Fear: Real or Imagined?

Fear is both constructive and destructive, as it guides our lives, and can also destroy them. Fear is a primal emotion, with us from birth. It is also an emotion that we learn. From the moment we are born, our brains begin to record events. Both good and bad are recorded in our mental data banks. This information is what we use to create our fear responses.

As a child, we learn that touching a hot surface causes pain, and we learn to fear that action. Normally, this creates a guard response, which helps to keep us safe. We also learn about the "Boogie Man;" this is a false or imagined fear. Many imagined fears are created in our subconscious, and we are not aware the seed is planted until it surfaces. Many fears are acquired or learned from life experiences. An example of imagined fear is Vitricophobia, the fear of stepfathers. Others can include a fear of water or high places; this kind can be beneficial, as they help us to stay safe. When a fear becomes too intense, it turns into a phobia and begins to disrupt our lives.

Some fears are not learned however; physical damage or a chemical imbalance in the brain causes them. When the brain's ability to send information is modified, this can generate fear responses. Most often this kind of fear can be treated and often cured. A fear of the dark, or high places, is not a bad thing. You think twice before crawling into a dark cave, or walking close to the edge of a cliff. Being afraid of the Easter bunny however is not a constructive fear; this type of fear is usually overcome by a small child. If you are an adult with this problem, there might be a problem.