Cases of Kinemortophobia Rising Sharply as Zombie Attacks Become More Frequent

By Bulletin Staff

Kevin has never been attacked by a zombie in his 38 years of life, and he has only seen the undead up close a handful of times. But he says that the mere thought of the living dead can cause him to break out in a cold sweat and become effectively paralyzed by fear.

Like an increasing number of Americans, Kevin, who asked to be identified only by his first name, suffers from kinemortophobia, a fear of the living dead. Kevin says that the condition first came on two years ago, in the thick of the COVID pandemic, and he started receiving treatment for his phobia this year.

Kevin is not alone in turning for help to treat his fear of the undead. Mental health professionals across the country have been reporting a sharp rise in the number of patients they are seeing for kinemortophobia over the past several years.

Causes of Kinemortophobia

Professionals who work in this field point to a number of factors driving the increase. First, assaults by the undead are actually becoming more frequent, as documented by the Zombie Violence Archive, an online resource that tracks zombie attacks and outbreaks around the United States. The Archive shows a 27% increase in attacks since 2018.

Second, 24/7 news channels have ramped up their coverage of zombie attacks in the past five years, devoting an increasing amount of airtime to the undead, according to Zombie Media Matters, an organization that studies trends in how the living dead are reflected in the news.

The greater visibility of the undead in media is compounded by the increased production of movies, TV series, video games and other media featuring zombies, according to Reggie Spikes, a sociologist who studies the influence of the living dead on entertainment and popular culture.

“It used to be that people would go to a movie, turn on their TV or play a video game to forget about the horrors of the slow-moving zombie apocalypse that we seem to be living through. But today there is no where to go to escape the undead – they literally are clawing their way into our consciousness no matter where we turn,” Spikes says.

Influence of Social Media

Social media also has clearly played a role in the rising prevalence of kinemortophobia, mental health experts say. Zombie attacks and outbreaks regularly “trend” on the different platforms. Social media companies have strict rules banning videos or other graphic portrayals of undead assaults, but they have struggled to keep up with the ongoing onslaught of zombie content uploaded every hour.

“Once you watch one video of a zombie horde disemboweling some poor soul, the recommendation engines that drive social media make it impossible to avoid the undead in your feed,” explains Delia Zevchenko, a technology consultant who tracks the living dead’s online presence.

Richard Karelik, a professor of psychology at Wexler University who has studied kinemortophobia, believes that the COVID pandemic exacerbated fear of the undead for some people, and concerns about climate change are having the same effect, particularly for young people who have grown up with the double threats of zombie apocalypse and global warming hanging over their futures.

“During times of heightened stress or uncertainty, individuals can be more prone to fears related to the breakdown of societal order or the very survival of humanity, which can lead to an increased fear of the undead as a metaphor for, and a symptom of, chaos and societal collapse,” Karelik said.

Karelik noted that improved recognition and reporting of kinemortophobia by mental health professionals might also be leading to a perceived rise in cases due to better diagnosis and awareness.

Symptoms of Kinemortophobia

People who experience kinemortophobia can exhibit a range of symptoms that can vary in intensity. They may feel intense and irrational fear when exposed to anything related to zombies. This fear can manifest as extreme anxiety, panic attacks or a sense of dread. They might even feel a constant state of apprehension or terror, even in situations where there’s no immediate threat.

Physical reactions related to kinemortophobia can include rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea or dizziness. Some individuals might feel an overwhelming urge to flee or escape from situations or places that they associate with zombies, leading to avoidance behaviors.

Kinemortophobes also might have intrusive thoughts or obsessive worries about encountering zombies. They might engage in constant vigilance, scanning their environment for signs of potential threat, even in seemingly safe surroundings. These thoughts can interfere significantly with daily functioning, causing distress and impairment in various aspects of life.

Psychologists warn that kinemortophobia can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life, including the avoidance of certain activities or places – or even media content – that might trigger their fear. Mental health professionals recommend that individuals who suffer from kinemortophobia seek qualified help and support to manage (and hopefully overcome) these intense fears.

Helping Kinemortophobes

Experts in dealing with kinemortophobia say that treating it can involve various therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing the fear response and helping individuals manage their anxiety. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used to treat fear of the living dead. It involves identifying and challenging irrational thoughts and beliefs about zombies.

Exposure therapy, a component of CBT, gradually exposes individuals to the undead in a controlled and safe manner, helping to desensitize the fear response over time. Notably, emerging technologies like virtual reality can simulate exposure scenarios in a controlled environment, offering a safe way for individuals to confront their fears.

Some therapists also recommend mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation or mindfulness exercises to help manage anxiety and stress associated with kinemortophobia. In some cases, a mental health professional might prescribe anti-anxiety medications to alleviate the physical symptoms of anxiety, particularly in situations where the fear response is severe.

Finally, counselors might also recommend joining a support group or attending counseling sessions with others who are experiencing a similar fear of the undead to gain a sense of community and understanding, which can be beneficial in managing anxiety about being devoured by the relentless undead.

Kevin’s Journey

As for Kevin, he says that he is still on his journey to manage his kinemortophobia. He initially used CBT and exposure therapy, but has more recently shifted to practicing relaxation and visualization techniques to overcome his fears.

“It used to be that I couldn’t walk into a grocery store without seeing a zeke in every aisle,” Kevin says. “Now I’m much more comfortable in public places, and I’m getting back to a much more normal life. But of course I have to balance overcoming my fears with the need to remain prepared to fend off an actual attack by the living dead, which can realistically happen at any moment.”

Reflecting for a moment, Kevin adds, “It’s an ongoing struggle, just like it is for society as a whole. How do we get on with our lives while also staving off civilizational collapse? That fight never really ends.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, available 27/7/365. You are not alone.

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