Am I Experiencing Death Anxiety?
Am I Experiencing Death Anxiety? is an indicative screening tool, designed to help clients self-assess whether their experiences might warrant further investigation. It is not intended to give a formal diagnosis or provide a measure of severity.
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Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
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Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
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Introduction & Theoretical Background
Worries about dying or losing a loved one are a normal part of life, but if your thoughts about death (or dying) are extremely distressing, time-consuming, or stop you from doing important things, you might be experiencing death anxiety.
Death anxiety (or ‘thanatophobia’) is a common fear that anyone can experience. Research suggests that up to 10% of people experience death anxiety, and around 3% have an intense fear of death. These concerns might relate to your own death, someone else’s death, the process of dying, or what happens after death.
Am I Experiencing Death Anxiety? is an indicative screening tool, designed to help clients self-assess whether their experiences might warrant further investigation. It is not intended to give a formal diagnosis or provide a measure of severity.
Therapist Guidance
"Some people who report similar experiences to yours have a condition called death anxiety. Would you like to try a short quiz that could give us an idea of whether this problem troubles you?"
References And Further Reading
Agras, S., Sylvester, D., & Oliveau, D. (1969). The epidemiology of common fears and phobia. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 10, 151-156. DOI: 10.1016/0010-440X(69)90022-4.
Noyes Jr, R., Hartz, A. J., Doebbeling, C. C., Malis, R. W., Happel, R. L., Werner, L. A., & Yagla, S. J. (2000). Illness fears in the general population. Psychosomatic Medicine, 62, 318-325.