2. WHAT IS FEAR?
• Fear is a natural, powerful, and primitive human
emotion. It involves a universal biochemical response
as well as a high individual emotional response. Fear
alerts us to the presence of danger or the threat of
harm, whether that danger is physical or
psychological.
3. BIOCHEMICAL REACTION
• Fear is a natural emotion and a survival mechanism. When we confront a
perceived threat, our bodies respond in specific ways. Physical reactions
to fear include sweating, increased heart rate, and high adrenaline levels
that make us extremely alert.1
• This physical response is also known as the “fight or flight” response,
with which your body prepares itself to either enter combat or run away.
This biochemical reaction is likely an evolutionary development. It's an
automatic response that is crucial to our survival.
4. EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
• The emotional response to fear, on the other hand, is highly personalized.
Because fear involves some of the same chemical reactions in our brains that
positive emotions like happiness and excitement do, feeling fear under
certain circumstances can be seen as fun, like when you watch scary movies.
• Some people are adrenaline seekers, thriving on extreme sports and other
fear-inducing thrill situations. Others have a negative reaction to the
feeling of fear, avoiding fear-inducing situations at all costs.
5. SYMPTOMS OF FEAR
• Fear often involves both physical and emotional symptoms. Each person may
experience fear differently, but some of the common signs and symptoms include:
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Upset stomach
6. CAUSES OF FEAR
• Fear is incredibly complex.
• Some fears may be a result of experiences or trauma, while
others may represent a fear of something else entirely, such as
a loss of control. Still, other fears may occur because they
cause physical symptoms, such as being afraid of heights
because they make you feel dizzy and sick to your stomach.
7. SOME COMMON FEAR TRIGGERS INCLUDE:
• Certain specific objects or situations (spiders,
snakes, heights, flying, etc)
• Future events
• Imagined events
• Real environmental dangers
• The unknown
8. TYPES OF FEAR
• Agoraphobia
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Specific phobia
• Social anxiety disorder
9. COPING WITH FEAR
• Get social support. Having supportive people in your life can help you
manage your feelings of fear.
• Practice mindfulness. While you cannot always prevent certain emotions,
being mindful can help you manage them and replace negative thoughts with
more helpful ones.
• Use stress management techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle
relaxation, and visualization.
• Take care of your health. Eat well, get regular exercise, and get adequate
sleep each night.
• Use Nature as Your Therapist. natural beauty found in parks, backyards, or
wherever something green is growing does help reduce symptoms of fear and
10. • Use stress management techniques such as deep breathing, progressive
muscle relaxation, and visualization.
• Take care of your health. Eat well, get regular exercise, and get
adequate sleep each night.
11. Fear is an important human emotion that can help protect you from
danger and prepare you to take action, but it can also lead to longer-
lasting feelings of anxiety. Findings ways to control your fear can help
you better cope with these feelings and prevent anxiety from taking hold.
