It’s hard to think clearly when our mind is flooded with fear or anxiety.

It can be helpful to remember that there’s an evolutionary reason for anxiety, as it has historically helped us to respond to and survive physical threats.

But when fear and anxiety creep into our life to the extent that it affects our well-being, happiness or basic functioning, it becomes a major issue.

If you’re struggling with mental health issues related to anxiety please consult a medical professional for advice, this post is meant for general discussion.

Let’s talk about dealing with fear and anxiety.

Dealing With Fear And Anxiety

Why Am I Full Of Fear And Anxiety?

Anxiety and irrational fear is believed to be a coping problem that is either learned through life situations, caused partly by our genetics, or a combination of both.

As mentioned, there’s also an evolutionary reason for anxiety, as in the past it helped us to react and respond to physical threats.

What Causes Anxiety In The Brain?

Anxiety happens when a part of our brain, the amygdala, senses trouble in our midst.

When it senses threat, either real or imagined, it surges the body with hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to make the body strong, fast, and powerful.

When our fear turns into an overwhelming feeling of anxiety and worry, the lower or more primal regions of our brains take over, which are responsible for basic functions as well as impulses and emotions.

That means that the functions of the higher region of our brains such as the cortex, can be more difficult to access.

Ways To Fight Our Fears

• Look at the evidence.
• Don’t try to be perfect.
• Breathe deeply through panic.
• Face your fears.
• Imagine the worst that could happen.
• Talk about it.
• Imagine yourself in a relaxing place. 

Why Do I Fear So Much?

Intense and frequent fear can be a sign of several different mental health conditions, which usually all involve anxiety.

We might think that what we’re dealing with isn’t serious enough to qualify as anxiety but being afraid a lot of the time is known to be what anxiety feels like.

What Are Coping Skills For Anxiety?

• Eat healthy foods.
• Stay physically active.
• Make sleep a priority. 
• Try avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs.
• Learn about your disorder.
• Quit smoking.
• Reduce consumption or quit drinking caffeinated beverages.
• Use stress management and relaxation techniques.

How Do I Overcome My Fear And Anxiety?

We should be willing to take time out for ourselves, as we need to try to physically calm down. 

As mentioned, it becomes impossible to think clearly when we’re faced with strong feelings of fear and anxiety.

Try distracting yourself from worry by walking around the block, making yourself a cup of tea or taking a hot bath.

Mindfulness is another way that we can re-wire the anxious brain. We can help retrain the brain through mindfulness meditation, which can effectively help with anxiety.

Strategies To Overcome Fear and Anxiety

• Learn about your fear.
• Use your imagination in positive ways.
• Focus on your breathing.
• Practice mindfulness.
• Go into and observe nature.

Does Fear And Anxiety Go Away?

Anxiety usually goes away once the perceived threat or stressor passes and our system calms down.

However, if we have an anxiety disorder, it can linger beyond the triggering event and spiral out of proportion.

Chronic or severe anxiety can seriously impair our daily functioning.

Stressful feelings can also lead to behaviours like skipping out on meals, heavily drinking alcohol, or not getting enough sleep. These factors can all trigger or worsen anxiety.

Final Thoughts

All of us experience feelings of anxiety and panic at certain times. It’s a normal response to stressful or dangerous situations.

I’m far from an authority figure on this topic but like anyone, I’ve experienced irrational fear and anxiety, and have dealt with the fallout associated with it.

Learning relaxation techniques can help us with the mental and physical feelings of fear. We can try simple techniques like dropping our shoulders and breathing deeply.

You can also try complementary therapies or exercises such as massage, yoga, and meditation.

We can try talking to a friend or family member about some of what we’re experiencing.  This shouldn’t be a substitution for professional advice or intervention, but by verbalizing our fears with a trusted confidante, we can help get out of our own head and solicit some trusted feedback.

I wish you the best, thanks for reading, please comment or follow the links.

Sources and other reading:

How To Overcome Fear And Anxiety

How To Take Life Less Seriously

Taking Risks In Life

How To Make Better Decisions

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