|
Success...It's All in the Letter P By now we are familiar with Nigel Lythgoe, the British television director and producer, who created such smash hits as Ameri... |
Recent Columns
The Many Faces of Fear
Original Publication Date:
April 2009
We, human beings, are such scaredicats. We live in a place dictated by fear. Yes we do. Think of it. We're afraid to fly. We're afraid of height. We're scared of the dark and afraid of the light. We're afraid to live and scared to die. We're afraid of snakes and spiders and lions and tigers and bears, oh my! We're afraid to fail and afraid to succeed. We put so much attention on fear and dread.
What is this thing called fear after all? Some have said it's False Evidence Appearing Real. For some it's an obstacle for others an illusion. It's the mind's way of playing tricks on us and our distorted way of responding.
Unfortunately, fears come in many different shapes and sizes. Some can be considered healthy and helpful, others are unhealthy and obstructive. They have many faces but still have a major impact on our lives. The more we recognize and understand our fears the better chance we have at utilizing the good ones and challenging and replacing the bad. Living in a world of fear is anything but good for mankind as a whole. It's time to take a look inward and see what you see looking back. We are in a time of deep change and transformation. It is occurring right here, right now, right before our very eyes. It's occurring in the minds and hearts of all of us who are plugged into this magnificent journey called life. While on the face of it, it may be scary, but don't be afraid. There's nothing to fear. Not a single thing.
Pz's Pointers on facing your fears
1. Healthy dose of nerves
Many performers speak to the issue of stage fright and their fears of performing before an audience. Those fears have been paralyzing and interfered, at times, with their career. Entertainers like Barbra Streisand, Michael Douglas, Rod Stewart, and Mel Gibson have suffered with anxiety associated with doing what they do best—act or sing. Some nerves are actually said to be a good thing. The butterflies in the stomach get you pumped up and ready to take on the crowd. Some use breathing or visualization techniques to help. For most presenters and performers, once they get going they're fine. Joshua Allen, winner of season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance, was asked if he was nervous prior to doing his routine. He responded, "I'm nervous every time we step on stage, but when the music starts it kind of all fades away." That's the difference between a healthy case of nervous jitters and debilitating fear. Joshua was able to get focused, perform beautifully, and go on to win the big prize.
2. So many phobias, so many fears
Can you believe all the phobias? Psychologists have categorized as many as 500 phobias, and it is estimated that individuals in the United States who suffer from some kind of phobia are in the millions. The list is interesting, encompassing, and a little crazy. Most experts identify phobias as falling into one of three basic kinds of fears: social phobias, in which the individual suffers from a paralyzing dread of social or professional encounters; panic disorders, in which the sufferer is periodically assailed by a sudden overwhelming fear for no apparent reason; and specific phobias, in which the person has a horror of a single thing, such as spiders, snakes, air travel, and so on.
While the causes of phobias remain open to much speculation, some of the most frequent theories name biological, chemical, cultural, and psychological origins—or a mix of the four. Regardless, when we convince ourselves that we fear something, anything, to the point of being unendurable, it is real, and we begin to accept it as such. Aviophobia, the fear of flying, seems to be right up there at the top of the list. Stars like Aretha Franklin, Billy Bob Thornton, John Madden, Whoopi Goldberg, and Cher all have major issues with flying. Conventional treatment generally consists of behavioral therapy combined with anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications. There are many alternative methods available today for those willing to confront and overcome these fears. I admit to having had symptoms manifest as claustrophobic—directly resulting from trauma in appendix surgery. For a time, I joined the ranks of Houdini, Dean Martin, and writer Edgar Allen Poe. It's something I have worked hard on to overcome. The mind does work in wondrous ways.
Reader Comments
Tell Pz what you think on Twitter @pzpower!
Be the first to write a comment!
