Fear and Cockroaches

I regularly meet with individuals who are often dominated by their fears or influenced by the fears of significant people in their lives, such as their spouse, parents, or other authoritative figures. These individuals frequently miss out on the joys of life because they are consumed by worry about various concerns, including financial ruin, illness, rejection, criticism, and more.

The emotional, physical, and psychological symptoms that accompany anxiety brought on by these fears significantly diminish a person's quality of life and their ability to relate well both at home and in the workplace. People experiencing fear and anxiety often describe living with a constant sense of panic or dread, believing that something terrible is bound to happen. They may also suffer from physical symptoms like headaches, stomach cramps, chest pain, tension, and fatigue. While it's always important to consult a physician to rule out underlying health problems, it's equally crucial to understand how your body responds to fear and anxiety, as chronic stress can eventually lead to physical illness. This illustrates a vicious cycle that must be addressed.

Although our world contains many genuinely frightening circumstances, most of the fears that cause the most debilitating anxiety are rooted in irrational thinking. These fears are like cockroaches, lurking in the darkness of misunderstanding and false beliefs.

To overcome this type of fear, you must learn to challenge the misconceptions that fuel it. For example, if you fear rejection in social situations, you might fall into a pattern of avoiding contact with others, leading to isolation. Your fear, often described as "False Evidence Appearing Real" (F.E.A.R.), might remind you of a single instance when you felt embarrassed after saying something foolish during a social encounter. This embarrassment might lead to the belief that you're not good at meeting people, and they probably won't like you. Instead of letting the fear overwhelm you, consciously recall the numerous times you've come away from new social encounters feeling accepted and liked. Remind yourself that, 1) you don't ALWAYS fail at new social encounters, 2) the fear is likely blown out of proportion, and 3) you have the ability to influence the situation positively rather than negatively.

Fear of rejection in social encounters is just one example of the various concerns people worry excessively about. Taking a step back to objectively analyze your fear empowers you to think constructively about how to overcome it. An empowering question to ask is: "What can I do now to improve the situation I'm worried about?" For instance, if you're concerned about the risk of a heart attack, you can evaluate your risk honestly, eliminate bad habits (like smoking or overeating), and adopt healthy strategies (such as regular exercise and better dietary choices). This gives you a tangible reason to be less anxious about heart problems. If you're stressed about a job interview, you can ensure you're well-prepared, research the company, and get a good night's sleep before the interview. Whatever your fear may be, there is often something practical you can do to reduce it.

Dealing with someone who is overwhelmed by fear and anxiety can be as challenging as managing your own fears. To benefit both yourself and the other person, engage them in a conversation based on the points mentioned above. Ask questions that help them reframe their thinking and envision more positive outcomes. This issue is particularly common among parents, especially single parents, who often struggle with feelings of guilt and inadequacy. Mothers, in particular, sometimes imagine the worst possible scenarios for their children, leading them to overprotect and causing friction and rebellion in their children. Effectively addressing anxiety is in everyone's best interest. 

Whether you are dealing with your fears or someone else's, remember that true, positive, and rational thoughts and beliefs have the same effect on fear as light does on cockroaches – they make them disappear! As you develop the habit of successfully challenging the misconceptions that fuel your fears, you will gradually eliminate them. Truth serves as the best pest control for your mind.

Live, Work and Relate Well!

Dr. Todd