Comments on: Feel The Fear http://weworry.com/2008/04/14/feel-the-fear/ Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:46:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Marianna http://weworry.com/2008/04/14/feel-the-fear/#comment-8259 Marianna Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:12:57 +0000 http://weworry.com/?p=146#comment-8259 Fear is often a learned response from a past experience that had high emotional, physical and/or mental pain. (Think about a time you burned yourself - it hurt, so the fear, which is justified is that you touch something hot, you get burnt.) Other things may not be so cut and dried. A child may have been bitten by a dog which caused her to fear all dogs. The stress response kicks in resulting in a physiological change (increased heart rate, rapid breathing, etc.) which limits the ability to use higher reasoning - ie. this is not the same dog, I'm an adult, I'm bigger than the dog. Fear, like you describe, is in part, fed by the media and also by your imagination. Your body is under constant stress - a process that involves 1400 physical and chemical changes, complete with side-effects = more fear. This is cycle that feeds itself...you feel fear, you release stress hormones, you feel more fear, you release more stress hormones...and 'round and 'round it goes. Unless you learn some "in the moment" techniques to help. If you'd like to discuss this further - please send me an email. In the meantime, do what I decided to do - yes, for years I believed the world was coming to an end and felt powerless to do anything - I stopped watching the news, and I'm much calmer for it. If it's something really big - don't worry, you'll hear about it. Fear is often a learned response from a past experience that had high emotional, physical and/or mental pain. (Think about a time you burned yourself - it hurt, so the fear, which is justified is that you touch something hot, you get burnt.) Other things may not be so cut and dried.
A child may have been bitten by a dog which caused her to fear all dogs. The stress response kicks in resulting in a physiological change (increased heart rate, rapid breathing, etc.) which limits the ability to use higher reasoning - ie. this is not the same dog, I’m an adult, I’m bigger than the dog.

Fear, like you describe, is in part, fed by the media and also by your imagination. Your body is under constant stress - a process that involves 1400 physical and chemical changes, complete with side-effects = more fear.

This is cycle that feeds itself…you feel fear, you release stress hormones, you feel more fear, you release more stress hormones…and ’round and ’round it goes. Unless you learn some “in the moment” techniques to help.

If you’d like to discuss this further - please send me an email.

In the meantime, do what I decided to do - yes, for years I believed the world was coming to an end and felt powerless to do anything - I stopped watching the news, and I’m much calmer for it. If it’s something really big - don’t worry, you’ll hear about it.

]]> By: Rudy http://weworry.com/2008/04/14/feel-the-fear/#comment-8241 Rudy Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:56:21 +0000 http://weworry.com/?p=146#comment-8241 You stated: "I am a young girl, in college. I am constantly scared of death/injury. I hate riding in cars. People hate riding with me, because I constantly see an imaginary accident in front of my eyes ‘SLOW DOWN’. I don’t have anymore friends, I don’t leave the house as much as I used to. I can’t imagine how I slept in the car when I was little! My eyes are constantly scanning the road these days. " What do you actually fear about dying? Is it what actually happens to you after death? Are you not sure where you will be? What is life after death like? Can you explain a little bit more of what your feelings are? You stated: “I am a young girl, in college. I am constantly scared of death/injury. I hate riding in cars. People hate riding with me, because I constantly see an imaginary accident in front of my eyes ‘SLOW DOWN’. I don’t have anymore friends, I don’t leave the house as much as I used to. I can’t imagine how I slept in the car when I was little! My eyes are constantly scanning the road these days. ”

What do you actually fear about dying? Is it what actually happens to you after death? Are you not sure where you will be? What is life after death like? Can you explain a little bit more of what your feelings are?

]]> By: jane http://weworry.com/2008/04/14/feel-the-fear/#comment-8238 jane Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:46:53 +0000 http://weworry.com/?p=146#comment-8238 There is no doubt that the world is a scary place, but when you think about it bad things have always happened throughout the ages. The way our media is always right there however, beaming the horror into our living rooms doesn't help those of us who are inclined towards the anxious. It always interests me how two people can react totally differently to the same situation however. One may just think "oh well, that's life", and the other starts ruminating about the what if's and what can go wrong next. In reply to 'You're too young to worry', it sounds like your fear antennae is well and truely hightened, you are super alert, and this must be exhausting for you. I hope that you are getting some help and support with this because it's not a good place to be. Just remember that you are not alone, a lot of us have had similar experiences and often medication and/or counselling can help. All the best. There is no doubt that the world is a scary place, but when you think about it bad things have always happened throughout the ages. The way our media is always right there however, beaming the horror into our living rooms doesn’t help those of us who are inclined towards the anxious.

