I’m looking for a word or expression describing extreme fear of sudden death. This could be caused by a (real or perceived) life-threatening situation, such as acute illness, violent assault or disaster/accident.
Terms to describe the fear of death at some point in the future can be included, where they lead the individual to experience panic states.
The form I’m looking for is something like this:
As the armed robber ran off, Sally’s X began to wane.
The doctors had exhausted all alternatives and could provide nothing
more than painkillers and a priest attempting to soothe the patient’s X using calm words.
asked May 23, 2015 at 9:41
4
This oxford entry defines the following idiom:
in ˌfear of your ˈlife
feeling frightened that you might be killed
You can also say «fear for his life» (Examples)
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Michael Brown’s friend claims Officer Wilson made HIM fear for his life
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Tom Cruise admits he feared for his life when he had to hang off a flying plane
or: «scared for his life» (Examples)
- Ever since the biker gang threatened him, he has been scared for his life.
Ngrams
EDIT: Just saw you edited examples into your question. I suggest:
- As the armed robber ran off, Sally’s mortal fear began to wane.
From TFD:
mortal: 5.) of or like the fear of death; dire: mortal terror.
Mortal fear is a very common expression
answered May 23, 2015 at 9:53
Tushar RajTushar Raj
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1
Shadow even without …of death.
But more precisely, Crisis (MW)
1 : the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or
fever; especially : a sudden turn for the better (as sudden abatement
in severity of symptoms or abrupt drop in temperature)—compare lysis 1
answered May 23, 2015 at 12:38
HughHugh
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Some broader terms are «sudden foreboding» or «panic attack«, but they do not specifically refer to fear of death. A medical term is «thanatophobia» or «death anxiety«, which refers to fear of death or the anxiety stemming from it, but do not have a connotation of suddenness.
So perhaps something like «sudden foreboding of death» or «sudden death anxiety» might work in some cases, though not for your example with «Sally’s X began to wane».
Surprisingly, although not referring to death, «nerves» fits in both your examples:
As the armed robber ran off, Sally’s nerves subsided.
The doctors had exhausted all alternatives and could provide nothing more than painkillers and a priest attempting to sooth the patient’s nerves using calm words.
answered May 23, 2015 at 13:39
user21820user21820
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7
I don’t have a single word but I would suggest
.»As the armed robber ran off, Sally’s overpowering feeling of imminent death began to wane.»
- overpowering (adj) So strong as to be overwhelming TFD
- imminent — (adj) ready to take place; especially : hanging threateningly over one’s head MW
Not idiomatic but expresses what you mean and fits your model sentence.
answered May 23, 2015 at 15:26
CentaurusCentaurus
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#1
We call fear of heights «acrophobia», fear of flying «aerophobia», fear of confined spaces «claustrophobia» etc.
Similarly, is there any such word for the fear of death?
Some people have deathphobia(?). They don’t want to die. They always want to live and enjoy this worldly life. When they see people dying of accidents, diseases and other causes, they become fearful.
(self-made)
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#2
Thanatophobia, although I rarely see it.
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#3
There are lists of large numbers of phobia words, but most of them are nonsense, never used in real life. We only use a small number of them, like claustrophobia and acrophobia. Words for common fears like death, snakes, and thunder can be found in the lists, but no-one ever really uses them.
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#4
Yes, there is a technical word for an irrational fear of dying (very easy to find with a simple Internet search) – thanatophobia. But I don’t suppose anybody beyond a few psychologists even knows that word, and Cambridge doesn’t even seem to have it in its dictionary.
There’s also necrophobia, which is a fear (and/or morbid fascination?) with pretty much everything to do with death.
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#5
… pretty much everything to do with death.
What things are you referring to here? Cause of death, death angel, funeral, life after death, hell, heaven etc.? Is that what you mean?
No one at WordReference suffers from logophobia.
I know it’s fear of words. But what are you trying to say here?
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#6
[…]
I know it’s fear of words. But what are you trying to say here?
Nothing important, just a small joke.
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#7
What things are you referring to here? Cause of death, death angel, funeral, life after death, hell, heaven etc.? Is that what you mean?
Look it up:
Necrophobia — Wikipedia
Thanatophobia is an unusual or abnormal fear of personally dying and/or being dead that impacts the otherwise «normal» or healthy functioning of the person possessing this fear that might appear disproportionate to an outsider relative to the actual risk or threat the individual faces.
While most people generally experience some level of discomfort or anxiety when confronted with the reality of human mortality in a dying/death situation such as in a hospital, home, or hospice during the dying process, or during a funeral, memorial, or interment service after a loved one dies, this uneasiness does not generally constitute thanatophobia (although this term is sometimes misapplied in these instances).
