Have you been experiencing death anxiety? Do you need tips on how to overcome thanathophobia? Good news you are at the right place. Continue reading to find out more.
What Is Thanathophobia?
Thanatophobia is the fear of death. A person with thanatophobia can fear their own death or they might fear the death of someone they love.
Phobias are often triggered by a specific event; thus, a fear of death could have resulted from an early traumatic event related to almost dying or experiencing the death of a loved one.
What Is Phobia?
A phobia is an intense sense of worry or panic about certain activities, objects or situations. A specific phobic disorder, such as thanatophobia, is a type of anxiety disorder.
Here are the five most common fear ;
- Thanatophobia; The fear of death
- Social Phobia: The Fear of Judgment or Rejection.
- Arachnophobia: The Fear of Spiders.
- Acrophobia: The Fear of Heights.
- Agoraphobia: The Fear of Open or Crowded Spaces.
What causes Thanatophobia ?
Thanatophobia has also been characterized as a conscious fear of the unknown, fear for the body after death, a fear of lost time, a fear of suffering, and a fear of loneliness.
The exact cause of thanatophobia is yet to be known, but a variety of factors can increase a person’s risk of developing this disorder. Phobias can develop from personal trauma or near-death experiences or from hearing someone else talk about their traumatic experiences. However, it develop in childhood and teenage years. An anxiety disorder could be a result of stress over a long period of time, traumatic life events, or genetics.
For those with panic disorder, they may frequently fear collapsing, dying, or suffering a medical emergency as a result of a panic attack.
How To Get Rid Of Thanathophobia
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT works by gently altering a person’s behavioral patterns so that they can form new behaviors and ways of thinking.
- Psychotherapy.
- Exposure therapy.
- Medication.
- Relaxation techniques.
- Exercise: Exercise helps in management of anxiety.
Is Thanatophobia Curable ?
The good news is thanatophobia can be treated, such as by engaging in psychotherapy. This requires first identifying the symptoms, then receiving a formal diagnosis. Many, if not most, people are afraid of dying. However, if the fear is so prevalent as to affect your daily life, then you might have a diagnosable phobia.
Is Thanatophobia Life Threatening?
Having a mental health disorder does not mean that the condition will take your life, your worldview, and your self-esteem. Thanatophobia is a serious condition, but by following through with positive coping skills, a person can live a fulfilling life while reducing the disorder.
Conclusion
Death is inevitable but it is at times avoidable. It is advisable to free your mind of thanatophobia. Thanatophobia is real. We have all come to an agreement that we cannot live forever but it is better to enjoy every bit of your life. One of the most important ways of overcoming fear is staying positive and erasing all negativities in your mind.
