Fear can be a good thing. We all know what it feels like; often it protects us from danger and we can usually control it. Yet, when fear takes over (for example in the form of panic attacks or phobias) it can become a problem. Unfortunately these days, I see too many people who have perceived fears which limit their quality of life. This is when your subconscious mind imagines the world to be more dangerous than it really is.

Fear is a primitive survival response to protect the body from danger. So when the brain detects a threat (for example, when faced with an enormous tiger) it signals the body to prepare for fight or flight. The body responds by releasing a lot of adrenaline in the body, and increases heart rate and blood pressure. Blood vessels dilate so more blood goes to the brain and muscles, and away from "unnecessary" areas like the gut. Breathing rate increases to access more oxygen to supply the brain and muscles, and so the body is set up ready: to fight, or run away fast.

Panic Attacks

So while the fear reaction is a good thing when you are in real danger, it's not always so welcome. Imagine having this reaction waiting for the train on a Monday morning or when you step out of your front door.

If you walk down a dark alley at night: you may imagine all sorts of fearful things and you may notice that your body starts to react with palpitations, a tightness in the chest and even hyperventilation. But increasingly, patients I see are having panic attacks after experiencing these reactions while on a crowded tube - or even while walking to the station.

Unfortunately, with panic attacks, once a person has experienced one, they then can start to develop an understandable fear of it happening again; avoiding all situations that might set off another attack - perhaps trying to steer clear of their workplace, or social events.

Phobias

A phobia is an extreme example of reality twisted by imagination. Defined as an irrational fear, you cannot explain your exaggerated fearful response to a small spider, yet the subconscious mind believes it to be dangerous and produces the same response as if it were a tiger. When the subject of your phobia is quite basic, such as with spiders, you can choose to avoid situations where you might run into them: keep out the attic or the shed. But there are many people who suffer from more disabling phobias like agoraphobia, who avoid going out of their house because they fear the public places they subconsciously perceive as dangerous - although they can't rationally explain why.

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