To be absolutely terrified of getting older

I use to feel like this but I am 29 and have lost far too many loved ones too soon (mum, nana, abuela, abuelo, friends)

Now every year on my birthday I am so honoured to have experienced another year around the sun.

No, it's not normal to be beside yourself with anxiety and worry about it. I do not feel this way.

Normal to not look forward to it of course, but your reaction is extreme. It's something that you can't change. The alternative is being dead!

By the time I was 30, all my grandparents and both my parents had died.

Just enjoy and appreciate everyone you have while they're here. It's sad when GPS and parents die but it's the normal order of life.

You've got another 40-50 years of working fulltime to look forward to. On the positive side, you might have just paid off a mortgage by the time you're eligible to collect any state pension that might exist by then - perfect timing for having to help your kids or grandchildren to pay for somewhere to live.

I think the usual timeframe for starting a real midlife crisis would be somewhere around 2040 for you. Until then, I'd suggest some counselling or therapy for anxiety before you reach the age at which they might consider prescribing HRT (45).

Seriously - you sound like you're stressed and ruminating on things. Are you under a lot of pressure? Constantly tired? Not eating properly? Hormones giving you the PMT fear? It's understandable to have such thoughts when you're run down and still have to function, so never get any proper rest - but you can get help so you can actually enjoy

Live in the moment. You can’t spend your life worrying about things you can’t control, it is overwhelming but we can’t change the inevitably of it all.

there’s a 75 yo woman at my gym. Goes 5 days a week. Fit as a fiddle. Strong, flexible. I aspire to that.

Losing parents was something I always dreaded, but we are capable of much more than we ever believe we are.
Witn age, comes wisdom and coping strategies, basically because we have no choice than to learn how to handle trauma when it happens.
Age is actually something to be grateful of and not fear. So many aren't so lucky x

It's about attitude. Mil is mid 90s we had a great day today shopping for a new landline phone, shoes for me and went to spoons for lunch.

I see people move into small independent living flats...McCarthy and stone places and a lot and up watching daytime tv. It's about having something to do a project and I won't be beaten attitude.

yesterday I was on a garage roof with one of my old customers because it's been leaking, he's 82 last year he broke his hip, he's had a stroke but he's still not going down without a fight.

I'm 55 retired and looking forward to the future...it's going to be fun because I am going to make it fun

This 👆

Getting old is better than the alternative.

I’m 36 and have had this a lot recently. I think in part it’s due to losing a family member, but also I just feel older. I’m trying to not let it overwhelm me but it’s hard.

Age is a privilege denied to many.

I was always very sanguine about aging and death. You know - inevitable, part of life etc.

Then I had a kid which suddenly made my mortality “matter”. And then for some reason when I hit 35 I started to feel really preoccupied by time passing … I think moreso because the last few years have been quite shit- so it feels like time and life passing by- not just passing.

Tbh I just try not to ruminate- and also, life feels quite long when I think I’ve probably got another 30-35 years of work left. I’ve only done 20, and only 15 of those as a full time member of the workforce - and I’m knackered 😅

Also sorry to sound morbid but you could lose your dh or anyone at any age so there is literally no point worrying about things you can't control. I try to enjoy every day and make the most of the little things (as cheesy as that sounds!)

I find as you get older you appreciate living a full life to old age more.

if you find the thoughts are overwhelming you might want to get some help.

I'm 34 and feel the opposite. So many things to look forward to. Have you got kids? That changes your perspective on life in general. I'm so excited to see mine grow.

Getting older, watching your loved ones get older, is daunting, I agree. I'm 51, and life comes at you very, very fast, and often quite hard. However, we're here, and the only way off this ride is death, so I absolutely insist on focusing on all of the wonderful things I have, and enjoying the people I love, while I have them. I refuse to be consumed with worry over the inevitable and the millions of things I can't control. I'll just stumble along and do the best I can to make the most of the time I've got.