Gerontophobia has a few different definitions:
- irrational and persistent fear of growing old,
- hatred or anger toward the elderly, or
- fear of the elderly.
Gerascophobia has one definition: irrational and persistent fear of growing old.
Everyone has experienced or does experience a fear of growing old and facing one’s own mortality, but only people with gerascophobia become horrified and obsessed with the idea.
The symptoms of gerascophobia and gerontophobia include:
- breathlessness, sweating, anxiety and panic attacks when thinking about growing old
- obsessive fear about losing one’s appearance with time
- obsessive fear about a loss of independence in older age
- self-withdrawal and isolation from others
While I could not find any solid studies on gerascophobia (contact me if you know of any), it is understood that women make up the majority of cases, and that the symptoms often set in when the individual reaches his/her early to mid-30s. This would be the time a person is recognizing that their youth is slipping away, and they become faced with fears of inferiority, loss of identity and self-worth, etc. Modern culture, with its focus and value of youth and beauty, encourages and supports this phobia.
Treatment for gerascophobia should come from a professional therapist or counselor as no one approach is right for every person. The phobia is assumed to be widely unreported and more common than most people think. If you or someone you know suffers from this phobia – find help.
(photo by Chalmers Butterfield)
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Very interesting info! Thanks. :)
great stuff!
I’m not sure if what i feel would be classified as gerontophobic or gerascophobic, since i have nothing against the elderly, but being old is entirely unappealing to me, because i have a feeling that i’ll be useless and a burden to others, and also all the elderly people i know generally complain about various ailments that they have, such as diabetes and back aches and that scares me, because i don’t want to be in constant pain. Even people with extremely healthy lifestyles experience these issues.
i don’t get “breathless, sweaty, anxious or panicky” when thinking about this, just a bit sad.
I think we all do to some extent.
I’m normal, then? that’s good to hear.
Acceptance of our mortality doesn’t come easy, at least it never has for me.