Fear

Notes

Claim

Fear is one of our deepest emotions. It is rooted within us to feel fear in moments of danger, when our life is on the line.

Explanation

It stems from our Amygdala, which is like a highway of feelings directly to our mind and body. This is the essence of fear, a desire for self preservation in moments when we don't have the luxury to make a calculated decision, and we need to act fast Gut Feeling Emotions as information.

Fear can cause us to act in many different ways. Fear can make us feel Helplessness if we are unable to do something about it, if it takes control over us. Over time this can also lead to Depression. Alternatively, fear can turn into anger Anger. Instead of facing the fear we do everything to destroy it's source. Fear can also cause us to detach from the present, to experience Escapism, in cases where we simply want to avoid it.

Why it matters

What we fear has changed with the time, from more biological dangers to social ones, and although the level of threat is different, we treat it the same. Meaning that in today's age most of the things we fear are not as dangerous to our well-being as the biological dangers of the past, and might even be an opportunity for growth, but we don't treat it as such. It still feels just as real and just as dangerous.

The "funny" thing is that like stress, the fear doesn't have to stem from an actual present danger. Just the thought of a possible scenario, no matter how unlikely, can cause us to be afraid.

Examples

Imagine having to question and decide whether to run from a lion, or having the instinct to do so the moment you see eyes in the darkness. Which person is more likely to survive?

Supporters

Either way, experiencing fear is stressful. There is something about Uncertainty that triggers our deepest fears.

Opposers

When we feel threatened, we shut off our Rational System and focus on the immediate danger we face.

Open questions

Visual

Overview

🔼Topic:: Emotions (Map) ↩️Origin:: 🔗Link::