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Gerascophobia is an abnormal or incessant fear of growing older or ageing (senescence).[1]

Background

Gerascophobia is a clinical phobia generally classified under specific phobias or fears of a single specific panic trigger. Gerascophobia may be based on anxieties of being left alone without resources and incapable of caring for oneself due to age-caused disability.[2]

Symptoms

Some sufferers seek plastic surgery to make them look more youthful,[3] while the main concern of others is a fear of internal, biological long-term damage caused by the aging process.

Etymology

The term gerascophobia comes from the Greek γηράσκω, gerasko, "I grow old" and φόβος, phobos, "fear".[4] Some authors refer to it as gerontophobia, although this may also refer to the fear of the elderly due to memento mori.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Definition of gerascophobia on MedTerms.com
  2. ^ John G. Robertson, An Excess of Phobias and Manias, p. 90.
  3. ^ "Afraid of Aging: 20-Somethings Flock to Plastic Surgeons - ABC News". ABC News.
  4. ^ a b Perspectives on Aging, by Priscilla W. Johnston, 1982, ISBN 0-88410-734-5, pp. 239-241


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