Question

Gerontophobia, Discuss the biology behind the problem selected and a potential intervention from a public health and a medical perspective to combat the issue of gerontophobia

Answer 1

Answer: Gerontophobia is a condition of fear of growing old. People tend to fear from growing old as they didn't want to be left alone at the elderly age. They take stress due to unusual thinking regarding aging.

Although there is no specific reason for this kind of phobia but many factors influences the intensity of the fear such as past trauma, fear of being left alone, stressed condition, bad experience in the past etc. The chemistry of genetics, brain and heridity causes phobia of anything.

With the severity of phobia many symptoms occurs such as dry mouth, unusual thinking, vomiting, depression etc. Mainly people suffering from Gerontophobia are become isolated and have rude behaviour. They don't want to meet with people and specially to the young ones.

No medication can cure the phobia but only the therapy and the counseling. To reduce the symptoms of phobia medication can be given such as antidepressants etc. Therapy and counseling can improve the condition of the patients as it will reduce the phobia and make the person able to understand the natural process and cycle of the life.