Afraid of Being Afraid

By FCS | July 23, 2018
afraid

 

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”Franklin D. Roosevelt

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inaugural address may best be known for the “fear itself” phrase. Roosevelt was installed as the 32nd president in 1933, during the Great Depression when our nation faced the longest and most severe depression ever experienced by the industrialized Western world.[i] There was a lot for Americans to fear at that time, with rampant unemployment, the failure of half of all US banks, and decreased output and prices of commodities.

Is it possible to be fearless? Fear is a part of life that can be helpful to keep us/encourage us to get out of dangerous situations. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) defines fear as “the emotional response to real or perceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety is anticipation of future threat.” But what happens when fear becomes more severe?

The difference between fear and a phobia is quantifiable. If you are mildly afraid of a spider, that is considered fear. If you are frightened just by the idea of a spider, you are in the phobic territory. Phobias are anxiety disorders involving excessive fear or anxiety. The DSM-5 defines anxiety disorders as persistent, lasting six months or more: “Anxiety disorders differ from developmentally normative fear or anxiety by being excessive or persisting beyond developmentally appropriate periods.”

Phobias are considered psychiatric illnesses, in fact they are the most common psychiatric illness among women and second most common among men.[ii] Women are twice as likely to have them, and they usually show up during childhood or adolescence. It is conceivable to develop a phobia and keep it throughout your life. So, if the National Institute of Mental Health’s statistic of 19.2 million American adults dealing with a phobia is accurate, there are a lot of anxious people walking around.

While you may be aware of your phobia, you probably cannot control your reaction. Medical News Today says common symptoms include sweating, chest pains, and feelings of pins and needles on your skin.

[i] Britannica.com

[ii] American Psychiatric Association

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