What is a common feature of death anxiety?

The common feature of death anxiety is characterized by an intense fear of death. This anxiety can manifest as a pervasive dread or apprehension regarding one's own mortality or the death of loved ones. Individuals experiencing death anxiety may find themselves preoccupied with thoughts about dying, the process of death, or existential concerns about what, if anything, lies beyond death. This fear can significantly impact their emotional well-being, leading to avoidance behaviors or heightened anxiety in situations that remind them of mortality.

Options like numbness toward death suggest a detachment or emotional disengagement, which does not accurately capture the acute distress associated with death anxiety. Extreme openness to grief may indicate a healthy acceptance or processing of loss rather than the fearful avoidance or anxiety surrounding death. A deep sense of closure typically reflects a resolution or acceptance of death rather than the anxiety and fear that accompany it. Therefore, the recognition of an intense fear as a hallmark of death anxiety distinguishes this condition from other responses to mortality.