Gerascophobia
Encyclopedia
Gerascophobia is an abnormal or persistent fear of growing old or ageing
. The term comes from the Greek "geras" (old age) and "phobos" (fear).
Gerascophobia is a clinical phobia generally classified under specific phobia
s, fear of a single specific panic trigger.
Some authors also refer to it as "gerontophobia
", while others prefer to distinguish the fear or dislike of old age in general from the fear of one's own ageing.
Gerascophobia is based on anxieties of being left alone, without resources and incapable of caring for oneself. Sufferers may be young and healthy.
Symptoms include losing their appearance when they grow old, fearing the future, and 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.
Ageing
Ageing or aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline...
. The term comes from the Greek "geras" (old age) and "phobos" (fear).
Gerascophobia is a clinical phobia generally classified under specific phobia
Specific phobia
A specific phobia is a generic term for any kind of anxiety disorder that amounts to an unreasonable or irrational fear related to exposure to specific objects or situations...
s, fear of a single specific panic trigger.
Some authors also refer to it as "gerontophobia
Gerontophobia
Gerontophobia is the fear of growing old, or a hatred or fear of the elderly.-Indicators:Ken Dychtwald identifies seven markers that can make up this phobia in chapter two of Age Wave: How the Most Important Trend of Our Time Will Change Your Future:...
", while others prefer to distinguish the fear or dislike of old age in general from the fear of one's own ageing.
Gerascophobia is based on anxieties of being left alone, without resources and incapable of caring for oneself. Sufferers may be young and healthy.
Symptoms include losing their appearance when they grow old, fearing the future, and 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.