Are Afraid Of The Dark Essay, Research Paper
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance, wrote Franklin D. Roosevelt. The sensation of fear is felt by all. The degrees of this emotion, beginning with the most moderate, may be thus expressed, — apprehension, fear, dread, fright, then terror. These levels of fear can then be classified into three different types: anxiety, trigger reflex, and phobia.Everybody knows what it’s like to feel anxious the butterflies in your stomach before a first date, the tension you feel when your boss is angry, and the way your heart pounds if you’re in danger. Anxiety rouses you to action. It gears you up to face a threatening situation. It makes you study harder for that exam, and keeps you on your toes when you’re making a speech. In general, it helps you cope. This fear doesn t usually progress very far and may only last minutes.On the other hand, trigger fear lasts only seconds. Many people experience this fear when they slip in the shower, only to catch themselves before they fall. The object causing the fear may not be frightful at all; it may be as harmless as a coat on a coat-rack. The body is very sensitive after this jolt. A rush of adrenaline is released and the senses are tuned for self-protection. Reflexes are enhanced and thoughts are dedicated to preservation of the body. After this fear has subsided, the body returns to normal with few aftereffects. This type of fear does not progress at all after the body has calmed down.
The last type of fear is the phobia. This fear can last a lifetime. Phobias only manifest when the object feared is present. For instance, someone may fear spiders. If no spiders are present, then the fear is not present. Phobias can be dealt with by confronting the fear. As you become used to the phobia, it will go away. In summary, fear can split into three different categories. Anxiety is the impression of fear in the present; it is the one we feel during uncomfortable situations. Trigger fear is the type that lasts a quick second, but shocks the body more than the long-term apprehension of anxiety. Phobias are fears that do not manifest until the feared item is present. Fear is felt by all and should be accepted as a normal emotion.