For whom the bell tolls: The fear of death and the ways to become less afraid of it

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Aim: This paper aims to examine the fear of death and psychotherapeutic techniques to face and confront this fear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The authors used interpretive research paradigm, integrative anthropological approach, and hermeneutic approach. The data collection was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar databases. Research papers were identified according to search terms: "fear of death", "death anxiety", "death", "mental health", "psychological wellbeing", "culture", "human existence", "philosophy", "existentialism", "cognitive behavioral therapy", "existential psychotherapy", "logotherapy", "acceptance and commitment therapy", "mindfulness", "meaning in life". CONCLUSION: Conclusions: According to S. Kierkegaard, a fear, including the fear of death, is the prerogative of a human being, because human beings, unlike animals, have a spirit. It is closely connected with the pinnacle of temporary tension, the moment when we have to act in order to shape or reshape our destiny and our Self. J.-P. Sartre considered anxiety and fear to be integral parts of our being in the world. Being abandoned in the world, an individual does not have a certain future, so he/she is forced to choose his/her own life and Self. None of us can escape the fear of death; each of us, sooner or later, has to face it. But if we cannot avoid something, we must accept it. People have known this simple truth since ancient times.