The Third Age and its Fears: Fear of Death, Loss of Identity and Bonds

All of us have at some point in our lives experienced a warning situation that we consider dangerous and / or threatening (physically and psychologically). As a result, we have some physical symptoms: contracted muscles, fast breathing and heart. These symptoms are adaptive means that human beings have developed throughout their existence, which we call fear. Since we do not control its incidence, which can be triggered by external stimuli, this feeling may vary in intensity and frequency throughout human development due to various reasons such as: animals in particular, height, darkness, blood, public speaking and so on.

Fears are subjective because they vary according to gender, age, profession, among other factors. One of the most observable, and real, that affects humans is death (or dying), especially in old age. For many older people, old age is synonymous with illness and death, as they experience mourning for the weakening of their body, the decrease of some cognitive functions, the loss of people close to the same age, spouse and family. Added to all these losses, the arrival of retirement entails the loss of one's own identity, as their social role is no longer the same, affecting their self-esteem, their role within the family and their social function. Moreover, these losses are trivialized by society, resulting in silenced and not shared pain. However, the adoption of some measures can contribute to a healthy aging, alleviating the fear of death and bringing benefits to the elderly. They are: social and family relations, which provide for loneliness and abandonment; spirituality, where they seek answers and comfort to their finitude, and psychology, which helps in coping with the transformations experienced by age, being the psychologist, counselor in the preparation of this grief supporting the family, promoting the well-being of all.
Text: Marjana Siqueira and Marivone Lucas members of the CORA - CEFI Mourning Center 51 3346.1525