Would you rather die from illness or in your sleep?

Philippines
March 9, 2009 2:08am CST
I used to think that if I can make a choice, I'd like to die in my sleep or some other quick death rather than die of a lingering illness. A friend of mine said that she'd rather die of cancer because if she knows that she is dying it gives her a chance to put her affairs in order and perhaps her loved ones will find it easier to accept the separation. How about you, have you ever given this some thought? I know that we can't choose the manner of our death but if we can, what manner of death will you choose?
20 people like this
54 responses
@elghrasya (501)
• Philippines
9 Mar 09
This past few days I am very depressed and I felt the toughness of life. I really wanted to die and I ask god to take me with him. Take my life while I am sleeping so that I will not feel any pain. I don't like to die with any sickness or illness because I don't want my family to suffer financially. Life is so hard.
3 people like this
• India
9 Mar 09
Dieing due to ilness is very painfull and it gives a lot of pain to the family members so if god grant me choice of dying i will like to die in sleep because it doesnot pain me neither my family members
3 people like this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
10 Mar 09
I have had illness and lived but I would like to go like my dad, he just passed in the middle of the night.
2 people like this
@srganesh (6340)
• India
9 Mar 09
I prefer to die in sleep not knowing a little bit of pain.I don't like to invite illness that would push be forcibly to bed and let me start counting my days.That is hell to be like that.Cheers!
3 people like this
@ank_47 (1959)
• India
10 Mar 09
i would prefer to die in sleep only without any illness. i don;t want to face any illness, and like to die in sleep only without any pain. if i am in bed ,people around me ,should look after me ,that i don;t like. i don;t like to trouble others,so i prefer to die in sleep only without illness and without knowing me.
• India
9 Mar 09
I prefer to die in sleep because we can die without pain.But if we fall ill then we have to strrugle a lot.
3 people like this
@maean_19 (4655)
• Philippines
9 Mar 09
I would always wish to die peacefully in my sleep. I don't want to die in illness because I don't want to feel pain as well as seeing my family or loved ones hurting and burdensome. I don't want them being bothered with what may cure me or to lengthen my life because surely they wish to extend my heartbeat. However, if I had the chance to talk to God and grant me a request of how I will die, I will ask Him to take me when all my business on earth is finished. That everything are in their proper way without my loved ones worrying about things that I will leave to them.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
9 Mar 09
Thanks maean_19. I believe that God, in His infinite wisdom. knows exactly the number of our days and He calls us home when He sees that our "business on earth is finished." And although we may not always like the manner or time when He calls us home, His ways are perfect.
@silverglint (2000)
• Philippines
10 Mar 09
Your friend has a good point, though having cancer would mean having to bear the pain of the illness. I guess its the price she is willing to pay so that she will be able to spend her remaining days with her loved one. I would initially choose to die in my sleep, no pain, just peaceful rest. But then, I would rather if that happens after I have put my affairs in order and I have already said everything I needed to say to my loved one, like a premonition. If not, then maybe I would consider suffering illness...
@idowrite72 (2213)
• United States
23 May 09
I helped my sisters take care of another sister who took 3 years to die of cancer, and I can honestly say that I would much rather die peacefully in my sleep. I wouldn't care if my affairs were in order, or not, since I would trust my family to take care of things for me and I would not like them to see me suffer through a long illness, nor would I like to. I guess because I have gone through some times of being sick, I would rather just go than have the medical bills and the suffering and the strain on family and other loved ones. Maybe that's bit selfish, in a way, but I think it's easier on everyone concerned.
• Philippines
22 Jul 09
For you to think of the "strain on family and loved ones" that your illness will cause is not at all selfish.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
10 Mar 09
i think that is a ridiculous statement for your friend to make. if that's the only way she thinks she can get her things in oprder she better think again. i had rather die in my sleep if i had my rathers. i'm sure not going to wish for something as awful as cancer. she must have never been around anydody with cancer or she wouldn't have said that. it's a horrible disease.
1 person likes this
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
12 Mar 09
I would of course choose to go peacefully in my sleep. However, there is something to be said about knowing ahead of time that your time is limited. That would give your family and friends time to come to grips with it and give you time to take care of matters. At the same time though, I would hate the thought of having to deal with an illness. Ugh! I guess there really is no perfect way to go. The Lord will take you when it is your time, no matter what you prefer.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
16 Mar 09
You right, bmorehouse1. Only the Lord knows how many years we have in our lifetime and He knows them even before any of them came to be. He alone knows how and when we will die. So I guess, it is always best to live each day as if it were the last day of our lives and live each day without regrets. Thank you for your response. God bless you.
1 person likes this
@candymarie (1368)
• Canada
11 Mar 09
I WANT to say die in my sleep, but then that may start a fear of going to sleep....hrm.
• Philippines
12 Mar 09
Yeah you may be right about that. The prospect of dying while sleeping might cause some people to fear going to sleep. I never thought of that till now. Thanks candymarie.
• United States
9 Mar 09
I think I would prefer to die in my sleep. I know it would be nice to say goodbye and get affairs in order, but I think it would be better to die without pain or suffering. Maybe I could live my life letting everyone know how much I care about them, so if I do die in my sleep they will already know and not feel ok, even if it happens. I think it would also be good to die in my sleep because the memory that would be left with everyone would be me as I have always have been and not as someone frail and sick.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Mar 09
I meant they will feel ok. not, not feel ok .
@pratik87 (1927)
• India
9 Mar 09
we ll thats a tough choice to make certainly..but i would like to die in my sleep....if we know we are dying not everyone can handle that truth...i do not know how i will react to such a situation so i would rather die in my sleep
2 people like this
• United States
12 Apr 09
I prefer to die by my own hand at home alone. I would get all my affairs in order before and I would say my good byes , I rather do it quickly than have a prolong illness. In fact, if a doctor told me today I had cancer, I would go home get my affairs in order and kill myself than go through that type of illness.
1 person likes this
@alindahaw (1219)
• Philippines
10 Mar 09
I would like to die in my sleep please. LOL I think that it would be kinder that way. I mean, if I go that way, my family will not need to spend a lot of money on hopitalization and medicine whereas if I get ill, they will probably spend a lot of time, money and effort trying to keep me alive. The whole thing can be rather stressful for all of us.
1 person likes this
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
11 Mar 09
well, i guess i'd love to die in my sleep of ripe old age. it'll be the most ideal way to die for me. however, if i have to die young, i'd want to know that i am dying. same reason as your friend, i want to put my affairs in order. also, i want to know so that i can do the things i've always wanted to do but kept for 'tomorrow'. however, cancer might not be my favourite as it is a really painful way to die. maybe something less painful but predictable.
@modstar (9605)
• Philippines
10 Mar 09
I would rather die in my sleep than illness. Dying of illness has a lot of disadvantages: it would be costly, difficult for me physically, difficult emotionally for me and my family. Dying in my sleep is the most peaceful way to die. Problem is, it would come as a shock for my family knowing that i won't be waking up. Dying of illness would be too stressful and depressing. I wouldn't want my family witness me dying.
1 person likes this
• South Africa
14 Mar 09
I'd like to slip into an amazing dream and drift away slowly in my sleep, hopefully with my loved ones close to me.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
10 Mar 09
Rather die in sleep, on condition that I am over 100 years old, preferably closer to 200 years old before I depart from the world. Dying in sleep is a much cheaper and painless way. I hate to see people suffer, especially those suffering from cancer for years, spending a lot of money on medication and surgical procedures, and still hanging on, never get well, never die, suffering from phyical pain and the family suffering from emotional pain. Money just flow like water out of the pocket.
1 person likes this