Understanding Fear Is Important — Not Suppressing It
By Gunja Maurya (Therapist)
Fear is something everyone experiences. Sometimes we feel afraid about something that may happen in the future, sometimes because of an experience, and sometimes we may not even know exactly why we are feeling scared.
When fear appears, our first reaction is often to make it go away. We may try to distract ourselves, tell ourselves that “nothing will happen,” or avoid the situation that makes us uncomfortable.
But does pushing fear away really make it disappear?
Not always.
Sometimes, the more we try to avoid something we fear, the stronger that fear can become. For example, a person may feel nervous about speaking in front of others. If they keep avoiding such situations, they may feel relieved for the moment. However, the next time they face a similar situation, it may feel even more difficult.
Fear itself is not a bad emotion. It is a natural response of our mind and body. When we sense danger, our heart may beat faster, we may sweat, feel restless, or even experience trembling. Our body is simply trying to keep us alert and prepared.
The problem begins when our mind starts treating situations as dangerous even when there is little or no real danger.
Sometimes fear is connected to our own thoughts: “What if something goes wrong?” “What if I cannot handle it?” or “What if something bad happens to me?” When these thoughts keep repeating, the fear can become stronger.
So instead of telling yourself, “I should not be afraid,” try asking, “What exactly am I afraid of?” and “Is there a real danger, or is this my mind imagining the worst?”
Understanding fear does not mean accepting it as the truth. It means recognising where it comes from and slowly learning how to deal with it.
Fear is not a weakness. Instead of suppressing it, we can learn to understand it, face it, and manage it more healthily.
