We live in a world obsessed with the image of youth and beauty. To a certain extent it is normal that no one wants to grow old, since as we get older, we lose physical faculties and our state of health becomes more vulnerable.
For many, old age can be a complicated time, as it is not easy to assume that the best years of our lives may have passed. But when there is an irrational fear of getting older, and that fear affects the person’s well-being, then we talk about “Gerascophobia ”.
A phobia it’s a irrational fear that affects the quality of life of the person who suffers from it and causes the individual to suffer extreme anxiety. Gerascophobia is the fear of aging. People with this disorder are horrified by the changes they suffer due to the passing of the years. Some changes that they are afraid of may be: becoming dependent on others, loss of mobility, the possibility of being taken to a nursing home, changes in their appearance or the gradual worsening of their health.
The term Gerascophobia It is a combination of the Greek words γέρων – geron, meaning “old man” and φόβος – phobos, meaning “fear.”
Causes of Gerascophobia
Gerascophobia begins to develop in the mid-thirties, when signs of aging (such as wrinkles) begin to appear. By being aware of these changes, the person who suffers from this phobia begins to suffer from an anxiety disorder.
It seems that external factors, such as the images shown in the media or the cultural value of youth, are the cause of patients’ irrational beliefs. On the other hand, it is possible that some traumatic event from the past is the cause of the development of the disorder. Finally, this condition can also develop due to the fear of being alone and defenseless in the last years of life.
Symptoms of Gerascophobia
The symptoms of Gerascophobia do not differ from the symptoms that occur in other types of phobia. Since Gerascophobia is an anxiety disorder, its symptoms are generally irrational fear and anxiety.
Below is presented a list of symptoms which can be triggered by thoughts about aging or seeing or having contact with older people.
Treatment of Gerascophobia
Although many people who suffer from Gerascophobia may be aware of their irrational fear, they lack the necessary capacity to overcome this pathology. In these cases, it is recommended to go to a health professional if it is not possible to overcome it alone.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, affective desensitization or neurolinguistic programming (NLP) have proven to be very effective in overcoming phobic disorders. Although it is common to go to the family doctor, it is advisable to go to an expert with experience in the treatment of phobias, since anxiety disorders and phobias should be treated with psychological therapy.
