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We are all afraid of one thing or another. Some of the fears may make sense, for example, the fear of a lion. These fears help us in protecting ourselves. However, some fears are not rational.
These fears then cause us to miss out on different opportunities, in terms of career and life experiences, both.
Moreover, fears can also lead to an immense toll on mental health. It causes a wide range of problems, like lack of confidence, phobias, problems with relaxation, and even memory problems as well.
It also leads to serious issues like depression and anxiety as well. People then have to visit their therapist at the Saifee Hospital to improve their condition.
Fighting the fears
It is important to face your fears to improve the quality of your life. Opening to different life experiences is important for you to evolve. Here are some things to help you with this endeavor:
Distract yourself
Your mind will not listen to you during the throes of fear. During the extreme lows, when you feel paralyzed by fear, you need to distract yourself. Take a deep breath, go walk it off, do some meditation, but the physical intervention is necessary to help your body feel better.
Once you are through panic mode, only then can you start to work on facing your fears.
Challenge yourself
Many times fear stems from the fact that we are in our comfort zone, and so getting out of it takes a lot of effort. One way to do so is by challenging yourself. Give yourself a target to achieve.
Game plan
You are already afraid of something; you do not need to overwhelm yourself by thinking of taking big steps. The rip the band-aid approach will not work in this case. You therefore should make an actionable game plan.
Divide it into achievable and manageable tasks. As you go in piecemeal fashion, your body gets acclimatized to the change. For example, if you are afraid of driving, start with reading up on it, then familiarize yourself with the structure of the car. Take baby steps like driving forwards in an empty lot. Then, practice reverse. Perhaps learn to park as well. And then take the car on the road with someone. Finally –after getting your license of course –drive by yourself.
This is much more doable than driving on the road on the very first day.
Get support
There is no reason why you cannot ask your friends and family for help. So, seek the support of the people around you. For example, if you are afraid of public speaking, practice with them. Use their feedback to improve yourself. Talking to them can also be of help.
Understand the risks
One way to curb your fears is by evaluating the risks. There is a lot of fear that comes from uncertainty. You can then reduce your fear by understanding the risks. You can either read up on statistics –math always helps – or you can read up on literature regarding the issue.
Talk to people who have experienced it. For example, if you fear getting married, talk to someone with a happy marriage so they can quell your fears.
Avoiding it won’t cut it
You can avoid the situation that is causing you to fear, but that then increases your anxiety with regards to the situation, as the fear grows over time. It also robs you of opportunities. Hence, it is pertinent that you signal yourself that you will not be avoiding the situation.
To get over the fear, your brain needs to experience the situation. This is the rationale behind exposure therapy. When your brain is introduced to the thing causing you fear, it becomes accustomed to it.
However, if you still are experiencing anxiety, you should get help from a mental health expert like a psychologist or a Psychiatrist in Islamabad.
