Gerascophobia, or fear of age, is common and often linked to fears of being alone, losing youth and beauty, and dying. In industrialized nations, the cosmetic and anti-aging industry profits from this fear. Severe cases may be linked to body dysmorphic disorder or OCD and require medication or counseling.
Fear of age, also known as gerascophobia, is a common phobia in most groups of people. To some extent, almost everyone is afraid of growing old and eventually dying. This phobia is usually the culmination of fears related to being left alone, losing one’s youth and beauty, and eventually dying. Some may suffer from a debilitating form of the condition and become obsessed with looking young. Others may even be fearful of older people, mainly because they are a physical reminder of what happens as the body ages.
Almost all human beings in the modern world are afraid of age. This is especially true in industrialized nations where youth and beauty are highly coveted commodities. The cosmetic and anti-aging industry makes billions every year from those trying to stay young. Diet fads are also emerging that claim to increase energy and reduce flab to give the body a more youthful glow. The amount of fear depends on many factors, but most do not suffer from fear strong enough to cause problems in day-to-day life.
There are some individuals whose fear of age is so strong that their personal and professional relationships are affected. They may become obsessed with looking young, or they may take dozens of vitamins or supplements every day to prevent the aging process. This is often correlated with another condition, such as body dysmorphic disorder or OCD, and anti-aging issues emerge as part of the underlying condition. These individuals may go to great lengths to avoid aging.
Most people who are fearful of age may just become anxious, with some symptoms being worse than others. They can include dizziness, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, depression, and shaking. If symptoms become severe, medication or counseling is often helpful.
In most cases, the fear of age is strongly linked to another underlying fear. This can include fear of being alone in a nursing home, fear of dying or becoming ill, and that their loved ones will watch them suffer. These are natural fears when they occur only occasionally, as all humans are faced with their own mortality. If they become harmful, however, a mental health professional should be notified.
Very rarely, people may be afraid of older people in general. This is usually because older adults remind them of the aging process and bring up underlying fears of aging themselves. Others may find older individuals repulsive, often for the same reasons. If this inhibits the person’s ability to interact with aging family members, therapy may be needed to uncover the underlying cause.
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