Coping with a Fear of Death
There are two types of phobias to death; necrophobia which is the fear of the dead things (people and animals) as well as, things associated with the dead (funerals, cemeteries) and thanatophobia which is the fear of one’s self dying. The good news is with both phobias, one can live a fulfilling life with the right skills. First and foremost, seek out a trained therapist who has experience in treating anxiety and phobias. It can be helpful to understand what your type of fear of death stems from. Often there is a trauma associated with the fear whether it be the loss of a loved one or coming close to dying yourself. If you have been through a near death experience you could have additional symptoms of trauma that can be worked out through treatment. If you have recently lost someone close to you, you could be experiencing additional symptoms of grief. Whatever it may be, speaking with a therapist will help get you a tailored treatment plan specific to you and your anxiety. A therapist trained in evidence-based practices such as cognitive-behavioral therapy is recommended to learn how to cope with anxiety, trauma, and many other mental health issues.
You may also consider mindfulness techniques such as journaling and grounding. Journaling will give you the space to reflect on your fear of death. It can also serve as a space to challenge your fears with more positive outlooks in ways of gratitude journaling and reflecting on the things that you find great joy in. Grounding is a mindfulness technique that uses all five senses and engages you in your environment. When using this technique, you will be observant of yourself and your surroundings giving yourself the room to accept your thoughts without judgement.
It can be a helpful to have conversations with your family about an end of life plan. Whether it is a conversation about how long you’d like to be held on life support if it ever came to that or what kind of end of life celebration/funeral you may want to have. Having a plan and knowing that your wishes will be followed through with can give a sense of comfort and control.
Thinking about death is scary. It is final and what comes after is unknown. Some have ideas of what will happen in the afterlife from the teachings of their religion or spirituality. Whether or not you believe in an afterlife, death is the final stage of life and it is inevitable. Coming to terms with death being a part of life is important in moving past the fear of death and can be done with the support of others and a therapist.
