Fear of Death OCD

“What is the meaning of life?”

In the same way, they can think a great deal about their existence and whether or not there is a meaning to life. This fear is one of the most important fears in this disorder and as we’ll see later on, the most crucial in its healing process.

“How will I die?”

Another fundamental fear in fear of death OCD is the preoccupation with what the actual process of dying will be like. Patients want to know if they will suffer, if it will be painful, if they will be alone or not, if somebody will take care of them. If there will be someone who will aid them in the transition from life to death. What causes them most fear is the fact they don’t have any control over the process. That’s why they try to control it beforehand.

“What will my funeral be like?”

Likewise, they tend to think a lot about what their funeral will be like. Who would attend, what music would be played, how their passing would affect the people who would assist, what would be said at their memorial service. There is a component of narcissism in all this, but this kind of narcissism is usually caused by a low self-esteem.

“What will happen after I die?”

Another important subject people who suffer from fear of death reflect on is the impact of what they’ve accomplished in life. They are afraid they won’t be remembered and that they won’t have meant anything to others. This fear is also key in the treatment of fear of death OCD.

People who suffer from fear of death OCD can become highly sensitive to the sensations in their body, as well as to certain signs in their environment. Any irregularity is quickly identified as their personal death omen. This fear is highly related to hypochondria. Its causes are usually the same and it’s not uncommon for the two fears to be present simultaneously. Visits to doctors are frequent and at times repeated unnecessarily.

Avoidance

Since the fear of death can become very intense, avoidance can become a common kind of behavior in the person who suffers it. Patients can avoid places and events which are clearly linked to death, such as funerals, funeral homes, graveyards, but also places that are less clearly related such as hospitals and/or churches. Patients can be afraid to encounter spirits or ghosts. Others avoid places where they know people have died, or they avoid sick people because they’re afraid they might die.

They can stop watching crime series, thrillers, or other series in which death plays a central role. It is also common for them to avoid documentaries about the universe, the cosmos or other subjects which make them contemplate their existence.

All this is done with the objective of trying to forget about and deny the certainty that their death is inevitable.

In their daily life they can quit activities which are “dangerous”; that is activities which could cause death, such as driving or flying. However, this danger can be perceived more and more widely until the point they won’t get out of their house. This paralyzes them vitally in a way that their own inactivity and immobility justifies the fact that they are actively trying to change their life.

Thus, the most important kind of avoidance is the avoidance to live their life.