Fear is good but only when it is necessary.

There are situations when the mind triggers fear into the heart to defend the body.  Millions of years of evolution have given human automatic responses to certain situations. Fear of height is a good example of this. Studies have found that the fear of height is in-built in humans. Imagine if our ancestors had no sense of fear while surviving while out in the open fields of east Africa millenniums ago. They would have ended up as lunch or dinner of some wild beast and you would not be reading this.

The rush of adrenaline that gives the “flee or fight” response to counter fear has kept the human race alive.

Fear is also bad.

There are plenty of situations where fear is unfounded.  Job interviews, public speaking and even social gatherings can trigger fear.  These situations usually are not physically threatening and the fears experienced unnecessary.  Are you a victim this?  There is only one cause for this and it is in your head.

Your thoughts if not controlled can play havoc.  When you are facing a situation you are not prepared or not accustomed to handling, your thoughts will play the devil’s advocate.  If you are called to give a talk to a large audience and you have no prior experience handling this situation, your thoughts, uncontrolled, will start sounding like this, “What if i mess up”, “Is my zipper open”, “Why is everyone smiling?, Have they found out what fool I am.”

When fear starts invading the body, it is usually accompanied by several unmistakable signs. The neck, back and shoulders muscle starts to tighten. Tightening of the chest. And shortness of breath. Pounding heart, restlessness and weakening of the muscles in the arms and legs.

Fear also triggers negative emotions.  Defensiveness, frustrations, aggression, anger and helplessness are some of the horrible feelings that surfaces. Feeling fearful for long periods of time can lead to more serious conditions such as insomnia, depression, paranoia and unhealthy weight loss or gain.

What is the best remedy to overcome fear? Positive self-talk is one way. Rather than worrying and being paralysed by fear, you can repeat positive statements to yourself. When you change the thoughts that are triggering your fear response, the fearful feelings subside.

There are many other ways to overcome fear.