Benefits of fear - seven reasons. What is fear and how is it useful? Fear is a bad feeling because

Fear is a complex human emotion. He is able to paralyze, as well as keep you from realizing your desires and make you consider yourself insignificant. But it also keeps you safe in a certain way. It is able to become your companion only in the right doses, but too much is fatal.

My friend explained how she recently used fear to confront an abusive boss. Her workplace situation had reached a point of no return, and despite her fear, she knew that something had to change. Thanks to this, the friend took all her fear and went to the meeting. Her body trembled, her knees became weak, but her determination remained unwavering.

Fear says we're in danger. But often these are imagination games, and not the real state of affairs. My friend managed to protect herself in an unfavorable working environment. Fear said something was wrong. And after the meeting, he left completely. Then the friend realized that it was much easier to carry out this conversation than it seemed. Therein lies the answer. We often think it's going to be hard, and then we're pleasantly surprised when we realize it's not.

Stress, for example, is subjective. If we do not talk about physical stress, then it is usually caused by our thoughts about what is happening. It is not the event itself that brings the feeling of tension. This is our underlying thinking. Stress is based on fear.

We are afraid that it will not work out, as if everything is going wrong, not according to plan. Therefore, measures are taken or not. Depending on how we react to things, we either become tense or become indifferent and let things take their course.

I prefer the latter. Detachment from the problem reduces external pressure, allows fear to be controlled and provides an opportunity to maintain composure even in difficult situations. Love your fear. That's all it takes. It grows only when you allow yourself to be destroyed, and this usually happens if we forget about the benefits of this emotion. It's really helpful, but sometimes it's irrational.

Fear can be effective. However, it is appropriate that it be in moderation!

It is known that in the fight against our fears this is the only way to win. Avoidance won't make them leave. For most of us, understanding this on an intellectual level is not a problem, but on an emotional level it is not so well implemented. Knowing that facing our own fears is important doesn't really do anything to lessen the amount of emotional upheaval we undoubtedly experience. So if you can't turn negative feelings into positive ones, you can analyze them to see how it's beneficial.

Examples of the manifestation of fear in situations where it is useful

Physical changes occur in the brain at the time of learning. Feeling fearful often means entering unknown territory. New challenges that you have not encountered or future obstacles that are completely unpredictable means that we must be prepared to accept the fact that something can happen, perhaps unpleasant, and we must be open to learning as we go towards our goal. .

Learning changes thinking. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to constantly transform throughout a person's life, forming new connections between neurons. Researchers previously believed that once we reach a certain age, our main organ, the CNS, will stop changing, but now they know that this is not true. As long as you keep learning, you will upgrade your brain for the better.

Novelty motivates exploration. Most likely, if you are faced with fears, then you are doing something that you have not done before (or have not done for a long time). Unlike habits that penetrate our subconscious, when we repeat any actions long enough and often enough, new events naturally make us come closer to understanding what is happening. Getting into previously unfamiliar situations or solving new problems prompts the brain to explore, learn and receive rewards. In fact, novelty is closely related to our motivation to seek rewards.

Taking risks will help create a good physiological response. Obviously, there are many negative reactions of the body that everyone associates with fear: sweating, shortness of breath, palpitations, tense muscles. But when we experience a "good" type of fear - one that you know leads in the right direction to growth - we can experience a sense of arousal by feeling it.

When you face your fears on your own, the brain and body produce chemicals like adrenaline, endorphin, oxytocin, and serotonin. This natural, biological high lasts longer than the worst moments one has to face, which is why it often feels so good after all has been said and done.

A little fear helps you focus better. Thinking about the future outcome of something unknown can be scary enough. If you're feeling a little anxious or preoccupied with something, you can really use your power to focus on planning or any work that needs to happen before you know what's going to happen.

In one experiment, 90 college students were asked to report their anxiety and symptoms of depression. When the researchers gave them tasks that increased feelings of anxiety, brain scans showed less activity in a region associated with depression. This suggests that anxiety, as an unpleasant state, can help focus on depressing thoughts and transfer them to tasks that need to be completed.

