6 MOST EASIEST WAYS TO OVERCOMING YOUR FEAR OF DEATH. NECROPHOBIA OR THANATOPHOBIA

Fear of death comes in many forms. Some individuals area unit petrified of everything related to death: bodies, graves, ceremony parlors. Others aren't scared of skeletons or the dying but fear their mortality instead.

Necrophobia and simple phobia area unit 2 separate death-related problems that plague the living. Though they differ in the way that they affect the person suffering, these extreme fears can interfere with daily life. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome a fear of death. Step number one is to gain a deeper understanding of why we fear death in the first place.

NECROPHOBIA

The term 'necrophobia' originates from the Greek words for death (necro) and concern (phobia). A person with Necrophobia is petrified of dead things (human or animal corpses) or things related to dead things (coffins, graveyards.)

In a sense, necrophobia encompasses two separate fears. Although concern of those things is common and somewhat traditional, someone with necrophobia become fixated on death. They often go to extremes to avoid it. Even the thought of being near something dead can send a Necrophobic's anxiety through the roof. It can also cause extreme disgust.

SYMPTOMS OF NECROPHOBIA

Specific symptoms of necrophobia include:

• An overwhelming fear of dead things

• Obsession with death/dead things

• Nausea, vomiting, or dry mouth

• Hyperventilation and fainting

• Extreme sweating or trembling

• Headaches/migraines

• Difficulty thinking or speaking

• Dread when leaving the house

• Constantly seeking medical reassurance

Because of the high level of fear that results from necrophobia, other issues can develop as a result, such as agoraphobia (fear of certain places) and insomnia (trouble falling/staying asleep.)

CAUSES OF NECROPHOBIA

Although necrophobia can develop in adults, it often starts in childhood. In rare circumstances, an underlying cause cannot be found, but usually, this fear of death phobia will be traced back to a particularly traumatic event. This could be something as simple as attending a funeral or something troubling like witnessing an animal being killed. It's not always possible, but pinpointing the underlying cause of necrophobia can help with resolving issues later during treatment.

THANATOPHOBIA

Thanatophobia could be a disorder characterised by associate degree extreme concern of dying. Because Necrophobia and simple phobia area unit similar phobias, many people get the two confused.

Although they do have a lot of similarities, the two disorders have a significant difference. People struggling with thanatophobia may not be afraid of dead bodies, coffins, and can even attend funerals. Their fear isn't centered around the death of others but the possibility of dying themselves. There might also be an underlying fear of being buried or cremated after death. In a medical status, thanatophobia is said as "death anxiety."

SYMPTOMS OF THANATOPHOBIA

The symptoms of the two forms of death phobia overlap in some ways. Thanatophobia can also cause frequent panic attacks, dizziness, sweating, and nausea. It can also bring about some unique physical, mental, and emotional challenges like:

• Hot and cold temperature sensitivity

• Feeling as if one is choking

• Seeking out ways to stay young/immortal

• Inability to distinguish reality from fantasy

• Obsessively imagining ways that you might die

• Severe emotional symptoms

The last symptom can be especially challenging since extreme anxiety can cause some people to feel agitated or angry, sad or even ashamed. Intense fear of death can also cause sufferers to avoid family and friends as well as places where they fear they might die. Some may have trouble leaving the house at all.

CAUSES OF THANATOPHOBIA

While the origins of necrophobia area unit somewhat cut and dry, that's not the case with fear of death that is categorized at thanatophobia. There are several different theories on what causes one to reach an extreme level of fear when thinking of their mortality, most dealing with psychological concepts like self and ego.

Not everyone will develop death anxiety, but there are specific risk factors that make it more likely. A great deal of scientific research has been done on this topic, and through these studies, a set of risk factors have emerged. These risk factors include:

AGE: Surprisingly, young people have more issues with death anxiety than the elderly. Studies show that people under the age of 20 are most at risk as a fear of dying and the anxiety surrounding death usually fades as we age. The only exception to this is with some women. Studies show that some girls can have spikes of simple phobia that seem or represent once fifty.

TRAUMATIC EVENT : Those who have experienced death-related, traumatic even are more likely to develop death anxiety. For example, a person who witnessed a stranger die in a car wreck might begin to worry about dying themselves.

PARENTS NEAR DEATH: Having a parent that is dying increases the chance of a person developing their fear of dying. As they contibute their parents move through the process of ending life, their fear of death may increase heavly.

PERSONAL HEALTH: People with chronic illnesses are more at risk of developing an extreme fear of death. Forced to face their future, issues with health can aggravate underlying fears about the afterlife and lead to a full-blown death phobia.

OVERCOMING YOUR FEAR OF DEATH OR DYING

Necrophobia and Thanatophobia both are life-altering anxiety, but those suffering shouldn't give up hope. There are several things you can do to reduce your symptoms and overcome your fears.

