Fear: Forever Our Formidable Foe
Chances are, if you’re reading this, you know the feeling of fear all too well.
It’s an emotion that drives researchers and laypeople alike into the abyss after feverishly trying to dismantle its DNA to solve the riddle of fear.
In its simplest form, fear is an emotion or sensation we get when we believe we are in danger. Some fears are healthy such as the terrifying feeling brought on from seeing a grizzly bear eating out of your garbage can. This is a rational fear. Other fears, not so much.
Anxiety is a word that healthcare professionals frequently use to describe a state of constant fear. However, fear and anxiety are used interchangeably because the underlying feeling is the same. In other words, the way you feel when you’re scared and anxious is highly similar.
Take a look at this comparison chart for a quick overview of fear and anxiety.
According to Psychology Today, fear is at the centre of most, if not all, anxiety problems. For anxiety to occur, there has to be a stimulation of the nervous system. No stimulus = no fear. But that’s hardly possible to do. Moreover, Dr. Shpancer explains there’s a need to embrace fear first before we can overcome it.
