Can you really be scared to death?

I hate scary or dangerous situation pranks for that reason... It might seem funny or harmless, but what if something really bad happens, or ends up happening as a result of the prank? I don't like the scare show on sci fi for that reason.. What if they scare the snot out of someone and they keel over? Or take initiative, pick up something, and start pounding on the actor doing the scaring? Or crap, the whole premise.. Someone close enough to you to know your private fears betraying you on public tv for entertainment purposes. Just nasty.

í've thought about that too. wouldn't someone in a constant state of fear such as you describe react differently because the adrenaline is seeping continuously, bit by bit so to speak, rather than rushing in, as it would in a situation where they are faced with immediate danger? wow, that was a long sentence! so, it doesn't kill them outright, but indirectly through body ailments and dysfunctions attributed to stress. Right? I mean, everyone is stressed on some level, but what about the people who are ummmm.... SUPER stressed.... stressed more than the average person? Does their body and thei... [More]

Isn't being scared a super heightened (and shorter) verison of being stressed?

Isn't being scared a super heightened (and shorter) verison of being stressed? i can only speak from my experience, but i've been incredibly stressed at times in my life, without fear being part of it.

Right? I mean, everyone is stressed on some level, but what about the people who are ummmm.... SUPER stressed.... stressed more than the average person? Does their body and their mind learn to adapt? I mean, what about military people, especially the ones on the front lines? Do the military and war even exist? i don't know how those people cope. i can imagine what it might be like but i'm willing to bet i couldn't come close to that sort of extreme stress/fear in my life. perhaps they internalize it? if so, then eventually it's going to manifest in some way - through health, be that mental or ... [More]

i can only speak from my experience, but i've been incredibly stressed at times in my life, without fear being part of it. I can see what you mean BUT wouldn't it only work one way? For example, if you are scared, then you are stressed ... but just because you're stressed doesn't mean you are scared. Am I right?

This reminds me an allegedly true story I heard growing up about a large hole in some rural farm area of Oklahoma and when you stood near this hole you could hear what was described as heavy machine noises. One day curiosity got the best of the locals and they all got together one day and rigged up pulley system over the hole in order to lower one of the men down to see what was making the noises. They proceeded to lower the man down, he had a walkie talkie so he could communicate with everyone on the surface. As they lowered him down he kept in constant contact, everything was going fine then... [More]

This reminds me an allegedly true story I heard growing up about a large hole in some rural farm area of Oklahoma and when you stood near this hole you could hear what was described as heavy machine noises. One day curiosity got the best of the locals and they all got together one day and rigged up pulley system over the hole in order to lower one of the men down to see what was making the noises. They proceeded to lower the man down, he had a walkie talkie so he could communicate with everyone on the surface. As they lowered him down he kept in constant contact, everything was going fine then... [More]

i saw a story one time on a 1000 ways to die, back during the civil war or sometime near. A soilder Ordered to death by firing squad, was about to get shot by his fellow comrades, The captain said fire! The men shot, and he fell to the ground. Upon inspection the man was dead, but none of the bullets had hit him. Autopsy showed he died from fear which Projected his fear into the real sensation of bullets piercing his chest.

I believe that fear can be one of the greatest feelings experienced. That is,if its in the right amounts. In a way,I believe fear is a powerful drug. You use the right amount,you feel great and exhilarated. However,you use too much, your body can fail you. The way fear affects the body is extremely interesting. Say, an american soldier (Stationed in Vietnam) is walking along and the Viet Kong set a booby trap,that blows off his arm. He could be so fearful of death,that he could have a heart attack or a seizure on the spot then and there. Its really quite interesting, That something so natural ... [More]