Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns & SymptomsDiagnosisCauses, Triggers, & Risk FactorsTreatmentComplicationsPrognosis & PreventionCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs & Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes, Triggers, & Risk Factors

Treatment

Complications

Prognosis & Prevention

Coping

Death and dead things are inherently scary, but most of us can manage our emotions surrounding these things. Necrophobia is a specific type of phobia that involves a fear of dead things and things that are associated with death. A person with this type of phobia may be afraid of dead bodies as well as things such as coffins, tombstones, and graveyards.

The word necrophobia comes from the Greeknekros(“corpse”) andphobos(“fear”).

There are no statistics on the prevalence of necrophobia, but specific phobias are quite common. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 9.1% of adults in the United States had some type of specific phobia in the past year.

Signs and Symptoms of Necrophobia

The symptoms of necrophobia are similar to the symptoms of other kinds of specific phobias. While those who have necrophobia may recognize that the source of their fear poses no real threat, they still experience extreme fear when they see, or sometimes even think about, corpses or other things associated with death.

People with necrophobia may experience:

What Is Phasmophobia?

It is important to remember that a specific phobia such as necrophobia is not the same as a normal fear. Many people have a relatively normal amount of fear or anxiety related to death, dying, and dead things.

Normal fear of dead things might involve feeling a little queasy or uneasy when you are around something associated with death. But if you have a serious fear reaction when you see a dead animal on the side of the road, then you might have necrophobia.

If you suspect that you might have necrophobia, you should talk to a doctor or mental health professional. Many mental health professionals and physicians use the criteria outlined in the DSM-5 when diagnosing mental disorders. To be diagnosed with a specific phobia, you must experience the following:

Specific Phobia DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

Causes

Researchers are not entirely sure of the exact causes of specific phobias such as necrophobia. They do believe, however, that genetics, life events, and even culture can play a role in the development of these fears.

Some cultures, for example, believe that spirits may return and haunt the living. Such beliefs may play a role in contributing to necrophobia. In other cases, having been exposed to a traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one, might contribute to an obsession with or fear of dead things and death.

Situations that might be linked to necrophobia include witnessing a death, attending a funeral, coming into contact with a dead animal or human body, attending a funeral, or even seeing dead bodies depicted in popular media.

The Anxiety Disorders Association of Americasuggests that specific phobias are likely the result of a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Researchershave also foundthat insects and aquatic animals exhibit necrophobic behaviors such as avoiding dead members of their own species, possibly as a means of avoiding disease.

Fear vs. Phobia: What’s the Difference?

There is no treatment specifically designed for necrophobia, but the treatments commonly used for other types of specific phobias are likely to be effective. Some of the most common treatment options for this type of phobia includecognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT),exposure therapy,medications, andrelaxation techniques.

CBT addresses the irrational thoughts and behaviors that maintain the fear response. Through CBT, a person can learn to identify the automatic negative thoughts that lead to a phobic reaction. By changing how you think about the situation, you can then replace fearful feelings and behaviors with more adaptive, calm, and realistic reactions.

In vivo exposure therapy, which may include gradual exposure or flooding (exposure to the greatest fear),has been shownto be effective when used to treat specific phobias.

In some cases, doctors and psychiatrists may prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to help treat some of the symptoms associated with the physical and emotional reactions that people experience. In many cases, a combination of psychotherapy and medication may be used.

Other techniques that might be used to treat phobias includecognitive restructuring, systematic exposure, mindfulness training, andvirtual therapy(which involves exposure to the fear object via a computer screen or virtual reality device).

Specific phobias such as necrophobia can have a serious impact on a person’s ability to function and cope. The fear reaction may make it difficult for the individual to function in settings such as school and work.

Potential complications of necrophobia:

Prognosis and Prevention

The prognosis for people with specific phobias like necrophobia is good with appropriate behavioral treatments, support, and medications.

While there is no way to eliminate all of the risk factors for necrophobia, getting early treatment is important to prevent the condition from seriously impacting a person’s life and functioning.

How to Cope

There are also things that you can do that might help make your fear of dead things easier to cope with. Some steps that you can take include:

Necrophobia can lead to serious symptoms that can potentially interfere with many aspects of your daily life. With appropriate treatment, you can cope with or even overcome your feelings of fear.

If your fear interferes with your daily life, creates significant distress, and has lasted for six months or more, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If your fear interferes with your daily life, creates significant distress, and has lasted for six months or more, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

1 SourceVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Additional ReadingKaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337–346.Prounis GS, Shields WM.Necrophobic behavior in small mammals.Behav Processes. 2013;94:41-4. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2012.12.001Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific Phobia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

1 Source

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Additional ReadingKaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337–346.Prounis GS, Shields WM.Necrophobic behavior in small mammals.Behav Processes. 2013;94:41-4. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2012.12.001Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific Phobia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.

Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337–346.Prounis GS, Shields WM.Necrophobic behavior in small mammals.Behav Processes. 2013;94:41-4. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2012.12.001Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific Phobia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337–346.

Prounis GS, Shields WM.Necrophobic behavior in small mammals.Behav Processes. 2013;94:41-4. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2012.12.001

Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific Phobia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?