Vulnerability has psychological benefits. Perhaps nothing makes you more aware of your own weaknesses than what really scares you. Bryn Brown, a researcher and expert in the field, defines vulnerability as “ambiguity, risk, and emotional impact.” She also says that weaknesses are “the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”

Recognizing and accepting your own sore spots is essentially a form of mindfulness that has been proven to benefit physical and emotional health. The more you face your fears, the more you come face to face with your own vulnerabilities. Do this often and for long enough, and the negative emotions they evoke, such as shame and guilt, will eventually lose their grip on you.

Remember that when it comes to your fears in the right way, context is key. Although you are not able to control the emotional reactions provoked by fear, you can interpret their meanings as you wish. Feelings can be unpleasant, but if you are able to naturally think about your feelings in a positive light as soon as it happens (or happens), then you are on the right track.

Remains vigilant. When the brain identifies a threat, the hypothalamus kicks in, letting the rest of your body know how to prepare for what's to come. Subsequently, the adrenal glands release adrenaline. This hormone is what alerts the nervous system to kick in and put the whole body into survival mode. Another hormone, norepinephrine, is released for the same purpose, and is known to keep you focused, not panicked. Jake Deutsch, M.D., an emergency physician in New York, says that norepinephrine "allows you to think more clearly under stress, which is why it's used in many antidepressants." Can you think clearly and quickly? Try to be scared at first before buying another energy drink!

Keeps the body under control. Another hormone released by the adrenal glands when you are afraid of something is cortisol, which can be very good for your health in short supply. Sure, if you have too much of it, you risk being left with weight gain, long-term stress, and high blood pressure, but moderation is key, right? When we experience fear, small cortisol surges can help balance bodily functions such as digestion or the immune system. Deutsch says the hormone is like a thermostat for the body. When a killer clown attacks, it will need more than it looks to keep itself and the situation under control!

Takes your career to new heights. The fear you feel when you are afraid can be incredibly motivating and can give you the extra push you need to reach your career goals. Debbie Mandel, stress specialist and author of Addicted to Stress, says the adrenaline rush not only helps to participate and be a productive member of a team, but is also needed by many for the "eleventh hour, whether it's solving a work project or writing a paper." at the deadline."

Do you get scared? So know that this is not only good, but also right. Now let's figure out what is the benefit of fear, learn about its physiology, and also about why it is to be afraid - not only creepy, but sometimes pleasant, and most often even necessary.
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Psychologists say that fear is
a kind of internal "medicine" developed by our body in the process of evolution to protect against all sorts of problems. But, like any other drug, fear must be used correctly to benefit.

So, let's figure out where fear lives, what it is, where it comes from, how it happens and how you can get the most out of it.

Where fear lives

From the point of view of physiology, fear lives in a very specific area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe brain - the amygdala, which is also the amygdala. It is believed that this part of the gray matter in the temporal lobe is one of the most ancient: situations are “recorded” there that caused panic among a lot of generations of our ancestors. As soon as the brain receives information that the situations that bothered our ancestors are repeated, the amygdala kindly warns: “Wow, this is it. Ah-ah-ah!" - and we shy away from large spiders (they can be poisonous) or unconsciously speed up when we hear footsteps from behind (it can be a predator or an enemy).

In principle, it is easy to get rid of physiological fear. It is enough to destroy or simply block nerve impulses from the amygdala - and meet: before you is a fearless hero! True, it is absolutely stone and indifferent: together with the destroyed amygdala, we lose both joy and the state of pleasure, and almost all emotions. The bottom line is that fear and other sensations are intertwined in the amygdala into such a tight ball that it is almost impossible to separate one from the other.

By the way, there is a curious moment in this: being frightened, we can simultaneously experience the emotions of “neighbors” - delight, joy, revival of a different kind. That is why many people love extreme sports so much - this is the same delicious cocktail of fear and joy that the amygdala gives us to drink.

Not only in some people, but in all primates, fear of spiders and snakes is physiologically programmed from birth. This fear is an evolutionarily established mechanism that allows us to live longer than we could.

