Overcome your fears

Fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat. Fear can make us feel helpless as we face unpredictable life experiences that we have no control of. Sensitive people dwell on the threat of what may happen and will avoid situations that they can’t control or are unfamiliar with. Fear creates physiological responses like heart palpitations, clammy skin, shortness of breath, dry mouth and muscle twitches. The severity of these symptoms can affect the quality of life for the individual experiencing them.

The science of fear

Fear is also a learned experience that is conditioned to the response of pain. This emotion initiates the sympathetic nervous system or the “fight or flight” response. The GABA system helps maintain the flow of stimulation reducing the flow of neural transmission. About 25 percent of us will experience the affects of anxiety and fear at sometime in our life. Memories of fearful experiences will change the encoding of our neuronal connections called synapses. When we anticipate the situation happening again the memory will trigger the previous encoded response stored in the brain.

Free yourself from fear

Fear can be a motivation to change. Rhonda Britten author of Fearless Living states, “Each time you do something and acknowledge yourself for it, what you’re really doing is building your self-confidence.” Self-certain people are aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They have prepared several options knowing that a safety plan creates a feeling of security. Your plan should involve your support system such as family and friends when taking on new challenges. They can provide the love and safety needed to build confidence when facing uncertainty. Isolation will only increase the fearful thoughts and negative emotions you are attempting to resolve.

Analyze your fear with facts. Determine how your fear or thoughts can harm you. Then replace them with the reality of the situation and acknowledging what was fantasy. Review your success and accomplishments when you have faced your fears. Journal your thoughts to help you change your thinking while you change your behaviors. Work to control your thoughts and focus on the positive as you build your confidence to become the person you envision being. Always seek professional help from your physician, counselor and pastor when needed.