Fear is a strange and curious companion that we all encounter most days, to greater or lesser degrees.
Touted in various articles and ads as an achievable goal is a state of “fearlessness.” A noble quest. Fear as something to be conquered.
The slogan goes something like, “Once you have conquered fear, you will reach the highest heights, overcome all manner of phobias. Get the guy; get the girl. Have absolute confidence on your way to manifesting your hidden dreams — and more!”
For anyone who suffers from anxiety, panic attacks, phobias or the like, that’s a lot of shaming pressure to bear.
There is merit to the notion of overcoming fear in certain aspects of our lives. It certainly makes sense when fear degrades the quality of life.
Phobias — perceiving danger where is none — can be paralyzing. Anxieties manifesting as social phobias, fueled by unattainable perfectionist behaviors promoted by media and peer pressure. Suffocating our normal human vulnerability creates unrealistic images of how we are “supposed to be” in this fear-free world.
Subscribing to such fantasies may lead to depression and even suicide, in extreme cases.
Sigmund Freud made an interesting point about fear back in the day.
He regarded it as not only useful, but essential. Fear, he stated at times, “will save your life.”
There was a scene in the famous movie “Titanic” in which two seamen keep watch in the middle of a freezing night. Looking for icebergs, along their accelerated journey to New York from Liverpool.
One sailor says to the other, “Smell ice, can ya?” Sarcastically, what he referred to was the ice he smelled in the air. It brought such a feeling of fear that he sounded the alarm on deck, alerting seamen at the other end of the ship to rush to try and steer the ship away from the iceberg. Tragically, it was not soon enough to save the Titanic.
It was the seaman’s innate senses and fear that prompted him to take action.
Another example of how fear can create movement leading to safety: Paying attention to first rumblings or jolts of an earthquake — a regular feature in the lives of residents here in Los Angeles.
These seismic shakings occur in varying sizes and durations, but most Angelenos are primed to pay attention to the slightest movements in the environment. This learned instinct serves as a useful signal — go quickly to safety — fear triggering an automatic response.
There are so many examples in which fear is a protector not to be eliminated but experienced as a guide, a barometer that could save your life and the lives of others.
Conversely, be mindful that overt fear also can be paralyzing. Our nervous systems have a particular way of functioning. Many people will freeze in the face of events such as experiencing a tornado, being trapped in an elevator, facing a first concert recital, or even taking a driving test.
For some, everyday fears may become so debilitating that they need assistance via therapy. There are many ways to treat this, from exposure therapy to hypnotherapy to regular talk therapy — all proven effective in overcoming irrational fears.
As in all things in life, balance is key. Value your rational fear as nature’s guide and protector.
Photo: Ramzi Hashisho