Thanatophobia: An Extreme Fear of Death
What is thanatophobia?
The word "thanatophobia" is so strong. Many of us probably did not even hear the term. It is a type of phobia in which people are afraid of dying. Since childhood, we have been familiar with the proverb, "Man is mortal." Every human has to live with this harsh truth. However, thanatophobes cannot help but live with a grave fear of death. Extreme fear of death leads to panic attacks, severe anxiety issues, nervousness, hallucinations, and other symptoms. Many people are susceptible to depression due to their intense fear of dying.
Is thanatophobia even real?
As people have not heard of thanatophobia, they tend to doubt its existence. However, from a thanatophobic perspective, the fear of death is catastrophic and can cause physical and mental impairment. According to medical science, around 20% of people fear death. In 2017, Chapman University published a study that found that up to 20.3% of people in the USA experience thanatophobia. Thanatophobia is also prevalent in other countries, but the term is foreign to them. As a thanatophobe, I can affirm unequivocally that thanatophobia is real, and if not taken seriously, there can be catastrophic repercussions.
Is thanatophobia fearful?
Suffering from thanatophobia can be deadly. I am a thanatophobe, and with all my experience, I can say it is fearful and scares you to death. Imagine you know death is inevitable, yet you still fear it and stop doing all your work, sit in a corner, and cry because you feel you will die. This feeling is incomprehensible to the person who has thanatophobia. Fear is something that a thanatophobe cannot describe to someone. How can they tell people that they are afraid of death? A question arises in their minds automatically: "What if they laugh?" "What if I am not taken seriously?" In a nutshell, they suffer from FOMO, or fear of missing out. So, while death may appear natural to the average person, it is menacing to a thanatophobe.
What are the reasons for thanatophobia?
Most phobias result from previous events, such as experiencing panic attacks in response to a specific object, having terrible experiences, and so on. Thanatophobia, guilt, depression, and a host of other negative emotions can all be triggered by a potentially fatal illness. People suffering from severe sickness tend to believe their deaths are near. It is usual for anyone to think so, but this belief gradually takes off, leading people to thanatophobia. If I share my experience, I was suffering from anemia. I had no blood in my body. I used to feel fatigued. My head used to spin, and my body used to shake. The condition was so bad that I used to hallucinate. I immediately needed blood. This disease got on my nerves, and I thought I would die. I have feared death since that day. A person suffering from major depression may also develop thanatophobia. Depressed people have poor mental health, and most are guilty. Guilt is something that destroys people's lives in a second. When a person is responsible for his actions, he gradually becomes depressed, loses contact with friends and family, begins to live alone, suffers from anxiety, and his behavior haunts him all day long. He begins to believe that he will die. He does not want to die by leaving the wrong impression on the earth. However, each person has a different reason for thanatophobia.
What are the symptoms of thanatophobia?
Men have always been independent since they were born. No one wants to be a burden. At the onset of thanatophobia, a person faces an existential conundrum. Thanatophobia is a nihilistic fear. So many thoughts circulate in his mind: always locking himself in a room, cutting off the connection, panic attacks, the inability to breathe, hallucinations, anxiety, nervousness, horror imaginations, and all that. The feeling is suffocating, and people end up crying without any reason. The shocking part is that thanatophobes fear death and think so much about their deaths that they attempt suicide because they feel it is pointless to wait for their deaths. Most of the time, they do not talk much about their feelings because what if their fear is not a concern to others?
Why do most people ignore thanatophobia?
People feel that thanatophobia is uncommon and that the number of people who suffer from it is small. Even so, death is a common occurrence in our lives. As a result, no one takes it seriously. The commoners say that death tends to happen and that nothing in this world can stop it. So, people are not relying on this kind of phobia. Well, most Asian parents do not know if their children are going through depression, let alone thanatophobia. Since death is unavoidable, it is best not to take this fear into account. Nevertheless, our subconscious mind has a horrible fear of death.
What are the ways to get out of thanatophobia?
People with a strong mindset can only survive thanatophobia. However, fighting against all expectations and dealing with a non-recognizable phobia is pathetic and complex. However, anything is possible. This is difficult, but not impossible. An intense craving is necessary. Counseling can help a person get out of the prison of fear. Daily counseling, opening up about their fear, and talking about it makes their burden lighter. Meditation plays a significant role here.
Thanatophobia causes anger. A stress ball can help them reduce their anger. If I talk about myself, I used to have a talk therapy session with my father, and he used to listen to my fears and was always there to comfort me. So, if someone is dealing with thanatophobia, talk to your favorite person and tell him how you feel. If this does not work, refer to a psychologist. This is the 21st century, and there is no shame in seeing a psychologist. Learn how to relax, meditate, and focus on your favorite activities in your free time.
How should we help people who are suffering from thanatophobia?
A little recognition would be the best gift for people dealing with thanatophobia. Sometimes, they do not seek advice but want their voice to be heard. We cannot cure them, but we can lend our ears and try to understand what they are trying to convey. If we take the phobia seriously, we can lend a helping hand and take them out of the darkness. People should try to have a conversation with the person facing thanatophobia. They merely need our affection, care, and attention.
