Placophobia, or fear of cemetery tombstones, plays a large part in many Halloween events. At Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2008, for example, placophobia is used in conjunction with astrophobia, or fear of outer space. In the presented scenario, a male patient’s phobias lead him to believe that certain tombstones are a sign of impending interstellar catastrophe.
What Is Placophobia?
Although the above juxtaposition of phobias would be rare in real life, placophobia itself is fairly common. The fear of tombstones may occur alone or as part of a larger necrophobia, or fear of death. It appears that the majority of people who fear tombstones also fear related symbols of death such as hearses.
The causes of placophobia and necrophobia seem to be as varied as the clients that suffer from them. Many of these fears can ultimately be traced to ancient superstitions and beliefs about the ability of corpses to reanimate themselves. According to some legends, the dead are capable of cursing or even killing the living. This is the basis for popular zombie myths, which figure prominently in such films as Night of the Living Dead, 28 Days Later and Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Symptoms of Placophobia
A bit of nervousness or unease when entering a cemetery is normal. Most people feel somewhat uncomfortable when surrounded by death. However, those who suffer placophobia have much more extreme symptoms. You may find yourself sweating and shaking. Your heart may race and you might find it difficult to breathe. You might find yourself inventing excuses to avoid visiting cemeteries.
If your phobia is particularly severe, you may even take alternate routes to avoid walking or driving past a cemetery. Some sufferers invent protective rituals similar to those seen in sufferers of obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as holding your breath when passing a cemetery.
Treating Placophobia
Fear of tombstones is treated like any other specific phobia. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is especially popular, as is anti-anxiety medication. Your therapist will work with you to change the way that you think about tombstones and other symbols of death. He or she will encourage you to replace your fearful self-talk with more positive messages.
Source:American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th Ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
