top of page

FEAR

Writer's picture: Psique Espaço PsicoterapêuticoPsique Espaço Psicoterapêutico

Fear is part of life. This emotion usually occurs when you perceive a threat to your personal well-being. Therefore, it is important to know the types of fear that exist and what treatments are available for those that are more persistent. Understand what fear is Fear can be described as the mental anticipation of the danger to be faced. In other words, it is the anxiety felt before facing a situation that puts the individual at risk. In this context, it is worth noting that feeling afraid is normal and instinctive for every human being. In this way, fear can cause people to experience a wide range of physical and mental changes. However, exaggerated or irrational fear can become harmful. In these situations, fear tends to interfere directly with the individual's happiness, weakening their sense of security and their ability to act normally. Types of fear Feeling fear is something that every human being feels throughout their lives. That way, there is no specific age for this. Many don't even remember how their greatest fear came about, but the fear is there nonetheless. This feeling is associated with anxiety and stress and the best thing is to know that there is a cure. As fear is common to all human beings, there are several types of fear. In this context, knowing what kind of fear you feel can be essential for self-knowledge and, if necessary, for treatment. Check out the most common types of fear that exist below: Speak in public; Be alone; To die; Height; To fly; Blood; Dark; Closed place; Get sick; Storm; Animals; Injection.


What causes the fear? It is likely that everyone will experience some form of fear some day. Humans and animals have innate reactions to certain stimuli, such as unexpected or loud noises. Some of these stimuli may vary from one person to another. However, some types of fear are more often seen in most people. In addition, new fears are often learned every day. Thus, fear-inducing stimuli associated with objects or events that are not normally frightening may cause new fears. . The effects of fear on the brain A person's response to danger often involves many different areas of the brain. However, research in the field of psychology has identified the amygdala as essential in fear processing. When a person is faced with a potentially dangerous situation, the amygdala sends excitatory signals to other areas of the brain. In this way, it is possible to ensure that these areas become more alert. One study followed a woman with Urbach-Wiethe disease, a condition that results in wrinkling and hardening of parts of the brain. In this case, parts of her amygdala had been affected. Thus, she didn't feel afraid when she came across haunted houses, big spiders or poisonous snakes. However, she still experienced strong fear when asked to inhale carbon dioxide (a gas that causes asphyxiation). So, one thing became clear to the researchers: even if dangerous external factors don't trigger a fear response, threats to internal health can. This is mainly due to the survival factor.


The physical and emotional effects of fear Without fear, an individual's chances of survival would likely decrease. In this way, fear can be healthy. It helps people get away from dangerous, harmful, or even life-threatening situations by triggering a fight-or-flight response. Thus, it is a bodily reaction that can be extremely useful to human beings. Fear can even cause someone to experience an enhanced perception of space and time. In addition, the senses of sight, hearing and smell can be heightened. Furthermore, in life-threatening situations, these perceptual adjustments can increase a person's chance of survival. In this context, fear often affects people physically and emotionally. Physical changes caused by fear You may experience a variety of physical responses to fear, such as: Temporary paralysis; Irregular heartbeat; Stomach pain, headache or nausea; Dizziness or fainting; Sweat; To cry; Muscle tension (twitching or shaking) Choke; Irregular sleep patterns; loss of appetite; Rapid or shallow breathing. Psychological changes caused by fear The psychological effects of fear can also be represented by various symptoms, including: Intrusive or disturbing thoughts; Loss of focus; Confusion; Horror; Anxiety; Anger; Despair; Numbness; Helplessness.


Fear and mental health Fear has been linked to numerous mental and behavioral health concerns. Therefore, the balance of this feeling is fundamental for a person to live in a healthy way. For example, anxiety issues often involve fear of a future event or occurrence. People affected by hallucinations or delusions may also experience high levels of fear. Additionally, individuals affected by negative moods may become fearful of certain events such as a breakup, loss, or failure. Thus, fear is listed as a contributing factor or symptom of conditions such as: Generalized anxiety; Specific Phobias; Obsessions and compulsions; Social anxiety; Paranoia; Panic; Post-traumatic stress; Depression; Schizophrenia

Difference between fear and phobia There is a distinction between fear and phobia. While fear is an emotional response to a real or perceived threat, a phobia, however, is similar to a fear with one difference: the anxiety is so strong that it interferes with the individual's quality of life. Therefore, the intense fear characteristic of the phobia is usually disproportionate to the real threat of it. In addition, the phobia often paralyzes the individual or makes him avoid certain places and situations. If you show signs of constant or disabling fear, you need to seek professional help.


How to treat fear The most recommended treatment for irrational fear is therapy. However, therapy should be done with a qualified professional in the area. In this context, you can consult a psychologist, therapist or psychoanalyst. In more serious cases, however, it is indicated to carry out a psychiatric medical analysis. Mind health is essential for human balance and through therapy it is possible to achieve healing. Therefore, the sooner a person seeks treatment, the greater the chances of leading a normal life. Throughout the article, we learn that fear is innate in human beings. In this way, it is essential to create alerts in cases of emergency. Thus, fear is indispensable for the survival of the species. However, when there is an excess of fear, it is necessary to find out its origin. We can also understand the most common types of fear and their effects on the human body. In addition, it is important to distinguish fear from phobia. Phobia, in turn, is a pathological fear that needs to be treated. For this, medical follow-up and psychotherapy are necessary in order to obtain a cure.


https://www.psicanaliseclinica.com/tipos-de-medo/

0 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

QUALITY OF LIFE

Although it is a difficult concept to explain, most people intuitively understand what quality of life is. In other words, although...

Our freedom and our choices

Making choices is not an easy process. It involves evaluating the options that reality offers and giving up something, believing that...

Accelerated thinking

Accelerated thinking is what mental health professionals call thinking whose speed is increased, with a greater flow of ideas than usual....

Comments


  • LinkedIn

©2021 by Psyche Pedagogical Space. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page