Fear is often triggered by specific people or things that are reminders of traumatic experiences. Fear causes physical, mental, and behavioral reactions that can lead to avoidance and isolation. Fear does not need to keep you from enjoying life. You can learn to face it and overcome its powerful grip.
Right after the incident, I felt as if I lost all sense of safety. I was afraid he would come back or someone else would come after me. I experienced a level of fear most people never will. You know the feeling after you watch a scary movie when you’re afraid to open the blinds, the closet, or the shower curtain because of the anxious feeling someone will be there, but you know no one is? In my situation, someone was there, and it took a while to work through my fear and anxiety. I had to come to a decision that I could spend the rest of my life living in fear or live my life. I made the difficult and conscious decision to face my fear and live my life. ~Regan
While facing your fear can be scary at first, once you confront it, you’ll realize it is not as scary as it feels. Here are some tools to help you face your fears:
Understanding and mentally challenging your fears is the first step in overcoming them. Answer the following questions.
How is your fear limiting you? When you learn to face your fears in small, manageable steps, it’s not nearly as scary as when you run from them. Build your courage by making a copy or taking a screenshot of the challenge you wrote above and use it the next time you feel afraid.