However, this overlooks the possibility that there is a commonality among all creatures that drives all others urges.

Science latest

And that is the need to reproduce and ensure the preservation of the species. Self-preservation is a behavior that ensures the survival of an organism. Pain motivates the individual to withdraw from damaging situations, to protect a damaged body part while it heals, and to avoid similar experiences in the future.

Self-preservation may also be interpreted figuratively, in regard to the coping mechanisms one needs to prevent emotional trauma from distorting the mind see: Even the most simple of living organisms for example, the single-celled bacteria are typically under intense selective pressure to evolve a response that would help avoid a damaging environment, if such an environment exists.

Organisms also evolve while adapting - even thriving - in a benign environment for example, a marine sponge modifies its structure in response to current changes, in order to better absorb and process nutrients. Self-preservation is therefore an almost universal hallmark of life. However, when introduced to a novel threat, many species will have a self-preservation response either too specialised, or not specialised enough, to cope with that particular threat.

Psychiatric issues found to be strongly associated are such as depression, anxiety, and lack of concentration. Physical issues that showed the strongest associations were appetite and appearance which did not show the same consistent degree of correlation.

Depression and losing the will to live

The four main predictor variables of the will to live changing over time are anxiety, shortness of breath, depression, and sense of well-being [15] which correlate with the other variable predictors as well. Social variables and quality of life measures are shown to correlate significantly with the will to live such as support and satisfaction with support from family, friends, and health care providers. The will to live has also proven to be highly unstable. Many studies have been conducted on the theory of the will to live.

Navigation menu

Among these studies are subject to the difference in gender and the elderly and also in the terminally ill. This study found that women were able to cope with life-threatening situations, but suggested that the participants could not have been stable and requires future replication.

In this study researchers were able to suggest that patients who had tested as having a low sustained will to live died soonest, as opposed to having a moderate level of the will to live, lived the longest while high will to live could affect individuals in any direction. This study needs future replication that can show the effects of will to live in the terminally ill from different diseases and age categories.

The Holocaust has provided many instances of this phenomenon, and is a good example of this as well. One study showed that women who thought positively were more likely to carry more antibodies against certain strains of the flu, thus having a stronger immune system than those who were told to think negative thoughts. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This article needs attention from an expert in Philosophy. Please add a reason or a talk parameter to this template to explain the issue with the article. WikiProject Philosophy may be able to help recruit an expert.

What is the Will to Live. In Man's search for meaning. The Power of the Will to Live. Retrieved on November 21, , from http: Winlow W, Holden AV.

Register for free to read this article, or log in to your Telegraph account

The neurobiology of pain: Manchester University Press; Sometimes I get a break and the feeling hides. Physical pain triggers me most of all, second I think is lack of sleep. I am often in chronic physical pain endometriosis. I have tried everything I know to try already. Sometimes getting out of bed is a struggle on all levels of my being. Half of me has laid down to die and the other half that is in survival mode has twice the load to carry.

I want to live but it hurts. Nobody asks for that! There is a major difference between plain laziness and a real social phobia or other form of mental illness that prevent you from going out.

What It Feels Like to Lose the Will to Live | The Mighty

Yes, you can choose to be more positive when possible, but I am not always in control. Nobody did this to me, it just is what it is. I do my best to change the things I can change. I make appointments and get myself to them. You are not the one residing in the brain and body of that person. You cannot and will not ever know the core of their being, nor is it your place to decide it is your business.

Hugs or whatever the person is comfortable with is great. Sometimes the answer is nothing.

You’ll need a new login link.

Sometimes just watching a funny video or being there without needing to talk helps. I can say for me personally, feeling out of control is scary, and feeling out of control in front of someone else is terrifying. That can be anything from crying to being overexcited. The last thing I want to do is upset or inconvenience anybody in any way.


  • The Stein & Candle Detective Agency, Vol. 2: Cold Wars (The Stein & Candle Detective Agency #2)!
  • The Will to Live.
  • The Voiceover Bible.
  • The Will to Live?