insideKENT Magazine Issue 62 - May 2017 | Page 129

THANATOPHOBIA
Fear of death
The talk, thought, or even suggestion
of what may happen after death can
trigger panic attacks in a sufferer of
thanatophobia, which is loosely
defined as: ‘a feeling of dread,
apprehension or anxiety when one
thinks of the process of dying, or
ceasing to be’. Physical symptoms may
include dizziness, dry mouth, sweating,
palpitations, stomach pain and a
numbness, or tingling sensation;
mental symptoms include repetition
of gory thoughts and an inability to
distinguish between reality and
unreality; and emotional symptoms
can trigger a desire to flee and escape,
as well as persistent, overwhelming
worry.
If the fear of death is affecting
someone’s life to the point where they
can’t go to work, or leave the house at
all, then the only solution is to see a
doctor, who can then rule out any
possible physical conditions and
suggest an appropriate mental health
professional. Anti-anxiety medicine
can help too, as can hypnotherapy,
CBT, and group therapy with others.
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