Genuine thanatophobia must:
- Focus inwardly on you losing your life and doesn’t involve worrying about the death of someone else. Contemplating or fearing an illness or accident taking the life of someone you love or care about such as your child, spouse/partner, a parent or friend, for instance, does not constitute thanatophobia.
- Impact your otherwise normal existence. Feeling uncomfortable and tongue-tied during a funeral or burial service because you’re uncertain of the best thing to say to the bereaved is quite common, for example. On the other hand, refusing to leave your home or apartment to buy groceries or get your mail because you’re afraid something might kill you could indicate a psychological condition that needs evaluation by a mental health professional.
Is Fearing Dying and/or Death Normal?
Regularly washing your hands to inhibit the spread of germs, or brushing your teeth regularly to prevent cavities and gum disease, are normal, healthy responses to genuine concerns.
Harboring some fear of dying/death is generally beneficial because it can motivate you to improve your health through regular exercise, following a balanced diet, and overcoming an addiction.
Moreover, a healthy concern about losing your life can also influence you to thoroughly consider the risks involved before undertaking a new physical activity or placing yourself in a potentially harmful or dangerous situation. But again, these sort of responses to a normal fear of dying/death do not generally rise to the level of thanatophobia.
Causes
As noted above, fearing the loss of your life is both natural and generally beneficial but typically doesn’t rise to the level of thanatophobia unless your fear also affects your otherwise normal lifestyle and/or your response might appear disproportionate to an outsider relative to the actual risk or threat you face.
Any fear concerning an object or situation can potentially rise to the level of a phobia. Many people dislike finding a spider in their home, for example, but unless your fear of these creatures induces you to actually leave your home after discovering one crawling on a wall or forces you to avoid forests, parks, or other areas that harbor spiders at all costs, etc., then your fear of spiders generally doesn’t constitute arachnophobia.
While the causes of any phobia are complex, thanatophobia (and our fear of death in general) can arise from any/all of the following concerns people usually feel about their personal mortality, to name but a few:
- Fearing a sudden or prolonged death.
- Fearing a painful or gruesome death.
- Fearing the unknown or «What lies beyond?»
- Fearing for the well being of loved ones/survivors in the future.
- Fears rooted in past painful or negative life experiences.
The specific causes of thanatophobia within any single individual is often complex. If you suspect you suffer from this particular phobia, then you should seek care from a qualified mental health professional.
Necrophobia vs. Thanatophobia
Necrophobia is different from thanatophobia. While both terms are often confused or misapplied to refer to the same fear, necrophobia refers to an intense, often irrational, fear people exhibit when confronted with dead «things» such as the remains of a deceased human being or animal, or an object we typically associate with death, such as a casket, coffin, cemetery, funeral home, tombstone, etc.
Word Origin
Our modern English word thanatophobia derives from two Greek words:
- «Thanatos» meant «death» in ancient Greece and originated from a much older Proto-Indo-European term meaning «to disappear or die.»
- «Phobia» derives from the Greek term «phobos,» which meant «fear, panic fear, terror, outward show of fear; object of fear or terror.» This word also derives from a word in the older Proto-Indo-European language for «to run.»
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Online Etymology Dictionary. «Thanato».
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Online Etymology Dictionary. «Phobia».
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By Chris Raymond
Chris Raymond is an expert on funerals, grief, and end-of-life issues, as well as the former editor of the world’s most widely read magazine for funeral directors.
Thanks for your feedback!
Thanatophobia, the medical term for the fear of death, may not be a word that everyone is familiar with, but it’s something that many people can understand. Feeling anxiety over dying is about as natural a part of the human experience as any other concern over our own wellbeing. Death anxiety is the fear that underlies our most basic survival instincts, the part of our unconscious that prioritizes self-preservation above anything else.
Of course, as with most phobias, our fear of death can exist anywhere on the spectrum ranging from mild and manageable fear to extreme, even debilitating fear. Thanatophobia is the term used to describe the kind of consistent fear of death that can make it difficult to function in day-to-day life. The American Psychological Association defines it as a “persistent and irrational fear of death or dying,” which can be focused either on our own death or on our friends and loved ones. In either case, the key difference between a regular, healthy fear of death and serious thanatophobia is that the latter poses a distinct, negative impact on your mental well-being and quality of life. Are thanatophobia and taphophobia the same? These two terms have different meanings. Thanatophobia is the fear of death while taphophobia is the fear of being buried alive.
