"We are all born to die". This is a very real fact but very few people will state that they are ready to die at any given point in life. In some aspects, people can also fear from dying and lend themselves to a positive direction by choosing pro-health actions and avoiding situations and lifestyle that may reduce life span. But, when it comes to a situation that someone becomes afraid of dying and death to the point that their fear becomes irrational, the fear of death may actually be a phobia.



The medical term for fear of death and dying is|The fear of death and dying is medically termed necrophobia. Necrophobia is an all encompassing phrase that comprises the fear of dying (you) and the fear of death or dead people. When a person show signs of high degree of anxiety at the concept of dying or the concept of seeing a dead person, this fear can overcome them and cause a very real, physical reaction in the body.

As with many phobias, the anxiety surrounding the fear of dying is part of the fight or flight reflex. This reflex is an ingrained reaction to the phobia where the body prepares to run from the danger or confrontation that which is feared. During the flight or fight response, the body prepares for a confrontation however, when this reaction is due to a phobia, there is no REAL battle to be fought. None the less, the body will prepare the eyes to see better by dilating the pupils. It will also prepare the body for injury by constricting all of the capillaries in the skin to prevent extreme blood loss. The blood pressure and heart rate will increase in order to provide the extra blood that is for the confrontation about to begin and the adrenaline levels of the body will spike to give the person the additional energy and power that is needed to maintain higher levels of output.

In severe cases of the fear of dying, the person will stop participate in usual activities of life if they increase the risk of dying. This includes driving a car, eating certain foods and even leaving the house. Agoraphobia can set in and the person will essentially be trapped in the only place they feel they will not die, their own home.

When the fear of dying is manifested in the fear of dead people, the person who suffers from necrophobia will often avoid watching movies or television in an attempt to prevent themselves from seeing a dead person.

Necrophobia can be treated with anti-anxiety medications and therapy, but the fear of dying is one that can not be escaped over time. All people is desinted to die someday and the fear of dying is often greater in the older generation than the younger generation due to this unavoidable fact.