What Is Death Anxiety? A Christian Existential Perspective

Death anxiety has long been understood as one of the given concerns of human existence. Irvin Yalom describes awareness of death as a subtle yet powerful force that shapes human behavior. In fact, daily life tends to organize around keeping the reality of death at a distance. We stay busy, and we celebrate milestones like birthdays and retirements. These behaviors are usually happy occasions, but are exercised as a means of postponing a difficult truth.

Death

The distance of death seems far, but the reality of death’s inevitability can become distressing in moments of crisis. 

Every day experiences can bring death anxiety to the surface:

• A serious accident or medical scare
  
• The sudden loss of a loved one
  
• Witnessing death unexpectedly
  
• Moments when life feels fragile or uncertain
  

The words of John Donne remain relevant for us today, even when we would like to ignore it. “Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” Death can often feel abstract, but we all eventually will face it at some point.

How Death Anxiety Shows Up Clinically

Death anxiety does not always appear as a conscious fear of death. Oftentimes, this anxiety can take indirect forms that bring people into counseling. 

It commonly shows up as:

• Depression marked by loss of meaning
  
• Persistent anxiety or worry about the future
  
• Grief that feels overwhelming or unresolved
  
• A sense of emptiness or restlessness

Everyone at some point encounters this tension. Age, success, or being Christian does not exempt one from having to face the finality of death in this life. 

Existential Psychology and Christianity

While Irvin Yalom is widely known for existential psychology, Søren Kierkegaard is regarded as the father of Christian existential thought. Kierkegaard saw anxiety as a fundamental condition of being human, not something we needed to get rid of. Anxiety emerges from freedom, responsibility, and the reality that our lives unfold without certainty. 

From this perspective:

• Anxiety is tied to existence itself – We will all experience it
  
• Meaning cannot be fully controlled or secured
  
• Human understanding has limitations

Faith and the Reality of Despair

Our Christian faith does not remove suffering or prevent despair. The shock of a loss raises difficult questions for us about God and life. Kierkegaard did not dismiss these struggles. He argued that life cannot be fully understood, and we have to accept that some aspects of life are beyond our understanding.

He described faith as a leap, which involves:

• Trust without full certainty
  
• Commitment in the presence of doubt
  
• Acceptance of the unknown rather than control

This posture can help people face death anxiety honestly, rather than trying to reason their way out of it.

The Role of Counseling in Addressing Death Anxiety

Scripture encourages believers not to be anxious about tomorrow, yet this is far easier to read than to live. Human hearts naturally worry about what lies ahead, including the reality of death. This is where counseling becomes meaningful.

The bible encourages Christians not to be worried or anxious about tomorrow, which is far easier to read than it is to live out. Human hearts will naturally worry about the road ahead, including the idea and sometimes the intense reality of death. This is where counseling can help. 

The counseling process provides space to:

• Name fears without judgment
  
• Explore meaning, values, and purpose
  
• Sit with uncertainty rather than avoid it
  
• Integrate faith with lived experience

In Christian Counseling and ACT therapy, the goal is not to eliminate our anxieties. It is to help individuals face their fears and search more deeply to discover what God is calling them to do in their lives. To live with vitality and commit to a life governed by values, not fears. Learning to face mortality can help people to gain a deeper appreciation for life and enrich their relationships. 

Death reminds us that time matters. Counseling helps people respond to that truth and trust God’s ongoing work even when the path ahead can feel uncertain.