Can you die of fear?

Question

I'm not talking about shock or consequences of panic, but long-term effects of a sustained emotional state of fear. For example, research shows you can die of lack of sleep. What other emotional states can you die of?

From Wikipedia:

"Lack of sleep may also result in irritability, blurred vision, slurred speech, memory lapses, overall confusion, hallucinations, decreased sex drive, nausea, psychosis, and eventually death."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_deprivation

Answer 1

Living in a state of fear can lead to high blood pressure and then cause stroke, which can kill.

Living in a constant state of fear is a pre-emptive condition than could lead to symptoms of a much more serious, life-threatening illness, but fear, of itself does not kill.

You are jumping to conclusions.

Answer 2

According to a book I read recently that dealt with anxiety and panic disorder, no you can't. At least not in the short term. My opinion is, that if you're stressed enough by your fears, that in the long term, you could die of the complications of stress (and there are many). But fear itsself? No.

Answer 3

YES! of course you can die of fear, an old schoolfriend of mine told me that he had had an extremeley bad nightmare in april of 1982, he said it had involving an alien of some sort chasing him until it had chased him off the edge of a cliff.

Poor andrew died last week of a sudden heart attack, i reckon he had that dream again.

Answer 4

Excessive fear can lead to a heart attack. That can kill you. Excessive fear can make you anorexic. Depression can cause anorexia Anorexics can die.

Answer 5

what research shows you can die from lack of sleep?

Answer 6

BOO

Answer 7

GUILT..