Gerantophobia or Gerascofobia: the fear of aging

We live in a world obsessed with the image of youth and beauty . Up to a point it is normal that nobody wants to grow old, because as we get older, we lose physical faculties and our health becomes more vulnerable.

For many, old age can be a complicated time, because it is not easy to assume that the best years of our lives may have passed. But when there is an irrational fear of growing older, and that fear affects the well-being of the person, then we talk about the "Gerascofobia ”.

Gerascofobia: what is it?

A phobia is a Irrational fear that affects the quality of life of the person suffering from it , and causes the individual to suffer extreme anxiety. Gerascofobia is the fear of aging. People with this disorder are horrified by the changes they suffer due to Over the years . Some changes for which they feel fear, can be: to come to depend on others, loss of mobility, the possibility of being taken to a residence, changes in their appearance or the gradual worsening of the state of health.

The term Gerascofobia it is a combination of the Greek words γέρων - geron, which means "old man" and φόβος - phobos, which means "fear".

Causes of Gerascophobia

Gerascofobia begins to develop in the mid-thirties, when signs of age (such as wrinkles) begin to make an appearance. By being aware of these changes, the person suffering 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 responsible for the irrational beliefs of patients. On the other hand, it is possible that some traumatic event of 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 helpless 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 usually irrational fear and anxiety.

Showing up next a list of symptoms that can be triggered by thoughts about aging or seeing or having contact with older people.

• Sweating
• Tremors
• Fall in blood pressure
• Tachycardia
• Difficulty breathing
• Inability to speak
• Social isolation
• Nausea and dizziness
• Detachment from reality
• Shaking chills
• Pain or tightness in the chest
• Dry mouth
• Confusion and disorientation
• Headache

Treatment of Gerascophobia

Although many people who suffer Gerascophobia may be aware of their irrational fear, 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 usual to go to the doctor, it is advisable to go to an expert with experience in the treatment of phobias, and anxiety disorders and phobias should be treated with psychological therapy.