How to Conquer the Four Fears That Hold You Back

"Today we find ourselves living in a world where our lives are virtually shaped by fear. It's been said that we live in a virtual culture of fear where social and economic fearmongering combines with cyber bullying to create an often toxic environment. So threatening is our world that psychiatric epidemiologists estimate that over one third of people will suffer diagnosable fear-related problems during their lifetime, making fear-related disorders the most prevalent of all mental disorders."

"Fear may be defined as a primitive, survival-oriented emotion triggered by the perception of threat. Fear is associated with the "fight or flight" stress response. Fear is designed to assist you in avoiding things that can harm you. So, in that sense fear can be a good thing. But sometimes rather than support you and keep you safe, fear can take on a life of it's own and cripple you, holding you back from living the life you really want."

"There are likely four significant fears that not only affect you on a daily basis, but may over time serve to shape your life in a way you come to regret later. 1. Fear of failure. How many times in life have you resisted trying something that you really wanted to do solely because you were afraid of failing? By not trying you were able to avoid the pain of disappointment and even a sense of humiliation. Or, a variation on this theme might be trying something half-heartedly so that when failure occurred you could say to yourself you really didn't try - better to fail by you own hands than by so"

Modern life is dominated by fear created by social and economic fearmongering and cyberbullying, producing a toxic environment. Psychiatric epidemiologists estimate that over one third of people will experience diagnosable fear-related problems, making fear-related disorders the most prevalent mental disorders. Fear is a primitive, survival-oriented emotion linked to the fight or flight response and can protect from harm. Fear can also become crippling, holding people back. Stoicism and cognitive behavioral therapy connect fear to perception rather than situations. Failure and regret often arise from missed opportunities rather than from genuine attempts. Wisdom from the past and CBT techniques can help move past pervasive fears.

Read at Psychology Today