Fear Of Death Shouldn’t Be Impacting Your Enjoyment Of Life
The idea of death can be scary for most people, and this is natural. However, when the prospect of death starts to feel completely overbearing, here are some tips and strategies for dealing with those feelings.
Understanding Your Fear
In its most severe forms, thanatophobia can be responsible for panic attacks, insomnia, or feeling generally agitated or uncomfortable. Death anxiety often appears in conjunction with other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Often, an excessive fear of death is an unconscious reaction to an underlying condition. Research has shown that patients experiencing one of the conditions mentioned above are much more prone to report death anxiety. This means, in order to cope with our fear, it’s important for us to first try and understand where it’s coming from.
Analyzing our fear is usually not a pleasant experience. More often we’d prefer to look away from the things that frighten us. And while distraction does have its benefits, it doesn’t do much to address the root causes of our phobias. In the case of thanatophobia, this means looking at what experiences or beliefs might be responsible for our fear. These causes can range widely from person to person.
For example, in some people their fear stems from a childhood memory, like a near-death experience or losing a loved one. In others, their religious or philosophical outlooks may be what make death feel like such a terrifying prospect.
There are several ways to begin exploring the root of your anxiety. If you feel like trying to go it alone, journaling can be an effective strategy. Writing about your experiences, memories, and emotions surrounding death can help give you some insight, and even relief. Focus on simply describing those thoughts, rather than dwelling on them. At the very least this can help you approach thanatophobia from a place of self-reflection, rather than irrational worry.
But if you feel like your fear of death is something that you can’t face alone, then it may be wise to look for a therapist to help you address your anxiety.
Reframing Death
Most therapy for thanatophobia is going to take a CBT-based approach. CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, and is an approach to psychological treatment that focuses on fixing faulty or unhelpful thought patterns. In case of thanatophobia, this treatment would take aim at reframing the anxiety that death is something imminent, inherently bad, or a worthwhile cause for constant concern. One of the benefits of going to therapy is that you can get professional guidance and an objective viewpoint to help you reorient your thoughts about death.
However, if you aren’t yet in treatment for your anxiety, or aren’t sure if you’re ready to make that commitment yet, there are still CBT exercises you can practice without the assistance of a therapist.
For example, people experiencing thanatophobia may find themselves in thought patterns that make it harder for them to enjoy their lives. Thoughts like:
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“If I am focused on death, then I can control it.”
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“It’s important for me to be worried about death. I never know when it’s going to happen, so I must always be on the lookout.”
Now, those might not be your literal thoughts, but they’re common messages underlying anxious thinking, and it’s easy to see how someone experiencing those thoughts could begin to spiral deeper into anxiety and maybe even panic. The point of CBT is to recognize when those thought patterns are arising and to consciously try to reorient them, rather than just ignore them. CBT isn’t about avoidance or trying to lie to yourself, but trying to make your thoughts work for you, rather than against you. Some alternatives might look like:
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“Death is a fact of life, and I can’t control that. However, I can control the way I live and use the time that’s been given to me.”
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“Death is not a good reason to spend my days worrying. Instead, I can use those days for more worthwhile things and make the most of living.”
Death is a tricky subject because, unlike some other phobias like a fear of heights,fear of flying, or fear of the sea (thalassophobia) it’s ultimately unavoidable. Through accepting that, while also acknowledging that it’s not useful or healthy to fixate on things that you can’t control, you can begin to practice self-correcting those negative thoughts when they arise. Lastly, it’s important to acknowledge that CBT practices can take time to get used to, but that they’re proven to be effective in treating phobias and have helped countless patients.
Building A Tolerance To Death Anxiety
Next to CBT, exposure therapy is another commonly successful treatment for phobias. Exposure therapy helps the patient, to put it bluntly, “face their fears.” The point is to engage with the phobia in a safe enough environment that you can build a tolerance for your fear, in this case death. Some possible routes to take for thanatophobia would be to visit a cemetery or a hospital, to talk to someone who’s recently lost someone close to them, or to simply spend time engaging calmly with your phobia through meditation or journaling.
If you’re open to trying exposure therapy, you may consider taking the time to talk to a therapist for advice on how to best proceed.
Fear Of Death Shouldn’t Be Impacting Your Enjoyment Of Life
Relaxation Techniques
In situations in which the fear begins to feel overwhelming, it can be crucial to have some calming techniques in your toolbox. Sometimes even a simple breathing exercise can help you center yourself. Knowing how to calm yourself down is especially important if you find yourself struggling to operate when you feel stuck in a bad headspace or if you feel a panic attack coming on. Here are some simple relaxation strategies:
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Focus on your breathing: Breath in for four seconds, hold it for four seconds, breath out slowly for four seconds, hold with empty lungs for four seconds, then repeat the cycle between five and ten times.
