The phobia that is the fear of death is called thanatophobia, which is an intense fear of death or the dying process. It is a type of anxiety disorder and is characterized by feelings of dread or distress when thinking about ones death or the death of a loved one. Thanatophobia can cause physical symptoms such as panic attacks, avoidance of friends and family, anger, sadness, agitation, guilt, and persistent worry. It is not uncommon for people with thanatophobia to become obsessed with their health, constantly checking for signs of illness. The fear of death is different from necrophobia, which is an irrational or disproportionate fear of dead bodies or anything associated with death.