Isolate Your Fears

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Last night, restlessly, I hesitantly decided to watch classic horror films. Naturally, living alone, and engaged in horror flicks on a quiet eve, the only illumination was sourced from the television and decorating the surrounding walls....I immediately experienced signs of fear. Naturally, there was no danger present; however, the stimuli in my brain created a chain reaction of stress, and eventually released chemicals responsible for a rapid heartbeat, chills, and an increase in my breathing pattern. As the film concluded and ceased the final, meager source of light, I realized I was actually afraid.

Definition of Fear: "A feeling of agitation of anxiety caused by the presence of imminence of danger" or "to be uneasy or apprehensive about."

Of course, as I removed a portion of the blanket to visualize the dark setting of the room, I failed to notice any supernatural occurrences. Immediately, I accepted emotional defeat yet remained intent on conquering succeeding forces. I removed the thought of fear and instead embraced my strengths. Naturally, I have no intention of boasting, though I reminded myself of my physical and mental qualities. I quickly adopted a calming encouragement and advised myself that the associated feeling originated due to fictional elements of a movie. Though I acknowledge that supernatural beings may actually exist, there were none present in my room that night.

To be more precise in how fear is created, the sensory cortex of the brain will activate and interpret which sense will perceive the respective emotion. At this point, the stimuli began to stress the situation, and the amygdale ascertains whether a threat is present or not. The hypothalamus will thus initiate a fight or flight response.

Obviously, efforts to displace fear must be practiced, and struggling to achieve the required state will involve time. Conditioning is one method. This method consists of the individual actually facing associated fears. For example, a fear of heights will require that perspective to experience the phobia and thus embrace it. Once the individual can determine there is no possible threat, he/she may be able to feel more comfortable and less afraid. Another method will insist that you immediately fixate your thoughts elsewhere. For example, assuming you are afraid of the dark after recently viewing a horror flick, you will need to automatically consider thinking of something less threatening. It should only take a matter of seconds to recollect your nerves and slow down the stimuli. Overall, there are many methods of embracing your fears, and thereby ridding yourself of such. Give it a shot next time. As previously mentioned though, it will take a bit of practice.

The Free Dictionary (2010). Definition of fear. Retrieved Jan 17, 2010 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Fear