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Focus on relaxing your muscles: Not just one or two muscles, all of them. Start from your head and work down. Focus on completely relaxing your face muscles, neck, shoulders, chest, core, arms, hands, etc. all the way to the tips of your toes.
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Focus on calming imagery: Try to find an image in your mind’s eye that you find relaxing. Something in nature is usually helpful, like a tree gently blowing in a breeze, or a placid lakefront. Focus on that image, and when you find your mind wandering to another topic, try to calmly bring yourself back to your calming scene.
Having techniques like these in your back pocket can be crucial to getting through a time when your phobia feels like too much to handle.
Can Therapy Help With Thanatophobia?
As we mentioned early, an extreme fear of death rarely crops up on its own. Most often, there are underlying factors which then manifest themselves on the surface as a severe fear of death. Therapy can be a very helpful tool in not just helping you cope with your phobias, but also to treat the kinds of thinking that lie beneath them. Talk therapy and CBT-based treatments like the one mentioned above can both be very helpful for people struggling with problems like thanatophobia and can even be undergone online. Online therapy helps make those treatments reachable and affordable, giving anyone easy reach to the help they deserve.
Online therapy can be an effective way to receive CBT, and research has demonstrated that CBT is just as effective when delivered online as through in-person platforms. Those studies have shown online CBT interventions to be a useful tool in addressing anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that often underlie thanatophobia. If you’re having a hard time coping with thanatophobia, or any similar phobias, it’s worth looking into therapy—either online or in-person.
Takeaway
Takeaway
It’s natural to fear death, and in many ways that fear can be healthy. But if our death anxiety is getting in the way of living a happy, fulfilling life, it becomes vital to address the problem rather than ignore it. Often, there are ways to reframe our thinking about death to create a positive mindset, or at least one that doesn’t impact our ability to function. Finding ways shift towards a “death positive” outlook can be challenging but there are plenty of strategies that can help you begin that journey. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one way that’s proven effective, and can be practiced online or in person, and in some cases even on your own.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do you know if you have this?
People who experience thanatophobia have an excessive (and abnormal) fear of death and dying. It’s normal to have some anxiety or concerns about the subject of death. However, if worrying about death or dying is consuming your life — this may be a sign of thanatophobia. Speak with a licensed therapist for an assessment and treatment options.
How can I stop my fear of «the end»?
The first step to ridding yourself of thanatophobia is to be honest with yourself about what you’re feeling. If you find that fear of dying is taking over your life, the best thing that you can do is to seek counseling from a licensed professional. A licensed therapist can help you to identify where your fear began and develop strategies for overcoming your fears through psychotherapy.
Is fear or phobia of dying common?
Many people fear the unknown — especially death. When this fear becomes all-consuming, death anxiety or thanatophobia can develop into more problematic concerns. Counseling can help people with an abnormally high fear of death to learn coping skills and a healthy attitude about death and dying.
What is fear of death called?
Fear of death is called thanatophobia. Thanatophobia can be defined as an abnormal and excessive fear or preoccupation with death and dying.
Is fear of passing away common?
Thanatophobia is more common in younger people than in the elderly who have developed a different perspective on death and dying. While having some concerns of fears about death and dying is natural, an excessive preoccupation with the subject can be a sign of a larger issue.
What can trigger anxiety?
Most people fear death every once in a while, but some people, especially those with a generalized anxiety disorder, have some form of death anxiety. Some factors can lead to making your death anxiety worse, such as:
- Events in the news that remind you of death. A good example is the COVID-19 pandemic. You may fear to die of that. News of other deaths in the world can happen as well.
- Certain fears being triggered can also trigger your fear of dying. If you fear flying, your fear can heighten.
- Dying relatives may trigger your death anxiety. You may start to question your own mortality and wonder when your time is next.
- Getting older can trigger your fear of death. Once you enter middle-age or reach another milestone in your life, you may start to question how long you have.
- Certain beliefs may give you more death anxiety. If you’re religious, you may wonder if you’ll be rewarded or punished after your death. On the other hand, If you don’t hold religious beliefs, you may believe that when you’re dead, you’re dead and this idea is one that is hard to fathom.
Why am I so scared of dying?
People can fear death to varying degrees, but there are some common themes that people have regarding it.
Typically, people who are afraid of dying are also afraid of uncertainty and a loss of control. Some people struggle with the idea of not existing whereas others are unsure if there is an afterlife and divine judgment. People also worry about how it will happen — will there be pain and suffering or will it be peaceful?
Additionally, people can have a fear of dying because they have a persistent worry about how their loved ones will cope with their death.