The main types of fear, or why to scare and be scared

Another interesting question is what exactly situations become a trigger for activating fear, panic, and why does a picture that can drive one into wild horror often seem absolutely neutral to another? Looking for an answer physiologists have found that all fears are divided into two types:

• innate fears are sewn deep into the brain, into instincts, a “legacy” from our even most ancient ancestors that existed before man. They tend to signal universal dangers. So, from birth, any person is afraid of a sharp loud sound, a sudden change in the location of the body in space, the soil leaving from under the feet, an approaching shadow. This basic type of fear of mortal danger also includes the shudder mixed with disgust that insects, spiders, snakes, reptiles cause in us. Getting rid of an innate type of fear is extremely difficult, even almost impossible;
• acquired fears are those fears that we have acquired in the course of a personal encounter with life. Riding a bike and falling too hard? You will have to fight hard with the resulting phobia in order to get back on two-wheeled vehicles. Did another person break your heart or raise a hand against you more than once? To get rid of the fear of new relationships, most likely, you will need a psychotherapist, self-knowledge and work with your prejudices, meditation or other practices. However, it is not at all necessary that a specific event will cause a phobia.

Often fears are transmitted through parental or social patterns: for example, if your mother was terribly afraid of cockroaches, then you will most likely bypass them too - although the cockroaches personally did nothing wrong to you. Another example: people often suffer from the fear of poverty (or being considered poor), even if they are actually very wealthy and have an impressive “pillow” for a rainy day. This subconscious anxiety is also taken from home or imposed by society. From the same opera, or the so-called "Chuchundra Syndrome".

A huge plus of acquired fears is that, unlike innate ones, they are quite successfully corrected by psychotherapy, you just need to turn to a professional psychologist:. In addition, the brain came up with its own defense against uncontrollable panic - training. All living creatures with a sufficiently developed psyche at an early age love to scare and be scared: teenage baboons tease hardened males, kittens rush around the corner at their master's legs, crows grab foxes by the tail, and human cubs tell terrifying stories to each other with blood-chilling voices. campfire.

Thus, the endurance threshold for fear is trained - the higher it is, the longer the mind remains in the “on” position in case of real danger.

The benefits of fear; examples

However, psychologists still do not recommend increasing resistance to fear to sky-high heights. Panic is a vital element that performs several functions at once. We will analyze situations when fear is useful, or rather, even vital.

UNITED FUNCTION. We, humans, are an extremely social species; the opinions and attitudes of those around us are extremely weighty. If others are afraid of something, then we need it too! Experiencing fear together is generally a very exciting activity that can bring together and unite even people who are completely different in character. No wonder psychologists recommend: if you want someone to fall in love with you, go through some frightening procedure with the object of passion. For example, take a ride together on a roller coaster, go to a horror movie or conquer some mountain peak together - you will be provided with a soul mate for a while!

True, often this human "chip" is used not entirely for good purposes. For example, it is known that instilled fear of something is a great way to manipulate the masses. But that's a completely different story.

FUNCTION OF PLEASURE. Happily surviving a situation in which goosebumps ran on the skin is worth a lot. It is one of the most powerful "drugs" available to anyone. And it's all about the hormonal cocktail released into the blood when frightened: this is norepinephrine (it is needed for strength and endurance so that you can either destroy the threat or run away), and endorphins (for pain relief in case of possible injuries), and dopamine (for courage ). The memory of this invigorating concoction drives millions of people into panic rooms, roller coasters, horror movies, or other entertainment. The show industry has long been making billions on this human thirst to tickle your nerves. So, it turns out that the importance of physiological fear is significant not only for a particular individual personally, but also for the global financial systems that use this tool both for their development and enrichment, and for manipulating the masses.

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Probably, there is not a single person in the world who has not experienced a feeling of fear at least once in his life. Feeling it is quite natural and you should not be ashamed of this feeling, since this reaction saves us from various dangers and the benefits of fear have long been a proven truth.

Examples of the Benefits of Fear

To begin with, let's talk a little about the evolutionary development of man and about anthropology. Scientists working in these areas of science have long proved that it was fear that allowed humanity to survive and develop. Our distant ancestors, when a sense of danger arose, tried to get away from the source of possible troubles as far as possible, which is why we did not disappear as a species, because otherwise, ancient people would simply have died from the most natural natural phenomena, for example, from the same lightning strike. Experiencing horror during a thunderstorm, our ancestors instinctively sought shelter, thereby saving their lives. It is these studies of scientists that are the first and main argument in favor of fear, but let's discuss modern examples and evidence of this axiom.

