🥀The term "Thanatophobia" originates from Greek mythology, specifically from Thanatos, the god of death. Over time, this particular fear has evolved into one of life's most misinterpreted facets.
📊A recent fMRI study examined how our brains react to words associated with death. The findings suggest that the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) becomes less active during existential reflections, which might clarify their numbing impact. The activity in the Supramarginal Gyrus (SMG) could hint at a detachment from one's physical self, whereas the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC) might be associated with worries about death and the future.
🫂Although it is natural for humans to have concerns about mortality, thanatophobia surpasses ordinary apprehension and can result in distressing and avoidant behaviors.
✅In this post, we aim to offer strategies to help aging adults navigate and cope with their fear of death.
