What You Should Know About Fear and The Lizard Brain

We all know the feeling of fear. It can be a physical sensation, like a racing heart or sweaty palms, or it can be an emotional response, like feeling anxious or panicked. Fear is one of the most fundamental emotions that we experience, and it plays a crucial role in our survival.

Fear is triggered by something we perceive as a threat, and it causes us to take action to protect ourselves. The problem is that sometimes our fear response is misplaced, and we end up feeling afraid of things that are not actually dangerous. This can lead to us making poor decisions or avoiding certain situations altogether.

However, just because we feel fear, it doesn't mean we have to be controlled by it. If we understand what causes fear and how it affects our bodies and minds, we can learn to manage it and even use it to our advantage.

So, what exactly is fear? And what role does the lizard brain play in all of this? Let's take a closer look.

What is Fear?

Fear is an emotion that we feel in response to a perceived threat. It is a primal, instinctive response that has evolved to help us survive. When we feel fear, our body goes into "fight or flight" mode, and we release stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This gives us a burst of energy and strength and helps us face a threat or escape from it.

Fear is a natural emotion, and it can be helpful in some situations. For example, if we are about to walk into traffic, fear will cause us to stop and look both ways before crossing the street. However, fear can also be debilitating, and it can prevent us from doing things we want or need to do.

For example, if you are afraid of public speaking, you may avoid situations where you have to speak in front of people. Or, if you are scared of heights, you may not be able to enjoy activities like hiking or visiting the Empire State Building. In these cases, fear is no longer helpful, and it can actually hold you back in life.

The good news is that you don't have to be a victim of your fear. By understanding what causes fear and how it affects your body and mind, you can learn to manage it and even use it to your advantage.

What Causes Fear?

There are two main types of fear: rational and irrational.

Rational fear is based on real and present danger. For example, if you are walking through a dark alley at night, and you hear footsteps behind you, it is rational to feel afraid. In this case, fear is helpful because it will cause you to take action to protect yourself, like running away or calling for help.

Irrational fear is not based on any real or present danger. It is often the result of misinformation or a past experience that has left us feeling scared. For example, if a client rejects you, you may feel afraid that you are not good enough and that you will never get another client.

And irrational fear can be subtle. For example, take FOMO or the Fear of Missing Out. While this type of fear isn’t as problematic as other ones, it can lead you to do strange things - like buy overpriced items you don’t need.

Social media platforms are aware of the subtle psychological ways one can leverage fear and other emotions to get people to act. Because of fear of missing out, 27% of people wake up and go on social media right away. 60% of the millennial generation makes reactive purchases. And 56% of people feel the need to stay on social media all the time, so they don't miss anything.

Our thoughts and beliefs can also cause irrational fear. For example, if you believe that you are not good enough, or that you will always fail, you may be afraid to take risks or to try new things like starting a new business or switching jobs.

The key to overcoming fear is to first identify whether it is rational or irrational. If it is rational, then take action to protect yourself. If it is irrational, you can start to challenge your thoughts and beliefs and take steps to face your fear.

What is the lizard brain?

The lizard brain is the most primitive part of the human brain, responsible for our survival instincts. The lizard brain is also known as the 'reptilian brain' or the 'primal brain'.

The primal brain is responsible for our automatic, instinctive reactions, like the fight-or-flight response. This part of the brain is also responsible for essential functions like breathing and heart rate.

The reptilian brain is not capable of higher-order thinking or reasoning. It operates on a fundamental level, and it cannot tell the difference between a real threat and a perceived threat.

This is why we sometimes feel afraid of things that are not dangerous. Our lizard brain perceives a threat, and it triggers the fight-or-flight response, even when there is no real danger.

How does the lizard brain play a role in fear?

As we mentioned before, the reptilian brain is responsible for our survival instincts. This part of the brain cannot distinguish between real and perceived threats.

This means that when we feel fear, it is not always rational. We may be afraid of something that is not actually dangerous, or we may be fearful of something that happened in the past and is not relevant to our current situation.

In fact, our 'lizard brains' even get triggered by things that are good for us! Seth Godin and Steven Pressfield have written about how talented people sabotage themselves because of the primitive parts of our brains.

The lizard brain doesn't like change, so it generates feelings of fear if you think about asking for a promotion, writing an ebook, starting a business, or doing something else that leads to growth.

The good news is that we can learn to control our lizard brains. By understanding how it works, and how it affects our emotions, we can learn to manage our fear response.

Tips for managing the lizard brain

Now that we’ve covered what fear and the lizard brain are, we can look at ways to deal with our fears - irrational ones in particular. Here are some tips for managing fear generated by the lizard brain in response to everyday events:

1. Identify whether fear is rational or irrational

2. Take action to protect yourself if fear is rational

3. Challenge your thoughts and beliefs if fear is irrational

4. Be aware of how the lizard brain works

5. Be present with your surroundings

6. Realize that you are separate from your feelings

7. Don't try to fight your feelings; let them be

8. Practice mindfulness

9. Seek professional help if needed

10. Connect with others who understand through forums, Facebook groups, and other online platforms

Fear can be a normal and rational emotion or irrational and caused by our thoughts and beliefs. It can also appear when you seek meaningful change in life that leads to more growth. So, just because you feel fear, it doesn't mean that it's always valid.

You can learn to feel fear and overcome it too. Or shift your perspective on whether you should be afraid or not.

After all, you don't want to miss out on life's best opportunities because you're too afraid to try something new.

Conclusion

When you're feeling fear, ask yourself if it's rational or not. If it is, take steps to protect yourself. If it's not, start to challenge your thoughts and beliefs. And, be aware of how the lizard brain works so that you can learn to control your reactions. Finally, remember that you are separate from your feelings, and don't try to fight them. Instead, let them be and focus on the present moment.