Many people experience discomfort when they are in the dark, and this is what prevents them from performing potentially dangerous activities, such as walking the streets at night, or moving around in an unlit apartment. In the first case, there is a fairly high chance of becoming a victim of criminals, in the second, getting a domestic injury. But, this is just one example of the benefits of fear of the dark or any other phenomenon that causes tremors in the knees, it is equally important that when a feeling of danger arises, adrenaline begins to be produced in the body, which mobilizes all forces, which means that a person experiences an extraordinary sense of his own power . By overcoming ourselves under the influence of adrenaline, we can feel our own capabilities, begin to respect ourselves and even discover new horizons for ourselves.

A good example of the benefits of fear of heights are the rather banal stories about how a person, having decided to overcome himself and get rid of his phobia, begins to study with a skydiving instructor. Having overcome themselves, such people often begin to achieve success in other matters, as they believe more in their abilities. Just keep in mind that you need to get rid of the fear of heights with an experienced instructor, and not by walking on the roofs on your own, otherwise, the matter may end in tragedy, not triumph.

Another fact of the need for this feeling for a person can be well illustrated by an example of the benefits of fear of water. Often a sense of danger makes a person act instinctively, and without relying on logic, for example, often we simply run away from the same intruders. Therefore, imagine that a person who cannot swim suddenly falls into a deep river or lake, it would seem that he should drown and there is no chance of salvation. But the adrenaline that has been produced can have an effect on the body, which is popularly called “brains off the hook”, and the drowning person will instinctively move his arms and legs in such a way as to stay afloat.

In summary, the following can be noted:

1. Fear has helped humanity survive.

2. He protects us from provoking various potentially dangerous situations.

3. When a large amount of adrenaline is released into the blood, a person can begin to act instinctively, thereby saving himself.

4. Fear helps to improve ourselves, because, overcoming it, we begin to respect ourselves and believe in our strengths.

Do not be ashamed of your own fears, if they do not interfere with your life, then you can not get rid of them at all, because this is a kind of protection system that everyone needs.

Today it is relevant to say that negative emotions affect human health. One of these emotions is fear, but, oddly enough, doctors do not consider it unhealthy. Fear is a natural human emotion, provided by nature as a defensive reaction, the moment of mobilization of the body's resources for protection.

Not a single person is free from a sense of fear, just someone experiences it to a greater extent, someone to a lesser extent. Such a difference depends on the inherent personality traits and their influence on the degree of our resistance to fears and the ability to cope with them.

All people can be divided into categories depending on the form in which they are used to experiencing fear. So, there are people who are constantly worried about something, maintaining a sense of anxiety in themselves. Others look outwardly calm, sharing the appearance that nothing bothers them, but in fact their fears insidiously and imperceptibly absorb them completely and completely, giving rise to new fears. There are those who say that they are not afraid of anything, that they can handle everything, and even fears do not frighten them, they try to understand them, perceiving this method as a path to freedom, a way to prove to themselves and others how hard they try, which is basically fear. But there are people who are simply paralyzed with fear, who are afraid of everything: going out after dark, afraid of losing their job, afraid that they do not have time or money, that no one loves them, or that they will get sick. The main danger for such people is that fear tends to come true, like a prediction.

There are six main fears that every person experiences in one way or another:

1. Survival fear.
2. Fear of the unknown.
3. Fear of being abandoned.
4. Fear of betrayal.
5. Fear of being rejected.
6. Fear of death.

Interestingly, in each of these fears lies a host of other doubts that we face. So, the fear of change, as the basis of the fear of the unknown, the experience of financial loss, originates in the fear of survival, and the fear of loneliness nests in the fear of being abandoned. If a person worries about health, then ultimately he is worried about the fear of death. The manifestation of distrust of all refers to the fear of betrayal. That is, everything that we are afraid of in life can be explained in several ways.

Physicians and psychologists have established that each of the six types of fear manifests itself in a certain place in the spine and affects certain nerve trunks that run through the body and spinal cord. It turns out that when we experience one of the six types of fear, this is necessarily reflected in our well-being and the condition of the spine.

The nature of fear

Feeling fear, our body reacts to this with changes in various organs: the heart, adrenal glands, spleen, reproductive organs. Cortisol, a hormone that affects the immune system, rises in the body due to fear. Such changes lead to the openness of immunity: it is more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections, cancer, autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastritis, asthma, diabetes, etc. Being constantly in a state of anxiety, the body becomes prone to high blood pressure and chronic inflammation of the walls of blood vessels. increases the risk of heart failure.

