. For example, I'd probably feel better about approaching strangers, attempting to seduce people, take risks, but when it came to parties, dinners, or other interactions with my regular friends, the anxiety would probably be the same.

 

[recluse]

This is a very good hypothetical question. I really don't know if i would suddenly snap out of my loner/recluse/hermit life style knowing that imminent death would be so near. You hear about people who are terminally ill making a bucket list, and i really do not know what i would list as things i would want to do. When you think about it our lives are so short anyway, and who knows what is around the corner...We could be in a car crash minutes, days, weeks or months from now or some other accident, and we would be dead without having lived a fullfilling life due to this disorder. Theis thought scares the crap out of me yet i still am not living life to the full.

It's interesting that people who are going to commit suicide are actually cheerfull often after being depressed for a long period. It's actually a sign that a depressed person is planning suicide when they suddenly become at peace. I've actually experienced this feeling when i thought about ending it kind of a warm feeling .

 

[Gray Lantern]

I think I would start living.

 

[gustavofring]

This is a very good hypothetical question. I really don't know if i would suddenly snap out of my loner/recluse/hermit life style knowing that imminent death would be so near. You hear about people who are terminally ill making a bucket list, and i really do not know what i would list as things i would want to do. When you think about it our lives are so short anyway, and who knows what is around the corner...We could be in a car crash minutes, days, weeks or months from now or some other accident, and we would be dead without having lived a fullfilling life due to this disorder. Theis thought scares the crap out of me yet i still am not living life to the full.

It's interesting that people who are going to commit suicide are actually cheerfull often after being depressed for a long period. It's actually a sign that a depressed person is planning suicide when they suddenly become at peace. I've actually experienced this feeling when i thought about ending it kind of a warm feeling .

Fear of death is supposedly the most powerful input of the spirit. I've never done it, but maybe this is why people do stuff like mountainclimbing and parachute-jumping. It probably gives us a feeling of being intensely alive, because we know that we shouldn't mess up or it could end up badly.

However in daily life, death isn't around the corner. Instead it's often slow, boring, and full of stuff we don't want to do and fear. Whenever I had to make positive changes in my life it was because stuff had gotten completely out of hand.

Now my life is very out of hand, and I have to do some stuff to make my life better. Important phone calls to graduate. Job searching. Contacting relatives I'm estranged with. It's just so incredibly much fear I have and I so easily succumb to NOT doing it. It's like I'm waiting again for that final drop that makes the bucket overflow. It's self-sabotaging. But I'll drag myself to do it, because I don't want to wait for that and go through shame and humiliation again.

Fear is a good indicator. The thing you have the most resistance to, is often the thing that you MOST need to do to get ahead in life.

 

[Section_31]

hummm.....

im so overwhelmed thinking about the possibilities i dont even know where to begin....

Ive been told that knowing your close to the end is more like a luxury, not a curse, a kind of freedom and good time to take inventory of your life. I cant post alot of what id do because honestly many wouldnt agree, and thats fine, id be doing it for ME not for anyone else hehe.

run up the visa cards? it aint gonna matter?

 

[kilojoule]

I think part of keeping on going, is accepting that life is gonna be tough and you're gonna have to take some blows. But keep enduring is the key.

Yes. This. Its all about endurance because recovery is balls. Endurance really draws out one's inner masochistic tendancies. If it isnt a bitch, youre not doing it right. You just have to keep pushing yourself, moving your limits further and try remember nothing is ever (ever )as difficult as it is the first time and after that gradually it just gets easier.And it really really does.

 

[Lonelyguy1058]

I would be over joyed at the possibility of not having to feel like a waste of space anymore.

 

[Agent_Violet]

I'd sell everything I own,buy an RV and live on the road following all my favorite bands

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

This has happened before and didn't really change anything... I don't think it would change anything now, either.
Doubt I'd magically stop being terrified of people.
I might actually push myself to finish a book or album, though.

 

[razzle dazzle rose]

This is something I actually think about often. I will die. Still, I haven't changed a thing. I do try to enjoy what I can. It is the little things like they say.