Placophobia - not funny.
Placophobia, or fear of cemetery tombstones, is a common fear. A bit of nervousness or unease when entering a cemetery is normal, but 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.
If your placophobia is related to a generalized fear of death, treating the underlying phobia will help your fear of tombstones to diminish. It can be challenging to determine the root of any phobia, so seeking assistance from a qualified mental health provider is essential.
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.
If your placophobia is related to a generalized fear of death, treating the underlying phobia will help your fear of tombstones to diminish. It can be challenging to determine the root of any phobia, so seeking assistance from a qualified mental health provider is essential.
Source: American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th Ed.). Washington, DC: Author.