From a psychological point of view, fear becomes a source of phobias, neuroses, addictions, and a passive-aggressive state. Today, disorders caused by a sense of fear are quite an urgent problem.

Medical statistics claims that out of all requests to a psychologist, one third is associated with feelings of anxiety and fear. Fear is also the reason for 50% of all visits to a gastroenterologist and a neurologist, 20% of all visits to a cardiologist.

In view of the fact that most of the population lives in an extreme situation, the development of a sense of fear in this case is a completely normal reaction. But there is pathological anxiety, for which there are no special reasons, it is not caused by any inadequate situation that disrupts the rhythm of our lives.

The main thing to remember about the emotion of fear is that for the body it does not go unnoticed. And even the slightest foreboding of the bad can cause the physical consequences of fear, and when an extreme situation occurs, the body is already weakened, not ready to survive the stress. If the body experiences chronic fear, then it is no longer ready to defend itself in a really necessary situation. When fear arises suddenly, the “fight or flight” mechanism kicks in, flooding the body with chemicals. In this case, from a strong fright, a heart attack can even occur.

“No-no-no, I was not afraid”, “I am not afraid to do (something)”, “I am not afraid if he leaves”, “I am not one of the shy”. All these phrases so easily “jump out” at the first hint of interest in how the interlocutor shows a sense of fear, in what situations he feels it.

It has become fashionable in our society to be afraid of... fear.

Fear is denied verbally.

Fear is forced out, habitually not noticed.

Meanwhile, the feeling of fear is one of the basic, quite understandable, acceptable, natural and even wonderful.

It allows you to orient yourself in time: this is still possible to do, but this is already not worth it, this action is probably beyond my capabilities. Can happen to me:

Something bad,

Something I can't handle

Anything unwanted (not what I would like (a) to end up with such an action).

Fear is more than normal.

However, if you ask a person - “Are you afraid?”, “Are you afraid?” - in 90% of cases you will get - “no, what are you”, “I'm not like that”.

Why is that? And what to do with it?

1. Fear is synonymous with rejection of something or someone

Fear is like an emotion is defined in the dictionary as the subjective experience of exceptional dislike. This means that fear always has an address, a first and last name, the name of an object or subject.

The result is such a “hack”: “How can I, a healthy adult, admit that I am afraid of something? I am big, I am very big, I am omnipotent! I can handle everything!”

Alas, these urges cause people to repeat their mistakes again and again - to enter into relationships where it is scary, to engage in a business that is scary to screw up, to jump over a hole 3 meters long, when in fact it is only possible to physically jump 2 ...

And it’s especially scary to admit my fear: yes, I consider this not suitable for myself, but also more than me, I can’t ram it, destroy it and redo it again. It's easier to run away.

2. “Scary interesting”, or confusion with fear

Fear stands on the verge of interest-approach and desire to escape. Fear is a marker of something new in life, unknown. Synonym for unknown interaction result.

As a result, it is easier to imagine that I am a brave person and I am not afraid of anything, or a super-smart person, a super-brain who has already foreseen and knows the result of any interaction with any object or subject.

For example, I don’t know what will happen to my hand if I put it in liquid nitrogen, and for how long it can be put in in order to take it out undamaged. And at this moment, curiosity and fear are fighting in me.

And the feeling of fear, by the way, allows you to “slow down the horses” in time, to read what will happen if, .. and how other people did it, .. and what laws of physics work in this case ... That is, to remain whole and with a whole hand.

I think it's a very useful fear, isn't it?

3. Courage is not a synonym for fearlessness

Many are sincerely convinced that fear is fu, it is “like a little one”, and you need to enter into life fearlessly. Alas, the feeling of fear seems to be tabooed:

This is for the little ones

This is for the stupid ones who believe in "horror stories"

This is for the limited, who are afraid to go beyond the threshold.

However, courage is something very different from fearlessness. Without a sense of fear, it is very easy to run into very serious trouble. And courage is the ability holding on to fear to achieve, decide, do something.

If “the eyes are afraid, but the hands are doing it,” then this is a very healthy fear and very adult courage:

Courage to try and fail

Courage to act and take responsibility for the result of actions,

The courage to do what you want, with an eye to the laws that really work - physics, society, chemicals, and so on.