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Fear is an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger, or a state marked by this emotion. It can also mean anxious concern, solicitude, or reverential awe. See synonyms, examples, etymology, and related words for fear.
Fear is a natural response to danger that has evolved to protect humans and animals. Learn about the different types of fear, such as phobias and social anxiety, and how to overcome them.
Fear is an intensely unpleasant primal emotion in response to perceiving or recognizing a danger or threat. Fear causes psychological changes that may produce behavioral reactions such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat.
- Overview
- Symptoms of Fear
- Diagnosing Fear
- Causes of Fear
- Types of Fear
- Treatment of Fear
- Coping With Fear
- Summary
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According to psychology research, fear is a primal emotion that involves a universal biochemical response and a high individual emotional response. Fear alerts us to the presence of danger or the threat of harm, whether that danger is physical or psychological.
Sometimes fear stems from real threats, but it can also originate from imagined dangers. While fear is a natural response to some situations, it can also lead to distress and disruption when extreme or out of proportion to the actual threat.
Fear can also be a symptom of some mental health conditions, including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Fear is composed of two primary reactions to some type of perceived threat: biochemical and emotional.
Biochemical Reaction
Fear is a natural emotion and a survival mechanism. When we confront a perceived threat, our bodies respond in specific ways. Physical reactions to fear include sweating, increased heart rate, and high adrenaline levels that make us extremely alert.
Fear often involves both physical and emotional symptoms. Each person may experience fear differently, but some of the common signs and symptoms include:
•Chest pain
•Chills
•Dry mouth
•Nausea
•Rapid heartbeat
Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing persistent and excessive feelings of fear. Your doctor may conduct a physical exam and perform lab tests to ensure that your fear and anxiety are not linked to an underlying medical condition.
Your doctor will also ask questions about your symptoms including how long you've been having them, their intensity, and situations that tend to trigger them. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may diagnose you with a type of anxiety disorder, such as a phobia.
Fear is incredibly complex and there is no single, primary cause. Some fears may result from experiences or trauma, while others may represent a fear of something else entirely, such as a loss of control. Still, other fears may occur because they cause physical symptoms, such as being afraid of heights because they make you feel dizzy and sick to your stomach.
Some common fear triggers include:
•Certain specific objects or situations (spiders, snakes, heights, flying, etc)
•Future events
•Imagined events
•Real environmental dangers
Some of the different types of anxiety disorders that are characterized by fear include:
•Agoraphobia
•Generalized anxiety disorder
•Panic disorder
•Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
•Separation anxiety disorder
Repeated exposure to similar situations leads to familiarity, which can dramatically reduce both the fear response. This approach forms the basis of some phobia treatments, which depend on slowly minimizing the fear response by making it feel familiar.
Phobia treatments that are based on the psychology of fear tend to focus on techniques like systematic desensitization and flooding. Both techniques work with your body’s physiological and psychological responses to reduce fear.
There are also steps that you can take to help cope with fear in day to day life. Such strategies focus on managing the physical, emotional, and behavioral effects of fear. Some things you can do include:
•Get social support. Having supportive people in your life can help you manage your feelings of fear.
•Practice mindfulness. While you cannot always prevent certain emotions, being mindful can help you manage them and replace negative thoughts with more helpful ones.
•Use stress management techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualization.
Fear is an important human emotion that can help protect you from danger and prepare you to take action, but it can also lead to longer-lasting feelings of anxiety. Findings ways to control your fear can help you better cope with these feelings and prevent anxiety from taking hold.
If you or a loved one are struggling with fears, phobias, or anxiety, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
5 Common Effects of Phobias on Your Emotions and Personality
6 Sources
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Learn how fear is a primal emotion that involves a biochemical and an emotional response to perceived threats. Find out the types, symptoms, and treatments of fear and phobias, and how to cope with them.
Jul 20, 2023 · Learn how fear is a natural and primitive emotion that triggers the body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ response to perceived threats. Explore the different types and disorders of fear, and how to manage and overcome them.
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Jul 31, 2023 · Fear is a common, natural emotion that helps keep us safe, but having too much can make it hard to function. Find out how to recognize and manage your fears. ×
