They may fear going to hell or some other punishment in the afterlife. Others may question whether they have lived a good enough life to be accepted into heaven. These fears can lead to a spiritual or existential crisis. Even people who are no longer able to verbally communicate can experience this.
a terminal illness is an illness that can not be fixed. At that point the patient is dying. Identify three fears that a person with a terminal illness might have. They fear abandonment, loneliness, and pain.
Thanatophobia is an intense fear of death or the dying process. While it's natural to feel anxious about death from time to time, thanatophobia is an anxiety disorder that can disrupt every aspect of your life.
Common fears surrounding the end of life
Fear of suffering – As someone nears the end of their life, many people (patients and loved ones alike) worry about what will happen to them. Wondering if they will experience pain or discomfort, be short of breath, feel agitated, restless and more.
Nosophobia is when you have a persistent, irrational fear of contracting a chronic, often life-threatening disease like cancer or AIDS.
They are 1) fear of abandonment, 2) loss of identity, 3) loss of meaning, 4) loss of purpose and 5) fear of death, including the fear of sickness and pain.)
Fear of death is a natural human response. Faced with a terminal diagnosis, many patients struggle with how to overcome fear of death to find peace and acceptance. “Where is the fear coming from? That's always my first question,” says Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care Chaplain Josh Hwang, MDIV.
Nosocomephobia is an intense, overwhelming fear of hospitals. The condition is a specific phobia (fear), which is similar to anxiety disorder. Many people are uncomfortable in hospitals. Hospitals are often associated with illness, pain and death.
Pain. Pain, and the fear of pain, often drives the behavior of patients at the end of life. In a survey of 310 patients with life-limiting illness,5 “freedom from pain” ranked most important in their considerations of the end-of-life process.
The results emphasize that dying caused worry among older persons. Their worries were especially related to a fear of pain and a long, protracted death. The finding on the fear of dying among older persons is supported by the findings of several other studies [9, 19, 20].
You've probably heard that public speaking is feared more than death itself. It sounds crazy, but that's what people say. Is there any truth to this? Certainly the vast majority of people rank fear of public speaking as number one – 75% according to the National Institutes of Mental Health.
This phobia has been described as a feeling of dread, anxiety or fear at the thought of death, or anything to do with dying (1). This anxiety related to fear of death was termed thanatophobia by Sigmund Freund in 1915 in his seminal essays titled: Thoughts for the Time on War and Death.
It's called gerascophobia, the fear of growing older.
We may be more prone to this type of worry if we've experienced an unexpected loss in the past or if we're feeling particularly stressed, upset, or vulnerable. Another common reason for preoccupation with a loved one's unlikely death is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
You might be unable to stop crying and worrying. Or you might feel that there is no point in doing anything. You might also find it difficult to see life going on as normal for most people. It can feel very strange to watch people go about their daily lives, do shopping, drive, and work.
It's normal to feel shock, sadness, anger and helplessness. But for some people, the feeling they're unable to cope with their situation does not go away, and they feel too low to be able to do any of the things they want to. If this happens to you and these feelings persist, it may be helpful to talk to a doctor.
Visions and Hallucinations
Visual or auditory hallucinations are often part of the dying experience. The appearance of family members or loved ones who have died is common. These visions are considered normal. The dying may turn their focus to “another world” and talk to people or see things that others do not see.
The Hierarchy of Fears
In a 2022 poll, similar findings emerged. A fear of snakes, heights, spiders, and public speaking rounded out the top four. I suspect many readers know the terror of unwanted, directed attention.
Terminal agitation is anxious, restless or distressed behaviour that can occur at the end of life. Agitation is not an inevitable part of dying and may need to be treated as an emergency. There are many potential causes of agitation and many of them can be reversed. Try non-drug methods to relieve agitation first.
If you've ever cared for a loved one going through hospice, you know how anxious and restless they can get. It's referred to as terminal restlessness, terminal agitation or terminal delirium — a syndrome that can occur near the end of life.
Generally speaking, people who are dying need care in four areas: physical comfort, mental and emotional needs, spiritual needs, and practical tasks. Of course, the family of the dying person needs support as well, with practical tasks and emotional distress.