Fear is an intense, emotional response to a perceived threat. It can be caused by actual danger or by the thought of something terrible happening. When intense and persistent fear, it can lead to anxiety and panic attacks.
One of the most frightening things about fear is that it can sometimes cause people to see things that aren’t there. This situation is known as false evidence appearing real, or FEAR.
F.E.A.R False Evidence Appearing Real
The acronym F.E.A.R stands for false evidence appearing real. It describes the effect of a story your mind tells itself that causes a physical reaction.
When you’re in a situation where you feel threatened, your body responds with stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones change how your brain works. They make you more alert and focused and help you respond quickly. But when these hormones are released too often, they can become toxic. And when this happens, you may start having trouble sleeping, feeling anxious, or even have panic attacks.
Fear often comes from a thought of the future and something terrible that might happen. In most cases, what we fear most doesn’t happen.
For example, if you think of being late for work, you will probably get stressed out because you worry about getting fired. If you think of getting hurt, you’ll likely be afraid of losing someone important to you.
In addition, our brains don’t always tell us the truth. For example, we all know we tend to remember negative experiences better than positive ones. So when you experience a stressful event, your memory will focus on the negative aspects of the experience.
Example of F.E.A.R
I was sitting in my room, minding my own business. I had just finished reading a book and wanted to watch some Netflix. Suddenly, the doorbell rang! My heart started pounding – who could it be?
The doorbell rang again. I tried not to look out of the window because someone might see me looking at them. It quickly became dark outside. And then it got worse; there were loud bangs on the door! I thought for sure this time they would break down the door and come after me, but nothing happened for what felt like forever until finally, all went still.
The next day, I got a call from my brother. He told me the police had been to our house looking for me because of a false break-in report. I was shocked! How could someone have seen me through the window and reported it to the police? There was no break-in. And if I had opened the door, I would have realized there was nothing to fear. It turns out; my mind had created a false reality – something that felt very real but wasn’t happening.
F.E.A.R is False Evidence Appearing Real. Our mind tricks us into thinking something is real when it’s not. F.E.A.R can be caused by many things, including stress, anxiety, and panic attacks.
What Is Fear?
The word “fear” comes from the Latin fauor, meaning “to love.” So when you are afraid, you feel like you want to protect yourself. You may think you are protecting yourself against a dangerous situation, but you are only feeling more anxious because you are thinking about what could happen.
When you fear, your body reacts with adrenaline and other hormones. Your heart beats faster, your muscles tense up, and you breathe harder. All this happens so quickly that you don’t even realize it.
Your brain also sends signals to your muscles. These signals tell them to move quickly so they can help you escape whatever danger you think might be coming toward you.
If you fear heights, for example, you will probably start to sweat and shake before you even get near a high place. That’s because your mind tells your body that you are in danger.
How Do I Know if I Have a Fear?
You know you have a fear if:
• You worry about something all the time.
• You find yourself worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet.
• You have trouble sleeping at night.
• You keep having nightmares about something that has already happened.
• You feel scared when you hear certain sounds.
• You avoid places or situations that used to scare you.
• You get nervous whenever you think about the thing that scares you.
• You feel like you need to control everything around you.
• You have thoughts that go through your head over and over again.
How to Combat F.E.A.R
Facing your fears is hard. It takes courage to face your fears. The good news is that you can do things to overcome your fears. Here are some tips:
1. Talk to Someone Who Understands
It helps to talk to someone who understands what you are going through. This person should not be afraid of your problem either. They should be able to listen without judging or trying to fix anything.
2. Take Time Off From Worrying
Taking time off from worrying is very helpful. When you take time off from worrying, you give your brain a chance to calm down. A funny video, time out of the house, a short walk can all help quiet the mind.
3. Make a Plan
Make a plan to deal with your fear. For example, if you are afraid of flying, make a list of ways you can cope with the fear. For example, you might decide to call an airline company to ask questions. Or you might write down every detail of how you would handle a plane crash.
4. Get Support
Sometimes just talking to another person can help. Find people who understand what you are going through and share your feelings with them. They can offer support and encouragement.
5. Practice Relaxation Techniques
Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, tai chi, etc. Practicing these techniques regularly will make you calmer and less fearful.
6. Try Something New
Try new activities that you haven’t done before. For example, if you have always been afraid of roller coasters, try riding one. If you have never tried rock climbing, try it. If you have always avoided crowds, try attending a concert or sporting event.
7. Accept Your Fear
Accept your fear; don’t fight against it. Don’t say, “I’m not afraid.” Instead, say, “I am afraid.” Then let go of the idea that you shouldn’t be afraid. Eckhart Tolle says that there are only three ways out of suffering. Change the situation, leave the situation, or accept the situation.
8. Be Positive
Positively think about things. Look for the silver lining in any situation.
9. Keep Moving Forward
Don’t dwell on past failures. Instead, learn from mistakes and use this knowledge to improve future performance.
10. Remember That Everything Is Temporary
Everything happens for a reason. Therefore, we must learn to live with our fears and move forward.
Closing
Fear is normal. Everyone feels it sometimes. But if you let your fear rule your life, it will stop you from doing many important things. Don’t let your fear hold you back! Find someone to talk to, quiet your mind, and find a way to stop the storytelling in your mind.