#1 SEEK HELP FROM A PROFESSIONAL

Hiring a professional to help is usually the first step. Because of the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of death phobias, those suffering shouldn't walk the journey to recovery alone. Finding a qualified therapist with experience dealing with phobias can be the difference between failure and success.. Here you can take a short questionnaire that will provide some general background information. Using this info, BetterHelp can assist you in finding the best the best counselor to help you. This platform is one of a kind because it gives you access to over 2,500 licensed, trained, and experienced psychologists (Ph.D. / PsyD), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW / LMSW), and licensed professional counselors (LPC) in one place. Once you've chosen a partner to help you overcome your fears, the process will become a lot easier.

#2 TRY THERAPY

One thing your counselor might try is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This tried-and-true treatment regimen has been used to people overcome depression, anxiety, and phobias of many different types. This is important since the DSM 5 handbook used by healthcare professionals don't categorize anxiety related to death or dying as a distinct disorder.

During the CBT process, you will discuss your fears and eventually be exposed to them. You will talk about not only death in general but also places and situations that cause anxiety or fear of death. For example, you may go to a cemetery, mortuary, or a funeral. Exposure to these "trigger" places and circumstances will counteract unhealthy thinking habits and reduce death anxiety. Learning relaxation techniques is also an essential part of the CBT process so that you will be able to deal with death anxiety should it arise during or after therapy.

#3 EXPLORE SPIRITUALITY

Several different studies have shown that those who have strong faith and belief systems are far less likely to suffer from fear of death or dying.

Such was the case with Tanishia Pearson-Jones, a wonderful mother, and writer who passed away at the age of 36 after a two-year battle with a rare form of cancer. Never wavering in her religious faith, she fought to the end but did not fear death when it arrived. Many people who knew her or heard of her battle through social media were encouraged by her dignity and grace, even in the face death. If you are like Tanishia and were raised with a strong faith system, embrace it. If not, research and explore different religions and spiritual practices.

If you find that a specific religion is not for you, rituals can be another solid option for dealing with a fear of death. When you read the word 'ritual,' you might have imagined something as elaborate as an altar with incense, but your ritual doesn't have to be that intricate. This ritualistic routine can be something as simple as lighting a candle when you wake or go to bed, taking an afternoon walk, or writing about your feelings in a journal.

#4 MAKE DEATH A PART OF YOUR LIFE

The ultimate goal of death phobia related therapy isn't to rid you of all thoughts of death but to stop these ideas from negatively impacting your life. Instead of seeing death as a negative event, you will see it as positive. The Order of the Good Death is an organization striving to do just that.

According to the Order's 'Death Positive' movement embraces the many goals. One, in particular, is to break the culture of silence around death "through discussion, gatherings, art, innovation, and scholarship."

The founder of the Good Death hopes to do the following:

The Order is all about making end a peace of your life. That means promising to staring down your death phobias- whether it be your death, the death of those you love, the pain of dying, the afterlife (or lack thereof), grief, corpses, bodily decomposition, or all of the above. Accepting that death itself is natural, but the death anxiety and terror of modern culture are not.

#5 PREPARE FOR YOUR PARTING

One basis of fear of death or dying is lack of control. Because we know that we will have little control over how or when we will leave this world, we feel anxious. A way to combat this is by grabbing the reigns and taking control of what you will leave behind. The how is much easier than you might think.

Designate A Power Of Attorney. If you've ever been to the hospital, you've likely been asked the question "Do you have a durable power of attorney?" If you didn't answer yes, you should have. A POA allows you to appoint a trusted loved one to handle your affairs if you can't. Your POA will be able to make medical and financial decisions for you and can make sure your wishes are carried out.
Prepare Your Memorial Service. Do you want a funeral with a showing of your body or would you prefer to be cremated? Do you want an upbeat celebration of life or a traditional service with a eulogy and sermon? Which decisions matter to you and which don't? Few people sit down to make decisions for their final homegoing, but taking responsibility for these choices means you can leave a lasting legacy while taking some of the pressure off of your loved ones who will be forced to make these decisions in your absence.
Have A Will In Place. The last will aren't just for the wealthy. Make sure your family knows what you have, who you want to have it, and any final wishes you might have. Again, this will make things easier for your family in the long run.
Use Tech Tools- If you suffer from a fear of death, starting preparations for your passing might seem impossible. Thankfully, in this tech age, we have so many great apps to help us with the task. Some starters to search for in Appstore include Funeral Advice, Asset Lock, and living will.

#6 FOCUS ON WELLNESS

One final way to lose your obsession with death and dying is to focus on the here and now. Therapy can help you let go of some of the preoccupations that come along with a fear of death. Then, you will be able to turn your focus to what you can do to live your life to the fullest. Eating right, exercising, taking care of your mental and physical health, and focusing on things you enjoy can help you overcome your obsession with fear and enjoy the present.

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