My Fear, My Phobias, and Anxiety

‘No, I’m not afraid… I’m just a little anxious.’ This is one of the most deceptive statements one can make—first to oneself and then to those around them. Even though it’s easier for us to admit that we feel anxious about a situation, it doesn’t mean we’re right in how we interpret our emotions. Fear, like anger, is one of the most misunderstood emotions—so misunderstood that few admit to it, and even fewer realize that it is the very reason we survive as a species.

Fear makes an infant cry when hungry to ensure it is fed and survives. Fear of dangerous situations prevents us from taking life-threatening actions. It is fear that compels us to strive for balance and predictable reactions. Anything that can “threaten” us in any form is something we must fear so that we can protect ourselves. However, as with everything, moderation is key—because if fear becomes the “rule,” it changes name, function, and level. It becomes a phobia—not something that preserves life, but something that dominates it, pushing us into irrationality.

To truly understand all of this—not just as words but as an emotional progression—we must examine both the path fear follows and the point at which the boundary is crossed, turning the rational into irrational. And since no boundary is more vague, the only way to “measure it” is by applying the rule of non-discomfort—because whenever a situation makes us feel deeply uneasy, something is not right!

First comes fear. Then comes anxiety, which arises to prepare the body and mind for a state of alertness, allowing us to confront what frightens us. And the word “confront” is no coincidence. No matter how much a situation terrifies us, the moment we stand against it, counter it, and fight our battle, in the end, we feel relief—thus, the rule of non-discomfort holds.

However, if for any reason, our psyche generalizes fear and refuses to face it, we enter a state of constant alertness—an anxiety that has no clear beginning or end. Anxiety infiltrates every aspect of our daily lives, fueled by a generalized fear, feeding into thoughts that rob us of the ability to enjoy anything.

There is nothing more paralyzing to life than fearing our own thoughts, and there is nothing more fulfilling in life than facing and overcoming a situation—no matter how much it frightens us!”