Is it normal to think about dying?
Everyone has thought about death, but some people will think about it more than others. However, there are healthy ways to do it, and there are unhealthy ones.
People who think about death and value their lives might become more careful with their actions and be concerned about the safety of others too. Additionally, without thinking about dying, it’s impossible to find acceptance.
However, if people develop irrational fears regarding death, and develop anxiety disorders like thanatophobia, their thoughts dictate their lives. If people are too afraid and obsess over death, they miss out on living.
Can mindfulness help with worry about death?
Incorporating mindfulness of your life can help you in many different ways. It focuses on being in the present. Keeping your mind grounded in the moment can stop you from worrying about death or dying, or anything else in the future. Thoughts about the fear of dying are accepted and you learn how to dispose of them.
Mindfulness also incorporates many relaxation techniques such as meditation, which can help you calm down as well.
What is worry about losing a loved one called?
While it’s not it’s own phobia in itself, having the fear of your loved ones death can be considered part of necrophobia, rather than thanatophobia because it concerns other people.
In general, though, necrophobia most often refers to the fear of things that are already dead, like corpses and animal carcasses, as well as objects or places that concern death, such as coffins, caskets, funeral homes, and cemeteries.
On the other hand, thanatophobia describes the fear of dying in an existential sense, such as being unable to process and accept that they will cease to exist, and it mainly involves the individual alone.
How can I keep my mental health up when I have a dying family?
A loved one who is going through the dying process can have a strain on your mental health. For one, you may start to fear death yourself watching them die. You may especially fear the dying process if their death is slow and agonizing. During this time, it’s important to keep your mental health up in addition to helping them. Here are some ways you can do so.
- There is no shame in taking a break from being a caretaker. Have other friends and family take care of them when you need a mental health break.
- Keep your health up. Make sure you exercise, eat right, get plenty of sleep, and get assistance when you need it.
- Speaking to a mental health professional is nothing to be ashamed of. Do not feel like it’s selfish to talk to someone about how you’re feeling. This is a time where you may experience generalized anxiety disorder, the fear of death, and other problems with your mental health. Not only that, but a therapist can also help your friends and family during the grieving process. A therapist has a strong personal space policy, so feel free to speak to them about any thoughts you have about death. You will be glad you did.
What Are Other Fears Linked To this?
The fear of dying is closely linked to most fears. Here are some fears that you could argue stem from the fear of dying.
- This is, as you probably know, the fear of spiders. Some people may fear spiders because of how they look and because they don’t like crawly creatures. However, some people may fear spiders because they think they’ll be bitten by a poisonous spider that can cause death or dying.
- Acrophobia, or the fear of heights. This one is fairly obvious.
- Claustrophobia, or the fear of close spaces. This one can remind you of the dying process, specifically when you’re in the coffin. You may also worry about getting stuck in a tight space and not being able to get out.
- Somniphobia, or the fear of falling asleep. You may worry about not waking up once you fall asleep. In many cases, this fear is a tough cycle. You may find it hard to fall asleep because of the fear of sleeping, and thus your mental state deteriorates.
- Gerascophobia, or the fear of aging. This one is obvious as well. You may fear being closer to the dying process and death itself.
Is It Curable?
Even if you’ve been struggling for long periods of time, anyone can overcome thanatophobia, and like treating other anxiety disorders and phobia, it requires you to change your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, which can be done by working with a therapist who is experienced with treating people with cognitive-behavioral therapy.
In addition to professional help and therapy, people can also come to terms with dying and learn how to accept it in their own way. Some people find solace through religion and spirituality; others might consider reading philosophy.
By changing how you feel and behave towards your thoughts about death, it can have less of an impact on your life, and you can begin to have a more fulfilling one instead.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Scared
Death is a certain aspect of life that can’t be avoided. While we can try to take control of certain aspects of our lives, death is ultimately something that is outside of your control, and that in most cases, we don’t know when, where, or how it will happen.
These thoughts can be uncomfortable to have, but by understanding that it’s inevitable and it will happen to every single person that you know at some point too, you’ll realize that you’re not alone and hopefully, find reassurance that way.
Conclusion
If your fear of dying has been keeping you from living life the way you want to, help is available, and you can overcome it. By connecting to licensed and professional counselors and therapists at BetterHelp, you can find acceptance and experience greater understanding of death and start living a healthier and more productive life without being limited by a fear of death instead.
Therapy Is Personal
Therapy is a personal experience; not everyone will go into it seeking the same things. But, keeping these nine things in mind can ensure that you will get the most out of online therapy, regardless of your specific goals.