It always interests me how two people can react totally differently to the same situation however. One may just think “oh well, that’s life”, and the other starts ruminating about the what if’s and what can go wrong next. In reply to ‘You’re too young to worry’, it sounds like your fear antennae is well and truely hightened, you are super alert, and this must be exhausting for you. I hope that you are getting some help and support with this because it’s not a good place to be. Just remember that you are not alone, a lot of us have had similar experiences and often medication and/or counselling can help. All the best.

]]> By: You'reTooYoungToWorry http://weworry.com/2008/04/14/feel-the-fear/#comment-8235 You'reTooYoungToWorry Mon, 26 May 2008 01:44:07 +0000 http://weworry.com/?p=146#comment-8235 Hi, I happened upon your blog from google. I was searching about being 'scared of injury and death', all the results were sadistic news articles about people getting murdered/mutilated/killed. I am a young girl, in college. I am constantly scared of death/injury. I hate riding in cars. People hate riding with me, because I constantly see an imaginary accident in front of my eyes 'SLOW DOWN'. I don't have anymore friends, I don't leave the house as much as I used to. I can't imagine how I slept in the car when I was little! My eyes are constantly scanning the road these days. I get stomach cramps because of these worries, my joints ache from the strain of stress. I feel like an old maid. I am convinced that it is partial anxiety, but also the society I live in, America. I have visited Europe (specifically Holland). It is a land of safety. People drive safer, no guns, lower (violent) crime rates. Heaven to me. Am I anxious, or just American? Thanks Hi, I happened upon your blog from google. I was searching about being ’scared of injury and death’, all the results were sadistic news articles about people getting murdered/mutilated/killed.

I am a young girl, in college. I am constantly scared of death/injury. I hate riding in cars. People hate riding with me, because I constantly see an imaginary accident in front of my eyes ‘SLOW DOWN’. I don’t have anymore friends, I don’t leave the house as much as I used to. I can’t imagine how I slept in the car when I was little! My eyes are constantly scanning the road these days.

I get stomach cramps because of these worries, my joints ache from the strain of stress. I feel like an old maid.

I am convinced that it is partial anxiety, but also the society I live in, America. I have visited Europe (specifically Holland). It is a land of safety. People drive safer, no guns, lower (violent) crime rates. Heaven to me.

Am I anxious, or just American?

Thanks

]]> By: Discriminating Among Anxiety Disorders « pasadena therapist http://weworry.com/2008/04/14/feel-the-fear/#comment-8233 Discriminating Among Anxiety Disorders « pasadena therapist Thu, 22 May 2008 13:14:33 +0000 http://weworry.com/?p=146#comment-8233 [...] anxiety. For instance, If you click back to their homepage there’s another nice post titled, “Feel the Fear.” The post mentioned earlier, titled “What’s in a Diagnosis?” starts like this: One [...] [...] anxiety. For instance, If you click back to their homepage there’s another nice post titled, “Feel the Fear.” The post mentioned earlier, titled “What’s in a Diagnosis?” starts like this: One [...]

]]> By: Marianna http://weworry.com/2008/04/14/feel-the-fear/#comment-8231 Marianna Sun, 18 May 2008 18:05:23 +0000 http://weworry.com/?p=146#comment-8231 What you are so elegantly talking about in this article is the option to choose. We can choose how we spend our time - if we know something is a stressor in our lives we can decide to do something differently, provided that we know what to do. For example, I used to get so upset with the news and think that the world was coming to an end. I finally opted out of watching the news and I am much happier for it. (horrors of horrors to those who have to know every second what is going on in the world - which frankly, hasn't changed too much from the second before) It doesn't mean that I am clueless to world events - I choose to read the stories that interest me and besides, if it is big enough - people will talk. Another thing that has made life so much better for me is learning techniques that transform stress in the moment - 24/7. What you are so elegantly talking about in this article is the option to choose. We can choose how we spend our time - if we know something is a stressor in our lives we can decide to do something differently, provided that we know what to do.

For example, I used to get so upset with the news and think that the world was coming to an end. I finally opted out of watching the news and I am much happier for it. (horrors of horrors to those who have to know every second what is going on in the world - which frankly, hasn’t changed too much from the second before) It doesn’t mean that I am clueless to world events - I choose to read the stories that interest me and besides, if it is big enough - people will talk.

Another thing that has made life so much better for me is learning techniques that transform stress in the moment - 24/7.

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