Fear is a primal emotion inherent in humans, serving as a mechanism to preserve life. It helps us identify and respond to dangers, urging us to exercise caution and heightened awareness. Justified fear provides us with the necessary energy to act decisively, take protective measures, or face challenges and mobilize our strengths. Thus, fear serves as a kind of alarm system; without the ability to experience fear, we would put ourselves in situations that could endanger our survival.
In modern life, we often find ourselves in situations that trigger fears: worrying about loved ones, fearing the loss of money or employment, trembling before a conversation with a superior, feeling queasy during plane rides, or dreading a dental appointment. Some situations are perceived as threats (like going to the dentist), even though they pose no significant danger objectively.
Each person has a different level of fear, ranging from mild unease to intense panic attacks with noticeable physical symptoms. One person may board a plane calmly and even enjoy the flight, while another may only endure the journey with the help of tranquilizers or avoid air travel altogether.
We are all familiar with the physical symptoms of fear: rapid heartbeat, weak knees, fast breathing, tight throat, and sweating. On a behavioral level, fear presents us with the choice of either facing the problem and fighting (fight), avoiding the frightening situation (flight), or pretending to be unresponsive in the hope that everything will turn out fine. However, attributing all fears to being innate would be a serious mistake, as most fears are learned or, more commonly, adopted from our caregivers. Babies learn about the world through their mothers, and if the mother is afraid of spiders, the baby also learns to fear spiders. How would it know that spiders are harmless (at least the ones common in Europe) and pose no threat?
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses. Furthermore, there is hardly a mental disorder - and I would argue hardly a physical illness - that does not go hand in hand with fear. I have repeatedly observed that not only does unusual fear cause suffering in the affected individual, but they also experience physical discomfort. It is estimated that 70 percent of people will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Women experience this about twice as often as men. Anxiety disorders prove to be very persistent, even though most children outgrow their excessive fears over time. In adults suffering from anxiety, the problems can usually be traced back to their childhood; thus, childhood and adolescence are regarded as critical life stages that determine whether a tolerable level of anxiety remains or whether an anxiety disorder develops. One thing is common to the different forms of anxiety: the source of the fear is projected outward.
With specific phobias, such as arachnophobia or claustrophobia, our fear is directed at clearly defined objects or situations. These are therefore avoided whenever possible or, if not possible, endured with great tension. Our fear is not alleviated by the assurances of others that the frightening object or situation is actually harmless, and thus, our fear is deemed inappropriate and irrational. Merely the thought of encountering such an object or finding oneself in a corresponding situation is frightening. We no longer enjoy life because our thoughts constantly revolve around the supposedly threatening object or situation, and we see no way out.
Consider the story of Sarah, a high school student whose parents are going through a tumultuous divorce. Sarah finds herself constantly caught in the middle of their arguments and emotional turmoil. She feels responsible for keeping the peace in the household and often sacrifices her own needs to placate her parents.
One evening, Sarah's father becomes particularly upset and starts shouting at her mother. In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Sarah steps in, pleading with her father to calm down. Despite her efforts, the argument escalates, and her father storms out of the house, leaving Sarah feeling helpless and inadequate.
From that moment on, Sarah develops a fear of confrontation and conflict. She becomes hyper-vigilant, always on edge, anticipating the next outburst. Whenever tension rises at home or in any interpersonal situation, Sarah experiences intense anxiety, fearing that she will fail to prevent a breakdown in relationships.
Living with this constant fear takes a toll on Sarah's mental and emotional well-being. She finds it difficult to concentrate in school, withdraws from social activities, and struggles to find joy in life. The once vibrant and optimistic Sarah now sees everything through a lens of uncertainty and dread, longing for a sense of peace and stability that seems out of reach.
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