Life Wellness & Health

The most common fears that people have are always related the need to maintain the level of personal security in your life at a comfortable level. When people suffer from serious phobic disorders which prevent them from leaving their home, from going out to work or from enjoying normal social relationships, it is often to be found that their basic feelings of security in life have at some stage not developed properly or have been seriously disrupted. Most people find that they have a sufficient level of personal security in life such that they do not to fear everyday situations. They can communicate with and relate to other people, and deal with most life situations quite comfortably.

However, some of us suffer to some extent from anxiety for what might seem to be odd reasons and at odd times. For some of us it might be difficult to walk up to the top of an observation tower to look at a scenic view – when we stand and look down from a relatively great height, we find that we feel dizzy, as though we are about to fall, and have to look away. We feel insecure standing at a great height and feel a need to get back on the ground. Sudden feelings of claustrophobia are common too. This can range from the classic lift situation, to feeling uncomfortable sitting in a crowded restaurant, or when walking in a busy shopping mall. Feelings of being hemmed in and of needing to escape are common.

Many people have a fear of animals such as dogs, or mice, of spiders or insects. Often this relates to a previous bad experience which a person may have been bitten or attacked by an animal. In some ways it makes sense to avoid in the future something which was a bad event in the past. However, if it means that you cannot visit friends because they have a dog then you may need to get help to overcome a fear of dogs in general just because you had a bad experience with one.

Other people are frightened of storms and particularly of thunder or wind. These fears often date back to some childhood experience when you may have felt very small, alone and frightened of something that seemed very powerful and overwhelming.

Agoraphobia is a fear of open spaces, which could occur if you are on a boat far from the safety of the shore. It could occur in open spaces such as a park or a playing field, but it can occur in any public place. The person suddenly feels very isolated and alone, they feel a need to get back to some known place of safety such a motor vehicle, their home or perhaps just the company of other people.

Feeling nervous about public speaking is a most common fear, probably shared by everyone. Most people will admit to some level of apprehension or anxiety when being introduced to new people, at parties where you don’t know anyone, when starting a new job, or joining a new club. These types of fear are labeled communication fears and usually settle down once you start to know the other people and become familiar with your surroundings. Overcoming the most common fears is usually about becoming familiar with whatever the situation is, and finding the confidence to deal with it.

There are many clubs that you can join which specialize in public and after dinner speaking. At one such club, the President was someone who at his first speech presentation, stood before the group for the prescribed 3 minutes – and couldn’t say a word.