Strategies To Face The Fear Of Dying

It is normal to have a certain fear of dying, especially if there is a dangerous situation, such as an accident or illness. Another very different thing is tatanophobia or phobia of one’s own death.

Thanatophobia is a persistent, abnormal and unjustified fear of death, and it significantly affects daily life. Thanatophobic people are often hypochondriacs and can suffer from panic attacks.

Without presenting these symptoms, in today’s life it is very common for people not to face the reality that, at some point, death will come to all of us. In many cases these thoughts are avoided.

How the fear of dying manifests

There are many experts who say that much of today’s human behavior is in some way influenced by “reality shows”, novels, stories, even video games. In this way, “displacement activities” are carried out, the objective of which is to defend oneself from the obvious awareness of what is inevitable.

However, all this only exacerbates and increases fears and, when these manifest themselves, they can cause situations of anguish and anxiety, especially when we are faced with real situations in which we have to face a serious illness or personal situation or of a close being.

The fear of dying can also influence the development of our daily lives, and it can make situations as normal as driving, traveling or even going on excursions a major source of stress and anxiety that, in addition to influencing others, has consequences personal health and physical and emotional well-being.

Strategies to stop the fear of dying

Affirming life is the best way to stop the irrational fear of death. Let’s see what strategies we can follow for this.

1. The consciousness of death should help you live

The final day will inevitably come for all of us. But the fear of that day will make every day hell. What is the meaning, then, of life? Wait for death? Outwit her? Why not take advantage of what we have, be it more or less?

The awareness of death can be used to enjoy life more, to thank it as a gift that must be seized and squeezed every last drop.

Death in Western culture has become taboo. We are such a powerful generation that we think we can even beat nature to improve something that shouldn’t really happen. On the other hand, laziness, fear of acting and the pettiness that surrounds everything manages to counteract the need to reflect on our own transience.

It is necessary to reconsider our essence, we must find what is really worthwhile for us, that mark that we want to leave so that, in some way, our passage through this world has helped someone to have a better life.

2. Look for the triggers of your fear

Often the fear of dying has its origin in some traumatic event. If you find that origin, the death of a loved one or a pet, or even an event outside of you but that caused a great impact on you, it will be easier to rationalize what happened.

And if the problem is caused by not overcoming someone’s death, it is important to seek professional help to overcome stress and the domino effect it has on daily life.

3. Relax while you think about it

Avoiding thoughts about death does not lead to overcoming the fear of it. On the contrary, it is necessary to remain calm when the thought occurs, because it is not about what we think may happen, but about how we feel in the face of uncertainty.

Learning to relax is vital to trying to control those feelings and counteract the burden that fear places on us.

4. Consider the idea that nature is wise

In many situations where death seems imminent, nature can help. That is what emerges from the testimonies of many people who have come very close to dying. The lack of pain or the state of detachment are some consequences that make the certainty of the end easier. During life-threatening emergencies, nature helps.

Near-death people describe how they begin to feel prepared. Long-lived people or those who have suffered from a serious illness for years feel death as one more part of the natural cycle of things. Nature has its way of helping us handle things when they arise. Why worry ahead of time?