If you’re still wondering if therapy is right for you, and how much therapy costs, please contact us at contact@betterhelp.com. BetterHelp specializes in online therapy to help address all types of mental health concerns. If you’re interested in individual therapy, please reach out to contact@betterhelp.com. For more information about BetterHelp as a company, please find us on
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Agoraphobia: An Overview
The Greek word ‘Thanatos’ refers to the personification of death according to the Greek mythology. The word phobia is Greek means fear. Thanatophobia or fear of death is an unreasonable fear that people develop within themselves and when the fear increases then people stop leaving their homes in fear of dying.
Death is inevitable that cannot be avoided and we all are afraid to die and we all get scared if we witness or encounter any deadly incident. Even though we all fear death, we usually do not allow that fear to affect our daily lives. But some people become so afraid of death that they cannot think anything other that it. They apply all measures to protect themselves and enter into a psychological disorder and then depression. This state where you are always afraid of dying is known as thanatophobia or fear of death. Thanatophobia or fear or death is not the same as necrophobia which is to be afraid of dead objects.
Thanatophobia or Fear of Death in Children
Children are not well accustomed to the various religious beliefs or defence mechanisms. They also cannot follow the time concept and that people who are leaving will also come back. This might lead to fear within them that they relate to death. Not always can this be considered as phobia. If the fear continues for at least 6 months then it is considered as thanatophobia or fear of death in children and it should be treated accordingly.
Causes of Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
There are no exact causes of thanatophobia or fear of death like all other kinds of phobia. The thanatophobia or fear of death may grow within you due to witnessing death of a close one or due to religious beliefs or even being under the phobia of other things. A few of the probable causes of developing thanatophobia or fear of death are:
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Thanatophobia or Fear of Death Can be Caused by Religion
Certain religious beliefs can create the fear within the patient. He or she might think that the way to salvation is very hard and any single mistake might condemn him or her. These people develop the fear of afterlife and thus become affected by thanatophobia or fear of death. To treat these kinds of patients it would be easier if the counsellor or the psychiatrist belongs to the same faith then the doctor can bring down the fear in the patient. Even religious leaders can offer to help as long as the clinical treatment goes on in the correct way.
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Thanatophobia or Fear of Death Caused by the Fear of the Unknown
Thanatophobia or fear of death can also take control of the person who is afraid of the unknown. We all are aware of the things around us but the unknown parts of the world or the unknown part after life can create the fear in someone. Philosophical and religious beliefs may make you afraid of the unknown afterlife and the place you shall be sent to after death. To treat this cause, groups should be formed of similar individuals and then question the beliefs to get rid of the fear.
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Fear of Losing Control Can Cause Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
Like knowledge has control over life and things, death is another impact on life which cannot be controlled by people. Thus people who are suffering from thanatophobia or fear of death may think that they would lose control as they die and thus they avoid death by going for rigorous check-ups and also gain an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). People even start thinking delusional at this stage. Such stage of thanatophobia or fear of death require psychiatrist to make them believe that death is inevitable and not in their wilful control.
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Fear of Factors Commonly Associated With Death Can Cause Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
All people are afraid of dying but certain people are afraid of the common facts might cause death. These kinds of people are scared of any kind of situation like a long illness, terrible pain of losing dignity. People with thanatophobia or fear of death also develop other phobias like nosophobia and somatoform disorders. Such people should be asked to question their reasons of fear so that they gain the clarity and lose the fear.
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Fear Attributed to Concern About Relatives
If someone witnesses a death of a close one then the person may become susceptible to thanatophobia or fear of death. Worries about families or difficult situation may also make people thanatophobic thinking that their family would become helpless if he or she passes away.
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A Traumatic Experience Can Cause Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
Any traumatic experience can lead to thanatophobia or fear of death in a person. If a person undergoes a violent activity or a near death situation then the fear gets triggered in the person. Occurrences like grave illnesses, abuses and shocks makes a thanatophobic at times.
Undergoing certain extremely near death or traumatic situation could trigger the fear or death in you and turn you thanatophobic. Being a witness to a similar incident could also be a reason for being thanatophobic.
Signs and Symptoms of Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
The signs and symptoms of thanatophobia or fear of death are like any other kind of phobia. The usual symptoms are:
- The irritating fear of death with is irrelevant but people cannot control and think of dying.
- Fear of afterlife and fear of the unknown which can be connected to events of burial and cremation.
- Fearing that one might die when falling sick or being sick for a long time. The sickness can look like a threat to life even when it is not a deadly disease.
- Stressful situations might lead to the thought of death and this is a symptom of thanatophobia or fear of death.
- Children often get clingy towards elderly people.
