An intense, abnormal fear of death or dying that significantly interferes with daily life and functioning. This anxiety disorder can manifest as obsessive thoughts about mortality, panic attacks when confronting death-related stimuli, or extreme avoidance of situations that remind the person of death.
From Greek 'thanatos' (death) and 'phobos' (fear). Thanatos was the personification of death in Greek mythology, and the term entered psychological literature in the early 20th century as Freud explored death anxiety in psychoanalytic theory.
Thanatophobia often peaks during midlife crises and can be triggered by personal health scares or loss of loved ones, making it particularly relevant in medical settings where patients confront mortality. Unlike normal death anxiety, thanatophobia can paralyze decision-making about medical care, leading some patients to avoid necessary treatments or become hypochondriacal.
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