A Trauma Therapist Shares Tips on Overcoming Fears and Fear Itself

We all have fears in our lives.

It is normal, natural, and might even be helpful to have fears! Fear is a natural and fairly complex emotion that has evolved to help us respond to threats and ensure our survival. For that reason, fear is a part of our evolutionary toolkit! It can trigger the “fight, flight, freeze” response, which prepares our body to either confront or escape a threat. This response was crucial for early humans facing predators and other dangers. While this might be true in some cases today ( think of seeing a dangerous animal in the forest!), our environment has changed dramatically since our evolutionary past. In modern-day, fears are often shaped by social, cultural, psychological, and biological influences.

Fear can be both adaptive (helpful in certain situations) and maladaptive (unhelpful or harmful). For instance, fear of social rejection might motivate someone to improve social skills, but excessive fear could lead to social avoidance. In other cases, fear can become excessive or irrational, leading to anxiety disorders or phobias. With all of this information on the emotion of fear, what can you do if you are looking to overcome or process a fear in your life? 

To start, it might be helpful to understand the underlying cause of your fear.

Fears can originate from a variety of sources as described below: 

Evolutionary Factors: 

As already discussed, fear responses are part of our survival mechanism. These instincts are still present today and can manifest as fear in various situations.

Personal Experiences:

Traumatic or negative experiences can lead to fear. For example, a person who has been bitten by a dog might develop a fear of dogs. 

Learned Behaviors:

Fear can be learned through observation. If a child sees a parent react fearfully to spiders, they might also develop a fear of spiders, even if they haven’t had a negative encounter with them themselves.

Cultural and Societal Influences:

Cultural beliefs and societal norms can shape our fears. For example, media and cultural narratives can create or reinforce fears about certain situations or objects, such as fears related to supernatural elements or specific phobias.

Genetic and Biological Factors:

Some fears may have a genetic or biological basis. Research suggests that anxiety disorders and certain phobias can run in families, indicating a possible genetic predisposition. Chemical imbalances in the brain or ongoing stress can also influence fear responses.

Cognitive Processes:

How we interpret and think about potential threats can contribute to fear. For instance, overestimating the likelihood of a negative event can increase anxiety and fear.

Now that you might have some idea where your fear stems from, there are a few well-known and clinically based methods on how to overcome your fears. 

Exposure therapy:

This is a psychological intervention designed to help individuals confront and reduce their fears or anxieties by gradually exposing them to the feared object, situation, or memory in a controlled and systematic way. Over time, the brain will learn to habituate towards the fear or learn that it is not a threat. 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR):

This therapy is a specialized therapeutic approach designed to help individuals process and resolve distressing memories and emotions, including those related to fears and phobias. EMDR works by systematically processing distressing memories through bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements. The therapy involves identifying and reframing negative beliefs, processing past traumatic events, and reinforcing positive, adaptive thoughts.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT):

 This is a widely used and effective approach for overcoming fears and anxieties. It focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to fear, while also teaching practical skills to manage and reduce anxiety. 

Mindfulness:

This therapeutic approach can be highly effective in managing and overcoming fears. It involves paying attention to the present moment with openness, acceptance, and non-judgment. Mindfulness helps individuals become aware of their fear responses as they arise. This awareness allows them to observe their fear without immediately reacting or avoiding it.

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In summary, fear is a natural and essential part of the human experience. It is a normal emotion. However, while fear is beneficial in moderation, excessive or irrational fear can become problematic. Sometimes, having a fear can hold a person back in life. If you or a loved one would like more information about overcoming fear, our team of caring therapists can offer support. You can start your therapy journey with Mountain Vista Psychology by following these simple steps:

1. Schedule a free phone consultation
2. Start meeting with a highly-trained therapist
3. Start coping with fear in a healthier way!

Other Services Offered with Mountian Vista Psychology

At Mountain Vista Psychology, we provide many services to help empower individuals on their journey toward mental and emotional well-being. So in addition to supporting you on your healing journey and managing your trauma symptoms, we also provide counseling services for child counseling, teen counseling, adult counseling, family counseling, & more. We also provide EMDR, Neurofeedback Therapy services for Neurofeedback for ADHD, Neurofeedback for Autism, Neurofeedback for Concussion/ TBI, and Neurofeedback for Sports/Performance. Our team also provides testing for learning disabilities, ADHD, and Autism. Be sure to check out our Blog and FAQs for more about us and our services!