- People choose to remain at home to be safe. They start avoiding all kinds of human contact or contact with the outside world.
- Getting delusional and not being able to separate the unreal from the real.
- Physical symptoms of thanatophobia or fear of death are panic attacks, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath.
If the person is is suffering from thanatophobia or fear of death, the common thing you will notice in him or her is that he or she shuts himself or herself from the world. If the person carries on this avoiding behaviour for more than 6 months, the person should be taken to the doctors for help.
Risk Factors for Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
The factors which are mentioned below can increase the risk of thanatophobia or fear of death in the patient and cause harmful effects; the facts are:
- The age of a person is a risk factor for thanatophobia or fear of death. All kinds of phobias start arising within you from the age of 13 but thanatophobia or fear of death can build within you from the age of 10.
- You can adopt thanatophobia or fear of death if any of your family members has it. Also the faith or philosophy you adopt from your family amy lead to the fear of death.
- Your temperament is a risk factor for thanatophobia or fear of death. Your nature may develop the phobia in you like if you think more negative things than the normal people.
- A traumatic event in your life is a factor of risk for thanatophobia or fear of death. Being a witness to a shocking incident or undergoing a huge shock may develop the fear in you.
Complications in Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
The thanatophobia or fear of death may seem stupid to common people but the patient maybe undergoing severe complications and facing problems like:
- Social isolation. The person becomes socially isolated. He or she loses contacts with all his or her known people. Then the patient chooses to shut himself or herself from the outside world as he or she enters into a delusional state.
- Clinical depression is a complication in thanatophobia or fear of death. Anxiety disorders and clinical depression may occur to you as you develop the fear within yourself.
- Substance abuse can be a complication. The thanatophobia or fear of death creates a stress in you that can lead to substance abuse.
- The fear might instigate you to attempt a suicide to get rid of the psychological pain that you are undergoing.
Tests to Diagnose Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
Many disorders like depression, ADHD and bipolar disorders are connected to the thanatophobia or fear of death. Also illnesses like migraines, strokes, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease are related to thanatophobia or fear of death. The thanatophobia or fear of death hence needs to be diagnosed correctly. The diagnosis works best when the phobia is realised by the patient himself or herself. After noticing certain changes in his or her routine if the patient chooses to consult a doctor then the treatment gets easier.
Thanatophobia or fear of death can then be identified by the professionals. Once the doctor rules out the physical symptoms, you shall get referred to a proper mental health professional. All the possible factors shall then be checked and the patient has to answer several questions to figure out the phobia and confirm it. Then the immediate and the best treatment shall be suggested. If the patient realises that he or she is afraid to leave home or is becoming socially isolated fearing to harm himself or herself, then that the indication when he or she must choose to visit a doctor.
Treatment for Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
Various kinds of psychotherapies can be adopted by the mental health practitioners to treat the patient with thanatophobia or fear of death. Some of them are:
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Treating Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
One of the most effective therapies is the CBT or Cognitive Behavioural therapy. In this therapy for thanatophobia or fear of death the doctor tries to identify the reason of the fear which is causing the distress in the patient. Several ways are then suggested and made to practise so that the patient can calm down. The basic idea is to replace the fearful image in the mind with a soothing imagery.
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Relaxation Techniques for Treating Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
Various relaxation techniques like meditation, breathing exercises, muscles release exercises for thanatophobia or fear of death are suggested by the doctor to treat the panic attacks whenever the fear gets triggered in you. Showing a picture related to death and then another picture of calmness can also help you to calm your nerves.
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Another Way to Treat Thanatophobia or Fear of Death is by Religious Counselling
Religious counselling can be helpful if the person who is a sufferer of thanatophobia or fear of death and has developed the fear due to his or her religious beliefs. The phobia can be controlled by the person once he or she learns that the philosophies he or she followed are baseless. Religious knowledge helps calming down the person when supervised by a medical practitioner.
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Medications for Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
Several anti-anxiety pills are suggested by the doctors to calm down your nerves to prevent a panic attack in thanatophobia or fear of death.
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Support Groups for Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
A support group can be highly helpful in treating thanatophobia or fear of death. As the person shall meet more people who have the similar fear he or she will learn to relax. Listening to their stories and experience might bring down the fear in the person.
Prevention of Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
The thanatophobia or fear of death might lead to serious consequences if not treated on time. As soon as you notice certain disorders in yourself or in some one who is close to you, consult a doctor immediately to prevent the phonia from getting worse. The near ones should be alert about the patient and be by his/her side which shall help the patient recover soon.
Prognosis/Outlook for Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
Thanatophobic patients usually recover from their fear and thus the reports are mostly positive. If diagnosed timely and treated correctly, one shall get the ability to overcome the thanatophobia or fear of death.
