Fear should not be seen as a sign of weakness or cowardice. Quite the contrary: it is an involuntary and natural reaction with which the human being lives throughout several moments of his life.

Many situations can trigger this emotion, from seeing a cockroach to a revolver in your head. The brain is involuntarily activated when it undergoes such stressful stimuli, releasing substances that trigger the heart, make breathing difficult, and contract the muscles. This is the well-known fight or flight reaction; after all, fear is associated with the survival instinct.

If people were not afraid, they would not live long. That's because without this emotion we would do anything without thinking twice: we would walk between cars at high speed on the avenues, we would be side by side with ferocious animals, we would jump from buildings, etc. Fear, therefore, is a barrier that helps us to think about the risks and consequences before we do something and is also an immediate response when we are afraid, and we need to act.

Understand the differences between fear and phobia

As I have mentioned earlier, fear is a completely natural emotion, which arises in several situations. It is a protective mechanism that keeps us alive. However, when that fear evolves and starts to compromise your daily life and your relationships, there is a risk that it has become a phobia.

Unlike fear, phobia is extreme. According to research, 23% of people fail to do something in their day because of an excessive level of fear.

Phobia is a disproportionate and exaggerated fear, far above normal. There are people who have a phobia of animals, objects, or situations. There are several types of phobias, so in these cases, it is necessary to seek treatment, such as therapy, to better understand what you are going through and how to work the causes and symptoms.

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