Understanding anxiety in existential life: consequences of anxiety and exploration of death fears

Session

Psychology

Description

Existential anxiety, particularly death anxiety, has gained significant attention in both clinical and research contexts as a driving force behind many psychological conditions. This study explores death anxiety and its psychological consequences through the lens of existential theory, focusing on 10 clinical cases treated by Dr. Fatjon Taipi. These cases, spanning over a decade, reveal key themes related to existential distress. T1: Death as a Central Fear emerged across all cases, with patients expressing overwhelming fears of their mortality. Intrusive thoughts about dying and uncertainty around death were common, fueling distress. T2: Avoidance and Coping Mechanisms highlights how patients used various strategies to avoid confronting these fears—ranging from immersion in work to outright denial of mortality. These mechanisms, while offering temporary relief, often led to maladaptive emotional patterns. T3: Psychological consequences underscore how existential anxiety manifested in diverse ways, from depressive symptoms to feelings of isolation and a deep sense of meaninglessness in life. This study emphasizes that awareness of mortality can profoundly shape human behavior and emotions, as seen through the existential pathway model. By identifying how death anxiety intertwines with constructs such as meaning, isolation, and identity, clinicians can more effectively address existential distress. The Albanian cultural context also plays a vital role, where historical and societal transitions have amplified collective experiences of anxiety and uncertainty. The findings suggest that fostering meaning in life is a powerful antidote to death anxiety, offering guidance for both clinical practice and future research

Keywords:

existential anxiety, death anxiety, coping mechanisms, clinical psychology

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-982-15-3

Location

UBT Kampus, Lipjan

Start Date

25-10-2024 9:00 AM

End Date

27-10-2024 6:00 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2024.155

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Oct 25th, 9:00 AM Oct 27th, 6:00 PM

Understanding anxiety in existential life: consequences of anxiety and exploration of death fears

UBT Kampus, Lipjan

Existential anxiety, particularly death anxiety, has gained significant attention in both clinical and research contexts as a driving force behind many psychological conditions. This study explores death anxiety and its psychological consequences through the lens of existential theory, focusing on 10 clinical cases treated by Dr. Fatjon Taipi. These cases, spanning over a decade, reveal key themes related to existential distress. T1: Death as a Central Fear emerged across all cases, with patients expressing overwhelming fears of their mortality. Intrusive thoughts about dying and uncertainty around death were common, fueling distress. T2: Avoidance and Coping Mechanisms highlights how patients used various strategies to avoid confronting these fears—ranging from immersion in work to outright denial of mortality. These mechanisms, while offering temporary relief, often led to maladaptive emotional patterns. T3: Psychological consequences underscore how existential anxiety manifested in diverse ways, from depressive symptoms to feelings of isolation and a deep sense of meaninglessness in life. This study emphasizes that awareness of mortality can profoundly shape human behavior and emotions, as seen through the existential pathway model. By identifying how death anxiety intertwines with constructs such as meaning, isolation, and identity, clinicians can more effectively address existential distress. The Albanian cultural context also plays a vital role, where historical and societal transitions have amplified collective experiences of anxiety and uncertainty. The findings suggest that fostering meaning in life is a powerful antidote to death anxiety, offering guidance for both clinical practice and future research