DEATH ANXIETY

 Acceptance of death is a worth while pursuit.

Thanatophobia is an intense fear of death or the dying process. Another name for this condition is “death anxiety.”

In a cross-sectional nationwide study of middle-aged and older couples in Malaysia, it was found that women (52%) experienced considerably more spousal death dread than males (45%). According to research, mortality fear increases in middle age, diminishes in later adulthood, and then stabilizes as people get older. In a study investigating the connection between religion and fear of dying. When compared to people with illnesses like social anxiety disorder, people with panic disorder typically express significantly higher levels of concern about dying.

Positive associations between PTSD and death fear have been discovered. Patients with PTSD frequently have high levels of concern about their physical safety and their health.

Phobias are frequently brought on by a single incident, a fear of dying may have originated from an early traumatic experience involving nearly passing away or seeing the death of a loved one.

In addition, people with serious illnesses, may be more prone to developing thanatophobia. The worry of not knowing what happens after death may cause severe fears of dying. Some people who have thanatophobia may not actually be afraid of death, but rather the suffering or conditions that could cause it.

More worry may be brought on by severe pain, a protracted sickness, etc.

People like to feel that they have some influence over their lives. When it comes to death, it makes people quite anxious as this is something that cannot be controlled because it is inevitable.

They might be afraid of losing touch with loved ones, of being parted from them, or of how the people in their lives will fare without them. The most common symptoms of death anxiety include avoidance of situations where thinking about death or dying may be necessary as it causes intense anxiety,

feeling sick or getting stomach pains when thinking about death or dying,

general feelings of depression or anxiety, heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats or nausea, avoidance of friends and family for long periods of time, etc.

Thanatophobia can stop people from leaving their homes or completing their regular daily activities, causing a lot of disruption to normal functioning. It is an anxiety disorder that can disrupt every aspect of your life but it is curable as it can be improved by Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Exposure therapy, relaxation techniques, medication and Psychotherapy.

Death anxiety isn't just a fear it becomes your lifestyle.

The Credit for this particular written piece goes to my students, Swastika and Samriddhi.