Anxiety. Fear. Panic. Are these words part of your every day life? These emotions are common in many people’s lives. They are wired into our brain as a self-preservation mechanism. For example, we may be in our car when suddenly a person on a motorbike drives in front of you. The fear of hitting this motorbike and its rider activates our minds to take defensive action. This is healthy fear – an awareness and avoidance and respect for potentially dangerous things in our lives.
What happens when we have a fear that controls and consumes us? The feelings that stop us from functioning and achieving the things we want to do. This is known as Unhealthy Fear. First of all, you need to recognize the feelings you are experiencing. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? The reality is that many people don’t really understand what they are frightened by. They just experience a range of symptoms which can prevent them from engaging in the life that they deserve. These results can range from the following:
- prevent decisions being made (about anything)
- distancing yourself from people that may be able to help
- stifle you enthusiasm with life
The list really could be endless, but in summary an Unhealthy Fear is one which controls our lives and consumes our ability to make decisions. Once you have recognized you may have an Unhealthy fear, the next step is to ask yourself this question “What am I really afraid of?” There are times when we can act unconsciously without recognizing why we are doing something. By asking what it is you are really afraid of, we can honestly identify the source of the fear. I suggest that you have a pen and paper handy, and begin writing. You may be surprised what comes out.
Once you have your thoughts on paper, this is the first step in making changes in your life. In later posts, I will highlight some of the steps that can be implemented which will help develop new behaviors.