Thanatophobia, aka death anxiety, is an anxiety disorder that involves intense feelings of dread about dying.
Here’s how to overcome it.
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But for others, the thought ofdeathwhether its a loved one dying or themselvessparks intense fear and panic.
But sometimes thatfear of dyingcan be taken to extremes.
When it becomes inhibitory to living life, it becomes a phobia, says Dr. Schare.
licensed clinical psychologist and phobia specialist, Thriving Center of Psychology
Specifically, that phobia is known as thanatophobia, or the intense fear of death and dying.
When it becomes inhibitory to living life, it becomes a phobia.
Theres so much to unpack when it comes to thanatophobia.
Is thanatophobia a mental illness?
Like other specific phobias, thanatophobia is considereda bang out of anxiety disorder1.
(More on that in a bit!)
How common is thanatophobia?
Interestingly, research suggests that the prevalence of death anxiety changes with age in unexpected ways.
It also found that in women (but not men), death anxiety surges again in their 50s.
licensed clinical psychologist and phobia specialist, Thriving Center of Psychology
What are the symptoms of thanatophobia?
But the tipping point into death anxiety can be how the anxiety manifests.
What causes thanatophobia?
As with any throw in of anxiety disorder, thanatophobia doesnt always have a clear-cut cause.
But experts believe there are some risk factors or potential triggers worth knowing.
The trauma history could be related to significant life changes, such as a personal illness or near-death experience.
Its also more likely to be prevalent in people who have a history of anxiety disorders.
Those beliefs might moderate the fear in some respects, he adds.
How is thanatophobia diagnosed?
How is thanatophobia treated?
As with other specific phobias, thanatophobia is often treated with CBT.
Thisresearch-backed practicewill help patients challenge and change their negative thought patterns around death, says Dr. Alvarado.
No, this doesnt involve seeing a dead body in therapy or something.
ERP has varying intensities and styles, says Dr. Schare.
It can be very literal, done in real-world environments.
But the bottom line is that phobias and anxiety disorders can be cured, he says.
Avoiding death and anything to do with it is not the most helpful way to cope with thanatophobia.
Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun.
Table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Specific Phobia Comparison.
Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519704/table/ch3.t11/
Russac, R J et al.
Death anxiety across the adult years: an examination of age and gender effects.Death studiesvol.
31,6 (2007): 549-61. doi:10.1080/07481180701356936
Sinoff, Gary.
27 Feb. 2017, doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00011
Khajoei, Rahimeh et al.
48,5 (2022): 559-570. doi:10.1016/j.jen.2022.02.004
Jong, Jonathan et.
The religious correlates of death anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Religion, Brain & Behavior8:1, 4-20.
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