Technique 1.189            Understanding and Handling Fear, ie conquer fear

Introduction
Anxiety and fear are similar; you feel fear when you don't feel safe and sometimes it lingers after the danger has passed.
"...fear is our mind's way of telling us it thinks we are in danger. Fear can completely overwhelm us. Fear is giving us a strong and simple message - GET SAFE!......in fear is crippling you all the time when everyone else seems okay then it can be a big problem..."
Indige, 2024
Some ways of responding to fear include
- confronting it, especially minor fear
- understand why it is there in the first place
"...there could be great value for you in understanding the historical sources of your fear and addressing those issues in a fear of therapeutic environment. Perhaps your fear is actually a messenger about unresolved issues that need to be addressed..."
Indige, 2024
- exiting the unsafe situation
- controlled breathing to relax your body
- realising that fear can continue on long after danger has disappeared
- create an imaginary safe space in your mind
NB
"...I learnt that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but who conquers it..."
Nelson Mandela as quoted by Indige, 2024
Some questions to help you understand fear
1. Are you safe (physically, emotionally and mentally) right now? Yes/No
If answer 'no', what can you do to make yourself safe and who can help you?


2. What things, situations, people, times, or places, etc makes you feel fearful (give details of why they make you feel fearful)

3. Based on your answers to Q. 2, are they hiding deeper fears or past dangers? Yes/No
If  answer 'yes', give details

4. Describe how do you respond to your fears, ie fight, flight or freeze? (give details)

5. Describe how would you like to respond to your fear?

6. Describe what steps can you take to challenge your fear and test your strengths?

(source: Indige, 2024)