Coping With Fear

Fear. It’s not a fun state to possess, but all of us do from time to time. From that dreadful tingling in your bones when you’re trapped somewhere to the long-term anxieties of finding a stable living situation when things go out of whack, fear can present itself in multiple different ways.

There are so many things people can be scared of: bugs, horror movies, breakups, failing a work assignment, illness, even death. The fact of the matter is that many different unpleasant life circumstances can trigger fear.

Does any of this mean that you should let fear control your life? Of course not!

Don’t get me wrong, a healthy amount of wariness and caution in unfamiliar situations is good for one’s safety. There are also mental health issues which can make fear more difficult to overcome. However, it is better more often than not to at least sometimes try and get out of one’s comfort zone.

This article will go over possible methods to help one reduce unnecessary and troublesome fears in life. Please note that I am not a licensed therapist. This piece is not a substitute for professional help. With that being said, I hope you can still find some value in these tips.

Short Term Solutions

There are a plethora of short term coping mechanisms one can use to cope with being startled by unpleasantries in the moment. These include things like deep breathing, positive visualization, and taking a break.

Deep breathing involves focusing on one’s respiration as the process goes in and out of the body. This doesn’t necessarily involve panting like a heated dog or an exhausted runner. Rather, slow, controlled breaths in a pattern are the key.

Techniques such as the 4-7-8 method (breathing in for four counts, holding one’s breath for eight, and breathing out for seven) may be helpful when it comes to dealing with jarring bouts of panic. However, keep in mind that deep breathing is not a quick fix for everyone in the short or long run.

Another strategy to calm yourself down during excessive short-term worry is positive visualization. What this involves is imagining your ideal peaceful and/or happy place. It could be a cozy fireplace, your home’s couch, the warmth of your friends and family, and so on. It doesn’t even have to be a real one, if true situations are hard to come by for you.

Finally, some scenarios have the option to just take a break. This isn’t always feasible, as decisions sometimes must be made quickly. But if possible, stepping away from a stressor could be a good way to cope with a scary situation for a little while.

What if these pony tricks don’t sufficiently work, though? Long-term solutions are what the next section will cover.

Long Term Solutions

In the long run, it is not great for one’s mental health to be easily scared by everyday things which are unavoidable. Think of things like work presentations, common sights, and similar affairs. In those cases, long-term solutions must be used.

First of all, self-care is important. Getting enough sleep, nutritious food, and basic hygiene can do wonders in keeping one’s emotional regulation in check. This will help prevent simple things from scaring oneself as a result.

Secondly, support networks of people you trust can also be useful. Talking to someone in one of these about life’s difficulties often helps in getting a weight off one’s chest, be it for advice or just venting.

Lastly, there’s no need to strive for perfection. No one is perfect. We’re all human, after all, not machines. Even machines can glitch out and have their bad days as well.

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Long story short, fear is not normally fun to deal with. But you don’t have to let it rule your life either.

Any other thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments!

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