This post examines some of what we know about fear and good ways to deal with it.
Fear is an emotional state. It occurs when a fear provoking stimulus activates our adrenal glands and a chemical reaction occurs in the body. We all know what it feels like. It’s the surge of energy we feel when we are physically in danger and we need to move quickly. It’s the sweaty palms and the dry throat we experience when we have to give a speech in front of a large crowd. It’s the experience of butterflies in the stomach. The question is how do we deal with fear?
Being aware of fear when it happens to us tends to take some of the power out of the emotion. We can say, “I’m experiencing a lot of fear right now, perhaps I should take a moment to collect myself and breathe.” Or, we can try to reason with ourselves to realize that most fears fade when we face the facts of a situation. William Shakespeare wrote, “Present fears are worse than horrible imaginings.”
When we are attentive to what is before us, fear has less of a chance to control our thoughts and we are less apt to be in negative imagination about all the things that can go wrong in the future. Shakespeare also wrote, “Things done well and with a care, exempt themselves from fear.”
What do you do when you experience a lot of fear? I have found that trying to ignore it or push it away doesn’t work. In fact, it often makes it worse. I have to allow the state of fear to happen and to see that the part of me that can observe the fear is not the fear itself. This is challenging since generally when I’m experiencing fear it wants to control all of me. But, I wouldn’t know I was experiencing it unless I was observing it and that awareness is often the only part of me that’s not experiencing the fear. Sometimes I have to breathe my way through it – other times, asking someone for help while having the experience is beneficial. I also find that physical exercise helps. If I take a walk or engage in some sort of movement, it helps the fear dissipate in my body and it changes my perspective. That jolt of adrenalin can be channeled into physical activity to help you re-balance your energy and calm down.
Don’t be afraid to ask for support if you need it. Everyone experiences fear and they understand the anxiety that comes along with it. There’s no sense in making the fear worse by being afraid to ask someone else for help. Most people are more than willing to support you in your quest for more peace and tranquility.
Kathleen