Fear Of Corpses: Causes, Symptoms, Therapies

The fear of corpses or necrophobia is an intense anxiety disorder characterized by the fear of corpses. The word Necrophobia is derived from the Greek nekros which means corpse and phobia (os) which means fear or anxiety. People with this phobia often avoid funerals and wake up because they are terrified of seeing corpses. Let’s study Necrophobia in detail.

Causes of necrophobia

Like all extreme forms of anxiety disorders , the fear of dead bodies dates back to childhood. The causes naturally depend on the individual and vary from person to person. Below is a list of some common factors that could trigger the fear of dead things:

A traumatic incident in the past

• The phobia could have witnessed the death of a closed person at a young age, which later turns into an extreme fear about it.

Learned response

• Many anxieties and phobias are actually picked up from the environment. A child might, for example, observe the fearful response of a trusted adult.
• He / she then gets a similar response.
• Parents who are overly anxious could pass a similar mindset on to their children.

Genes

• Many phobias, including necrophobia, are inherited.
• Certain genes tend to make some individuals more prone to such anxiety disorders than others.

The answer becomes a vicious cycle

• The fearful response one has to all things related to corpses or dead things can be quite embarrassing.
• This in turn becomes a vicious cycle in which a person becomes fearful of having such an answer and continues to dwell on these negative thoughts and emotions .
• This makes him even more afraid of dealing with a situation with corpses.

Stress

• The stress chronic unresolved can also cause phobias.
• Anxiety and depression, as well as work or personal stress if left unchecked, could turn into a phobia.

Movie & Media Books

• They also play a role in fueling one’s fears .

Symptoms of fear of corpses

Phobias produce variable symptoms in people who suffer from them; what you experience may or may not be the same as what another Necrophobic experiences. In general, necrophobia can present emotional, physical and psychological symptoms such as:

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Losing contact with reality – feeling a feeling of detachment
• Feeling short of breath or shortness of breath
• Sweaty palms and a racing heart
• Chest tightness
• Feeling like running away and hiding
• Unable to think clearly – feeling loss of control
• Feeling of dying
• Hot flashes and flushes
• Shaking or shaking
• Numbness
• Fear of fainting

The intense symptoms of necrophobia can lead to total anxiety or a panic attack. Even experiencing this fear can be scary and can make the phobia feel stressed and out of control.

• Such reactions can also leave one completely overwhelmed .
• The fear of losing control can lead one to become distant and antisocial.
• Many phobics avoid situations in which they may be confronted with the object of their fear, in this case funerals and wakes.
• Even talking about corpses or watching movies of the genre can be scary.
• This often makes him an object of ridicule.

You can also read: Fear Of Human Figures: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Treatment of necrophobia

• Self-help is the best form of treatment to overcome the fear of dead things.
• Read everything you can about this phobia.
• Talk to someone you trust; it could be a friend or family member.
• Learn to manage anxiety through deep breathing, counting down, or relaxation techniques like meditation, positive visualization, etc.
• You can also join a peer group online or offline.
• Talking to other people with similar anxiety can be comforting and can give you a different perspective on things.

Therapies

• There are several treatments available for phobias like this one. Your doctor can recommend one.
• Talk therapy is one of them. Talk to a psychologist or counselor who can guide you in managing your anxiety symptoms.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy is also a popular treatment for Necrophobia.
• This therapy uses a variety of methods including desensitization to change negative thoughts and behavior patterns to more realistic ones.
• Exposure therapy can also help – the phobia exposes you to the object of your fears, in this case, corpses, in a safe way.
• Through repeated experiences, you will feel more in control of your fear.
• The hypnotherapy is another line of effective treatment. Seek help from an experienced hypnotherapist.

If the above therapies don’t help, your doctor may prescribe medications such as antidepressants, tranquilizers, and / or beta-blockers. However, many of these are habit forming and come with adverse side effects and should only be taken as a last resort.