Coping with Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
Coping with thanatophobia or fear of death is not very easy as sometimes you might have to give up your faith and beliefs. Being in a therapy can help you gain clarity. Going with the flow and taking exposure therapies can also help you to get better.
The habit of questioning old philosophical beliefs might help you cope with thanatophobia or fear of death and gain a clear vision and lose the thanatophobia or fear of death. Interacting with people can also be helpful. Meeting people who are facing the same difficulties and discussing the problems can also help you reach to a solution.
One has to accept the fact that death cannot be avoided. Facing situations daily can help one to overcome the fear. One should learn to question beliefs before applying them to his or her daily life.
Recovery Period/Healing Time for Thanatophobia or Fear of Death
The doctors can help you learn if thanatophobia or fear of death can manifest in you again after you are treated for it. The clinical treatment that you are undergoing will also tell the recovery period/healing time that you shall need to get fine. Also the stage that you are in may decide the time of the therapies which can extend from months to years.
Also Read:
- What is Amaxophobia: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Complications, Risk Factors, Prevention
Powerful words to keep at hand “now and in the hour of our death”
Death. The darkening days of winter bring to mind the end of life, even as we prepare to celebrate the Birth of the One who brings an end to death.
Even for Catholics, death can be a fearful thing, because we are human. We know about loss and grief, we understand pain and suffering. Our society does not support the contemplation of our own death – whether as a future abstraction or, depending on the state of our age and health, a more-or-less imminent prospect. Yet we also recognize that we live in a world where, as Jesus reminds us in the Advent Gospels, our own ending will most likely come as a thief in the night.
It’s a blessing, then, that the Church’s treasury of prayer offers us words of comfort and preparation for those times when we run up against the fearfulness of death. Here are five such prayers, and a few additional suggestions from familiar prayer and Scripture.
1. Turn to St. Joseph
Tradition tells us that Joseph died peacefully in the arms of his beloved wife and foster son. Who better to turn to for intercession that we might make so blessed (which means “happy”) an end?
Prayer to St. Joseph for a Happy Death(traditional)
O Blessed Joseph, you gave your last breath in the loving embrace of Jesus and Mary. When the seal of death shall close my life, come with Jesus and Mary to aid me. Obtain for me this solace for that hour – to die with their holy arms around me. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I commend my soul, living and dying, into your sacred arms. Amen.
2. Ask for grace to overcome the enemy
The fear of death is one of the Devil’s greatest deceptions. Praying for the grace to resist the enemy’s lies throughout our lives can strengthen us for the final battle.
Prayer to Christ for Grace(from iBreviary)
O Lord Jesus,
pour into me the spirit of your love,
that in the hour of my death
I may be worthy to vanquish the enemy
and receive the heavenly crown. Amen.
3. Place yourself within Christ himself
If we die with Christ (as we have in Baptism), we are assured that we will rise with him. When the fear of death haunts us, this beautiful litany reminds us of our refuge.
Anima Christi(traditional)
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Your wounds, hide me.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
From the wicked enemy, defend me.
At the hour of my death call me, and bid me to come to Your side,
that with Your Angels and Your Saints, I may praise You for all eternity, Amen.
4. Make friends with Sister Death
St. Francis of Assisi closes his beautiful praise of God’s creation with a prayer addressed through Sister Death. When we meet her and recognize her as our sister, we can prepare ourselves to be ready when she welcomes us home.
From Canticle of the Creatures (St. Francis of Assisi)
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death,
From whose embrace no mortal can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing your will!
The second death can do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks.
And serve him with great humility.
5. Rest in the surety that “all shall be well”
The medieval English anchoress known as Julian of Norwich came through the gates of death – experienced as a dreadful illness and depression – with a vision of the true reality of God’s everlasting love. Repeating this prayer based on her writings can be a means of comfort in any fear or anxiety.
Prayer for Comfort (based on the writings of St Julian of Norwich)
God, you are my help and comfort; you shelter and surround me in love so tender that I may know your presence with me, now and always. Amen.
Other suggestions:
Beyond the 5 prayers mentioned above, be sure to take advantage of traditional prayers like the Hail Mary (“pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death”) and the Prayer to the Guardian Angel. As a repeated invocation, use Jesus’ own words on the brink of death: “Into Your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit,” from Psalm 31 – a good resolution for every day. You may also find comfort in three favorite psalms: Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd”), Psalm 46 (“God is our refuge and strength”), and Psalm 91 (“You who live in the shelter of the Most High”). Reading the psalms aloud often brings new levels of meaning home.