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Existential Death Anxiety: Why Can't We Escape the Truth of Death?
Death anxiety, or the worry about one's own death, has been widely studied and discussed in both psychology and sociology. The understanding of this anxiety can be traced back to ancient culture and thought. However, the truth about death and the anxiety it brings to modern people have become more complicated due to the diversity of social, cultural and personal experiences. Exploring death anxiety is not just about theories in books, but also a reality that everyone is unwilling to face deep in their hearts.
Death anxiety is a universal emotion that exists in all cultures and societies. Regardless of age, gender or background, it is difficult to escape this fate.
According to psychotherapist Robert Long, there are three types of death anxiety: predator death anxiety, predatory death anxiety, and existential death anxiety. Each type reveals not only different human responses to death, but also reflects how we cope with this fundamental existential question in our lives.
Predator Death Anxiety
Predator death anxiety stems from the fear of life being threatened. From the self-protection mechanism of microorganisms to humans' response to potential danger, predator death anxiety is part of the survival instinct. When faced with mission failure or dangerous situations, predator death anxiety prompts individuals to respond with a "flight or fight" response, a primitive survival strategy.
Predatory Death Anxiety
This form of death anxiety is related to the human struggle with causing harm to others, both physically and mentally. In ancient cultures, the concept of life and death implies a profound moral responsibility, and this anxiety, accompanied by a subconscious sense of guilt, makes it difficult for people to let go. Freud's ideas suggest that such feelings become deeply ingrained and influence the individual's behavior.
Death Anxiety
Existential death anxiety is the recognition and thought process of human beings facing the end of their own life. This anxiety not only makes people question the meaning of life, but also prompts them to search for the purpose and value of life. It is said that the emergence of language enables humans to think more clearly about their own existence and death, which is why humans fall into such deep existential anxiety.
Humans are the only creatures aware of their own mortality, an awareness that has persisted over 160,000 years of evolution and drives us to ponder the meaning of life.
When faced with the anxiety of death, people may choose to "deny" this reality and face the pain in their hearts in a self-protective way. However, excessive denial can lead to greater emotional costs rather than addressing the root of the problem.
Theoretical Analysis
Combining various psychological theories, from the possibility of existence after death to the philosophy of life and death faced by humans, the theoretical background of death anxiety is quite broad. For example, German philosopher Heidegger argued that human anxiety about death is the foundation of human existence, while American philosopher Sidney Hook questioned this, arguing that this idea does not conform to the experience of ordinary people.
As human beings, our survival is not only about facing death, but also about finding the meaning of survival above death.
In addition, psychological therapies to overcome death anxiety, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, have been shown to be effective in helping people reduce this anxiety. This is because their emphasis on restructuring thinking and processing emotions helps people confront this underlying problem in a healthier way.
In summary, death anxiety is a reality that every individual cannot escape. When facing death, we must face our emotions and think about our personal life goals and the meaning of existence. Such thinking not only promotes mental health, but also makes people's lives more meaningful and valuable. In the face of the inevitable ending, can we find our own comfort and relief?
