Rational fears: Fear consists of physical, mental and behavioural components. Physical changes include increased heart rate, trembling, sweating and dry mouth, pallor and faintness. The mental aspect includes feeling of fear when you identify something as an object of fear. Recognising the object of your emotion as an object of fear is just one part of a complex process of identifying the emotion that you feel. Fear behaviour includes the outward display of your reactions, as avoiding or fleeing from the object of fear. One way of dealing with this emotion is to suppress fear behaviour or confronting the object of fear, instead of avoiding it. This can be very adaptive.

Unfriendly dogs are less likely to attack if you look assertive and confident. More likely if you look frightened. People form a more positive impression of you if seem in control of yourself. In many circumstances, however, it can be very helpful to express what you feel. Letting others know of what your fears are makes it possible for them to reassure you that your fears are not unreasonable and to help you find ways of dealing with them. Both these forms of social support help to settle the level of arousal, and they may improve your performance in dealing with the object of fear, as well as with all of the other problems of life that need attention. Social custom makes it more acceptable for women to seek help for almost any kind of problem than for men, and this may help to explain why women are more expressive of fear.

It is especially useful to seek special support during long-term fear situations, where you can do little. For example, if someone you love is in a war zone, talking about it helps you bear the anxiety.

Irrational fears: Although fear is a normal and universal experience, people sometimes develop the non-adaptive fears known as phobias. These can seriously affect their lives. It has been estimated that nearly 10 per cent of all adults have a serious phobia of one sort or another. Uncounted numbers have mild phobias that may be no more than a source of annoyance or occasional embarrassment. In large-scale studies, women have reported more phobias than men. Psychiatrists and clinical psychologist consider phobias to be neurotic disorders, and refer to them as “phobic anxiety”. Despite these levels, a phobia is not a serious mental disorder. In mild phobia, take help of your friend or family member. If the phobia is severe, however, the best course is to seek professional help; proper therapy can be very effective.

Dr Anil Dheer