Fear of Being Buried Alive or Cemeteries

Death is always a point of potential fear. However there is one aspect of the end of life that leave many struggling with phobic tendencies. There is a name for those who fear cemeteries. The name of this fear also describes those who may have a fear of being buried alive. This fear is called Taphephobia.

For some there may be the question about what comes next, but in all cases there is a sense of being unnerved by the potential of meeting your natural end at a cemetery.

What Causes Taphephobia?

This fear may be the result of a combination of other fears. For instance it could be linked to a fear of death coupled with a fear of confined spaces. It could be a fear of heaven or hell with a fear of control loss.

Miners who have been trapped underground may suffer from this fear based on a very personal experience while others may refrain from visiting a cemetery because they fear ghosts.

This fear can be learned as well. If a parent or close family member or friend struggled with the fear it can be easy to assume a point of empathy with that individual that then turns into a genuine phobic response.

It is even possible that a wide variety of media images could contribute to the fear. For instance there are several movies and television shows over the years that explore what it would be like to be buried alive. Certainly the cemetery is a place that is portrayed as a point of horror in movies and books.

Symptoms of Taphephobia

Avoidance is one of the most common symptoms of any phobia. In the case of Taphephobia the avoidance is both cemeteries as well as funeral homes or caskets. These individuals will likely refuse to visit caves and may even struggle with basements.

Other symptoms include…

• Panic attack
• Weeping
• Screaming
• Air hunger
• Dangerously elevated heart rate
• Irrational behavior
• Trembling
• Nausea
• Fainting

This fear provides a constant struggle and intense pressure to avoid anything that might lead to objects related to death. Others may not understand what is going on, but they are very aware that there is struggle.

How to Overcome Taphephobia

Perhaps to some degree we all struggle with the prospect of death. We may not feel confident in what waits beyond death. We may struggle with the events that lead up to death. We might even have a fear about what sort of beings we might encounter in death.

A therapist can provide both the listening ear as well as the tools you might need to enjoy success in overcoming the fear.

It is easy to say that death is a natural part of the process of life and that some day all of us will face that moment. It is harder to rationalize this truth when every fiber of your being wants to run from death and fight it at all costs.

Therapy can be a powerful tool in understanding and dealing with your fear.

The fear of being buried alive or cemeteries is also referred to as:

• Cemetery fear
• Taphephobia
• Taphophobia

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