Tanatophobia or phobia of death

The Tanatophobia It is a form of anxiety characterized by fear of death itself or the process of dying. It is also known as Fobia to death.

In the Greek language, the word "Thanatos"Refers to death and"Phobos"It means fear. Thus, tanatophobia translates as the fear of death.

Having some anxiety for death is a completely normal part of the human condition. However, for some people, thinking about their own death or the process of dying can cause intense anxiety and fear. Thus, if fear is so frequent and intense as to affect daily life, then it is considered a disorder.

A person may feel extreme anxiety and fear when he considers that Death is inevitable. They can also experiment:

• Fear of separation
• Fear of dealing with a loss
• Worry about leaving their loved ones behind

In their most extreme form, these feelings can prevent people from carrying out daily activities or even abandoning their homes. His fears focus on things that could result in death, such as pollution or dangerous objects or objects.

The psychologist Xevi Molas explains everything in this interesting video.

Content

• Types of fears related to tanatophobia
  • Fear of the unknown
  • Fear of loss of control
  • Pain, disease or loss of dignity
  • Concerns about family members
• The fear of death in children
• Other related fears

Types of fears related to tanatophobia

Fear of the unknown

Tanatophobia can also have its roots in the fears of the unknown. It is part of the human condition want to know and understand the world around us. What happens after death, however, cannot be demonstrated unequivocally while we are still alive.

Fear of loss of control

Like knowledge, control is something that humans fight. However, The act of dying is completely out of the control of anyone. Those who fear losing control can try to keep death through rigorous health controls and, sometimes, extremes, and other rituals.

Over time, it is easy to see how people with this type of tanatophobia can be at risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder, hypochondriasis and even delusional thinking.

Pain, disease or loss of dignity

Some people with an apparent fear of death do not really fear death itself. Instead, They fear the circumstances that often surround the act of dying. It is possible that they fear overwhelming pain, a weakening disease or even the loss of associated dignity. This type of tanatophobia can be identified through careful questioning about the specific aspects of fear.

Concerns about family members

Many people suffering from tanatophobia are not so afraid of dying themselves as what would happen to their families after their death.

This seems especially common in new parents, single parents and caregivers. You may worry that your family suffers financially or that nobody is close to take care of them.

The fear of death in children

The fear of a child to death can be devastating for parents, but in reality it can be a healthy part of normal development. Children generally lack defense mechanisms, religious beliefs and understanding of death that help adults cope with the situation. Nor do they completely understand time, which makes it difficult for them to accept that people sometimes go and return.

These factors can bring children to a confusing concept and sometimes scary of what it means to be dead. If fear qualifies as a phobia depends on its severity and the time it has been present.

The phobias are generally not diagnosed in children until they have been present for more than six months.

Other related fears

It is not uncommon for people who suffer from tanatophobia also develop related phobias. The fears of the sepulchral tombstones, funeral houses And other death symbols are common, since they can serve as reminders of the main phobia. The fear of ghosts or other entities is also common, especially those whose tanatophobia is based on religious factors.