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Apeirophobia

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Fear of infinity Medical condition
Apeirophobia
Apeirophobia can arise from the fear of an eternal afterlife, such as Heaven in Christianity
SpecialtyPsychology
SymptomsFear of infinity, fear of dying, panic attacks related to the event, or dreams relating to infinity, derealization, symptoms of existential OCD

Apeirophobia (from Ancient Greek: ᾰ̓́πειρος, romanized: ápeiros, lit. 'infinite, boundless') is the phobia of infinity or eternity, causing discomfort and sometimes panic attacks. It normally starts in adolescence or earlier and it is currently not known how it normally develops over time. Apeirophobia may be caused by existential dread about eternal life or oblivion following death. Due to this, it is often connected with thanatophobia (fear of dying). Like other phobias, apeirophobia may be tied to mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

There is very little research on this phobia. Despite not being recognized specifically by the American Psychiatric Association in the DSM-5, it does meet their criteria for a specific phobia, which is a type of anxiety disorder. There are no known treatment methods that are specifically designed to treat apeirophobia.

If thought of as a form of existential anxiety, apeirophobia might successfully be approached through the lens of existential therapy and the works of existential philosophers and psychologists such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Camus, Sartre, Heidegger and Frankl. Tillich's ontology of courage and Kierkegaard's analysis of anxiety offer approaches to existential anxiety grounded in religious metaphysics, whereas Frankl's logotherapy is non-theistic and focused on the acquisition of personal meaning. Life-negating systems such as Theravada Buddhism may help one seeking oblivion or non-rebirth after death, whereas life-affirming systems such as Nietzscheism may be suitable for those who perceive life as eternal or endlessly repeating.

See also

References

  1. ^ Azarian, Bobby (2016-09-01). "Apeirophobia: The Fear of Eternity". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  2. "Understand Apeirophobia: Fear of infinity". Exploring your mind. 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  3. ^ Psychology, Practical (2020-05-28). "Apeirophobia – The Fear of Infinity". Practical Psychology. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  4. "Apeirophobia (Fear of Infinity)". Psych Times. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
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