Gerascophobia

Gerascophobia is an abnormal or incessant fear of growing older or ageing.[1] Gerascophobia is a clinical phobia generally classified under specific phobias, fears of a single specific panic trigger. Gerascophobia may be based on anxieties of being left alone, without resources and incapable of caring for oneself.[2] Sufferers may be young and healthy.

Due to humans being self aware of being mortality salient, sufferers will often feel as though aging is the first sign that their immune systems are starting to weaken, they will view aging as a human flaw or a disease rather than a natural progression. [3]

Sufferers are more likely to seek plastic surgery to cut and stretch wrinkles to make them look more youthful[4]

Symptoms include the fear of the future and the fear of needing to rely on others to do daily functions. Many also fear they will not play an active role in society when they get older.[5]

The term gerascophobia comes from the Greek γηράσκω, gerasko, "I grow old" and φόβος, phobos, "fear".[6] Some authors refer to it as gerontophobia, although this may also refer to the fear of the elderly.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Definition of gerascophobia
  2. ↑ John G. Robertson, An Excess of Phobias and Manias, p. 90.
  3. ↑ https://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/47264/title/Opinion--Aging--Just-Another-Disease/
  4. ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/BeautySecrets/story?id=2991351&page=1
  5. ↑ "Symptoms of Gerascophobia". Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  6. 1 2 Perspectives on Aging, by Priscilla W. Johnston, 1982, ISBN 0-88410-734-5, pp. 239-241


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