Health and Nutrition

Fear is an emotion that arises from a perception that something is harmful. It is a self-preservation “device” wired into our brain. This is why we feel nervousness, panic and exhilaration coming in a sudden rush in moments of fear.

Physiologically speaking, that rush is caused by the body producing and releasing hormones such as adrenaline. Adrenaline as you may already know is an “emergency” feature our body uses to make us do things we may not be able to do under normal circumstances. Fear is a very strong trigger for adrenaline. And as its purposes are mainly for self-preservation, it is only rightly so.

However, fear comes in many forms, not all of which are motivated by the need to protect yourself. Sometimes, the source of fear could be perceived as irrational by some although for the one experiencing it, it may seem perfectly logical. Nevertheless, the more people understand the kinds of fear they experience, the better they are equipped at addressing them.

Phobia is the term most researchers use when describing an irrational, persistent fear of something. A feeling of dread can easily escalate into anxiety and then panic when a person encounters an object or situation that he or she has a phobia about. In extreme cases, a phobia may become elevated to an obsession that hampers a person’s life as well as the people around them.

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