Have you ever heard someone say "I'm not afraid of anything"? Well, that person was probably not being completely honest. From birth we are equipped with certain survival instincts. One of those instincts is fear. It is one of the most basic human emotions programmed into the nervous system and works instinctively to protect us in certain situations. It may alert us to danger and prepare us to deal with it. Feeling afraid is very natural and it can be a signal that cautions us to be careful. Like most of our emotions, fear can be mild, or it can be intense, depending on the situation and the person involved. A feeing of fear can be brief or it can last a long time.

When fear is triggered it immediately releases adrenaline and other chemicals into the body. Our breathing may become shallow as our consciousness becomes focused on the object of our fear. Our peripheral vision starts to scan our surroundings for any methods of retreat or escape.

What Is A Phobia?

As indicated above, fear is normal, however a phobia is not. A phobia is an intense fear that is out of proportion to the potential danger. Phobias can cause people to worry about, dread and avoid the things or situations that to other people are normal. So having a phobia can interfere with your normal or what should be normal activities of daily life.

What Causes Phobias?

Some phobias develop when a person has a traumatic experience due to a particular thing or situation. For example: If a person was attacked by a dog as a child, this may cause a fearful reaction to dogs even in situations that don’t present a danger.

Researchers have also found that certain phobias can run in families. For example, siblings who are raised in separate locations and households, may develop the same type of phobias.

Overcoming Phobias

Most People can learn to overcome phobias by gradually facing their fears. This is not easy at first so go at your own pace. If you feel you need the help of a therapist to guide you through the process don’t be "afraid" to ask for help.

Many times the most difficult part of overcoming a phobia is getting started. Once you decide you are ready to overcome your fear, go for it, With the right guidance and support, you may be surprised how quickly your fears will disappear.

Healing Combinations can help you overcome your fears. We produce natural remedies for common emotional and physical issues using Bach Flower combinations. Healing Combinations for Fears can help you relieve the root cause of fears. It is available from our online store at healingcombinations.com/store. Think of it as an affirmation for your soul.