Death Anxiety And Pandemic: Tackling Mental Health Impact Of COVID-19

Fear of death has been seen as a strong predictor for anxiety ever since COVID-19 came into play. The devastation of the pandemic is unbeatable with curbs on social interaction uncountable deaths and economic crises. Many researchers and psychologists fear that this devastation will have a marked effect on people’s mental health which could linger long after the pandemic has subsided.  Evidence based on the Terror Management Theory suggests that such situations of public calamity have a strong impact on mental health of people especially among people who feel most anxious about death.

Fear of death has been a central and universal part of human experience (Becker, 1973). In fact in a study published in 2018 in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders it was stated that there is evidence of humans experiencing death anxiety from the beginning of times. As per researches we are the only species who have the cognitive capacity to think and anticipate our own death, yet this ability comes with its own cost. On the one hand, people may develop ways of coping with the fear of death, by building meaningful relationships and create legacies (Yalom, 2008). On the other hand, this awareness of death may also produce a powerful fear and feeling of meaninglessness, which may drive people towards number of maladaptive coping behaviours (Menzies, 2012).

Thanatophobia or death anxiety as per the dictionary of the American Psychiatric Association refers to an “emotional distress and insecurity aroused by reminders of mortality, including one’s own memories and thoughts of death”. Death anxiety can be understood as a conscious or unconscious psychological state which can be triggered when people feel threatened by death (Kesebir, 2014).  Some of the typical symptoms of death anxiety may include: Excessive worry or fear of death or dying, experience intense anxiety when thinking of death or dying. Such an anxiety could trigger physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, racing heart, sweating, headache, etc.

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These symptoms may be triggered by the underline fears attached with death such as the fear of unknown, fear of loss of control, fear of pain and illness and fear of abandoning the loved ones. These fears paradoxically could be triggered by presence of both positive and negative circumstances. For instance in my experience as a psychologist a positive event like important achievement, falling in love, having meaningful dialogue may bring forward deep feelings that leave a person particularly feeling that life is precious, but must eventually be surrendered. As people move out of the familiar and safe environments in order to expand their lives, anxiety is triggered because the thought of losing all that they have, comes across their minds. On the other hand negative events like accidents, signs of aging and illness, and actual exposure to death naturally triggers the lack of one’s sense of safety and security, and may lead to arousal of death anxiety. Furthermore researchers have also found that there is a strong relationship between meaning in life and death anxiety. A research by Routledge and Juhl found in their studies that participants who had weaker meaning in life experienced death anxiety more.

In order to cope with death anxiety it is important to talk about death in families, focus on goals which help in creating meaning in life and get in contact with various social networks and support groups dedicated to help deal with death anxiety. Self-help techniques which help you feel calmer and more relaxed, such as breathing exercise, meditations and good lifestyle which includes eating a nutritious diet, having enough sleep, and regular exercise. They may not help you overcome your fears in the long term but can help you to reduce anxiety and make you feel better.

In order to cope with death anxiety it is important to talk about death in families, focus on goals which help in creating meaning in life and get in contact with various social networks and support groups dedicated to help deal with death anxiety.

Given this, the current standard treatments available in the area of mental health should address death anxiety directly keeping in mind the increased prevalence of death anxiety during COVID. The clinical interviews done in the early sessions with the clients in a therapy session should focus on exploring the topic of death, including assessment of any early losses and experiences associated with death along with the individual’s specific worries about death.

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Fortunately, over years of research cognitive behavioural therapy popularly known as CBT has been seen as an effective method of treatment demonstrating significant reductions in death anxiety along with exposure technique (Menzies et al., 2018). In order to address death anxiety from the core it is essential that people seek out mental health assistance from a professional psychologist the moment they experience symptoms. It is advisable that if symptoms persist for over 6 months, gets in the way of daily activities, unable to stop thinking about death or dying and  causes physical symptoms of anxiety then the person should immediately seek psychological therapy. Treatment at the right time can prevent an individual from future disorders as well.

In order to address death anxiety from the core it is essential that people seek out mental health assistance from a professional psychologist the moment they experience symptoms.

In conclusion, death anxiety is very much a real time"> mental health concern in the times of pandemic and the taboos related with this subject needs to be addressed responsibly. Furthermore the mental health community needs to up skill themselves and do extensive research in this area so as to provide better mental health services. Death anxiety can be treated with right form of therapy and if a person sees any of the symptoms they must take help immediately.

Dr Anjuman Bains, Ph.D,  is a  Counseling Psychologist. The views expressed are the author's own.