Conquer Your Fears

Gina is a general practitioner. Nevertheless deep down inside she has always loved to write. Gina’s true ambition has taken a back seat for fear of making the wrong move, for fear of public perception and also the fear of making drastic changes in her life.All of us, in one way or another, have fears. At times, fear controls the way we live and the way we make decisions. As an outcome, most of us have tendencies of making “safe” decisions in life.

Fear appear in many forms to different individuals. Among some common fears include fear of spiders, fear of speaking in the open and fear of making decisions. According to renowned psychologists John B Watson and Paul Ekman, fear, coupled with other basic forms of emotions, is instinctive in humans. Fear is good in certain instances as it allows the body to react in a tensed or fearful situation. When this happens, hormones are released in the brain to provide a quick and preferable solution to cushion the impact later.

On the contrary there are some fears that hold a person back from living a full and healthy life. Some people, little do they realize, are not happy with the things they do for fear of jeopardizing their current contended lifestyle.

Paul confessed that deep down inside he had always wanted to buy a big bike and go cruising to interesting destinations every weekend. However, fear is stopping him from venturing into such an activity. He worries about paying the monthly bike installments, the thought of pouring money into proper riding gears, and even the fear of crashing while riding.

While it is important to take note of one’s monetary position, there shouldn’t be a fear to live life to the fullest. Some are afraid of changes and make fear as an excuse to not venture out from their accustomed “shell”.

Even the fear of not being wanted can lead to mental problems. Katherine, a widow, who has been busy raising her children only to realize they have all grown up and do not need her attention anymore, is now worried of being left out of the family. Such a worry will lead to fear of being unwanted and later may translate into depression. Petty as it may look at first, such instances do happen around us but yet, at times we are too blinded to notice the changes in behavioral attitude by our loved ones.

While most of us have fears, there are others on the contrary who enjoy fear! This can be seen in people who enjoy extreme activities like riding a roller coaster or bungee jumping meters above sea level.

For some, the adrenaline rush may translate into an addiction and thus, leading one to get into extreme activities like paragliding or skiing down a dangerous mountain slope.

Quoting former American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during a presidency speech in 1933,

…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance…

Roosevelt’s bold confrontation of fear aided him to stimulate a nervous nation.

Common Fears

• Acrophobia - fear of heights
• Arachnophobia - fear of spiders
• Agoraphobia - fear of open spaces
• Belonephobia - fear of needles
• Brontophobia - fear of thunder and lightning
• Claustrophobia - fear of confined spaces
• Hamartophobia - fear of sinning
• Suriphobia - fear of mice or rats
• Necrophobia - fear of death
• Pentheraphobia - fear of mother in law
• Thalassophobia - fear of the sea
• Xenophobia - fear of strangers or foreigners
• Athazagoraphobia - fear of being forgotten or ignored
• Atychiphobia, Kakorrhaphiophobia - fear of failure
• Metathesiophobia - fear of changes

Medicine And Phobias

Ranging from panic attacks, shortness of breath, sweating, irregular heartbeat and nausea, phobias can cause individuals to be apart from their loved ones or to feel left out in life.

Although there are a variety of drugs available in the market and often used or prescribed to individuals who have fears, the side effects and withdrawal symptoms associated with some drugs may be severe. Drugs do not in any way cure phobias. In fact, drugs at best only provide some temporary relief to the person suffering from a particular phobia.

PureCalm by Native Remedies, combines the soothing properties of Melissa Officinalis, with those of Lavender and Passiflora Incarnata, bringing you relief from anxiety, stress, irritability and nervous tension.

There are many ways to overcome fear, and the best way is by facing fear in the face. List down your fears and try to slowly build your confidence to overcome the fear. Conquering fear is like riding a bicycle. You might drop a couple of times along the way, but once you’re up and stable you are set to live your life without fear. Fear is natural, however, do not be enslaved by your own fears. It is all in the mind.

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