Fear

Is fear the Face in the Mirror?

It affects us all at times...  Walking through a deserted car park at night, or facing a large, unfriendly dog - many common situations can arouse feelings of fear in even the most confident and capable of people. This response is natural, normal and useful, because fear sharpens the senses, gives extra strength and quickens reactions, helping you to respond to danger.

Well sometimes fear has no obvious cause, and might even seem excessive for the circumstances. Occasionally fear continues long after the danger has passed, or becomes almost a way of life. In these cases, fear itself and not the frightening situation becomes the problem. People who suffer from this sort of unreasonable fear have difficulty coping with the demands of everyday life and work, and find it hard to relax or enjoy themselves for any length of time, and then they can experience physical and emotional stress.

Irrational fear takes many forms. when it is provoked by particular objects or situations such as spiders, heights or flying, it is known as a Phobia. In some cases the victims experiences sudden, severe panic attacks in crowded or closed-in public places - Claustrophobia, or find it hard to leave the house - Agoraphobia.

Often however there is just a vague, persistent feeling of anxiety, or dread, which either has no apparent cause, or has its roots in some forthcoming event - an interview or an appointment.

Sometimes the cause of these irrational or exaggerated fears stem from events far in the past - even from childhood terrors as fear of the dark and 'monsters' - which have been forgotten, or which may not even have made a conscious impression at the time. Repressed feelings can also play a major part in growing fears.

Sometimes even having to look at yourself in the mirror might cause an irrational fear. Or avoiding your own reflection in a shop window as you are passing by causes you irritation or a fear response. This can be caused by deep forgotten memories or something someone said a long time ago. This response is also a type of fear - the fear of rejection.

Rejection of yourself by another person, rejection of how you look, what you are wearing, or even a new hairstyle that you thought made you look really great. The fear of not been accepted by your family, your friends, your colleagues and peers.

Well consider this.....
You will think up to 70 000 thoughts in a day.
Are your thoughts ones of doubt?
Do you doubt your abilities? Do you doubt yourself?
Doubt how you look?
Do you diminish yourself.....
with 70 000 negative thoughts in a day?

Or do you believe in yourself?
Believe in your abilities and what you are capable of.
Do you empower yourself with 70 000 positive thoughts during your day? Do you love and accept yourself?

It is as easy to think positive as it is to think negative.....

So, why are our thoughts so often focused on the negative, why do we doubt and fear? Why don't we just think positive thoughts, think of prosperity, think of success, think how great we look? Well, the reason for this is the build-up of negative experiences. According to research, everything we have ever heard, seen, smelt, touched or felt, every single input that we have readily accepted since the day we are born resides within us. Within our subconscious minds! For most of us this is negative input. So consider this, if you think 70 000 thoughts in a day, that equals 490 000 thoughts in a week, 25 480 000 thoughts in a year. In simple terms if you think 25 480 000 thoughts on how overweight or fat you are in a year, that is giving a lot of power to diminishing yourself, and undermining your self-esteem. If your thoughts are positive and you are thinking about success and belief in yourself, thinking how wonderful and great you look that's 25 480 000 thoughts of power in the right direction.  If we want to take control of our thoughts, we have to remove those negative inputs, those thoughts that create doubt.

Often the thoughts and emotions we are experiencing at the time are just a projection to an underlying cause. You can't deal with anger and frustration per se, what you can deal with is what is causing that anger and frustration. If you understand what is making you feel loving and happy then you know what experiences to fill your life with. Take control of your thoughts today by making them positive and you take control of yourself and your success, and how you look and feel.

What the Alternative Therapists Recommend

• Bach Remedies
  Rock rose is said to relieve extreme fear or intense panic which has reached crisis level. Mimulus is suitable for known fears, such as getting sick, being rejected, finding yourself alone in the dark, and dread of spiders, snakes, or heights. For feelings of foreboding, or of being punished for no good reason, try Aspen. Cherry plum may help with fear of insanity, of losing total control, or feeling paralysed with fright. Fear of being alone may be helped considerably by Chicory or Heather.
   
• Relaxation and Breathing: Meditation
  Both these therapies offer help in overcoming fears. Practitioners consider meditation an effective way of strengthening people's resistance to fear and anxiety. In addition, relaxing and breathing in an even and natural manner will help to prevent panic and the heightening of fear.
   
• An Orthodox View
  Doctors see fear as a normal human emotion which can help to protect us from irrational behaviour and dangerous situations. When fear gets out of control and becomes a phobia, doctors usually refer patients to a behavioural psychologist for 'desensitising' treatment. The success rate is good for fears of specific things such as snakes or confined spaces, but less effective when the person has a generally fearful or timid personality.

Please Note - if you are unsure of any of the recommendations listed in the article above please consult a professional therapist or medical professional. All information is provided for information and educational purposes only.

25th March 2003 Copyright - www.WhyWeight.co.za