Most people are familiar with phobias such as the fear of flying or fear of spiders, but fewer people realize that there is a phobia of dying.
It is called Thanatophobia.
While most people have a natural fear of dying, those with this disorder have it to the extreme.
People with Thanatophobia will often feel a sense of panic or suffer anxiety attacks based on their fear.
In some cases, their anxiety becomes so great that it affects their quality of life.
There are certain symptoms to look for with this form of anxiety disorder.
They include nervousness, sweaty palms, fast heartbeat, fast breathing, shortness of breath, and a sense of impending doom.
The symptoms described above, if they are experienced often and over time, can cause true physical problems for the person experiencing them.
They can also bring about emotional issues that can affect the person's life.
This phobia may have many underlying roots.
This might include having bad experiences with the death of loved one while the person was young or impressionable.
While this phobia usually involves the death of the person affected, it can also present itself as a phobia of the death of family members or loved ones.
For those who suffer from this type of anxiety disorder, there are treatment options available.
Many people can benefit from certain drugs such as Prozac or Celexa.
These work well in treating the symptoms of anxiety.
For treatment of panic attacks, the drugs Diazepam or Alprazolam may be used.
Drug therapy often works best when used in combination with counseling therapy.
One of the main triggers for these attacks is the onset of negative thoughts.
A single, negative thought about death can bring about a whole series of other negative thoughts that soon overwhelm the person.
With counseling therapy, patients are taught skills to help them break that negative thought process, thus stopping the attack.
For some patients, the therapy known as CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, can be a true benefit, especially when combined with certain medications.
This type of therapy is taught by professional health care providers and helps the person to gain control of his or her fear.
With CBT the patient will also receive training on how to cope with the symptoms as they occur.
These coping skills can lessen or even prevent future attacks.
The length of CBT treatment will depend on the person as well as the severity of their symptoms.
One thing is certain, with the proper counseling therapy and meds, people who suffer from this disorder can begin to improve their lives.
It may take some time, but it is well worth the time and effort invested.