Understanding Fear

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UNDERSTANDING FEAR By M G Hariharan Synopsis of http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/over coming-fears-info.html

description

These is a general study of Fear which will help in understanding and overcoming Fear

Transcript of Understanding Fear

Page 1: Understanding Fear

UNDERSTANDING FEARBy M G Hariharan

Synopsis of http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/overcoming-fears-info.html

Page 2: Understanding Fear

DefinitionInstinctive Response to Danger.

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Biologically what is fearAs a first response to fear Amygdala and hypothalamus are activated .Chemicals such as Adrenaline stress hormone cortisol are release in blood stream

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This results inRapid heart rateIncreased blood pressureTightening of musclesSharpened or redirected sensesDilation of the pupils (to let in more light)Increased sweating

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Reaction1. Remember the incident clearly2. On repetition of incident reaction

will be reflex action3. Strength will be great may even lift

a car without pain

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Cause of FearKnown ones

1. Arachnophobia- fear of spider2. Hemaphobia- Fear of Blood3. Acrophobia- Fear of height Not well known

4. Catoptrophobia- Fear of mirror5. Pteronophobia-Fear of feather6. Ergophobia- Fear of work

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Some facts about Fear1. A small amount of fear before Speech helps in

concentration2. Fear if not adaptive starts affecting Daily

functioning3. Future oriented fear is known as anxiety4. Experiencing Alarming response when there is

nothing is known as Panic5. Initial response subsides after facts

are known

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Fear of Children1. Fear of losing parents2. Fear of injury3. Fear of scolding4. Fear of teachers5. Fear of darkess

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What Brain DoesThalamus - decides where to send incoming sensory data (from eyes, ears, mouth, skin)Sensory cortex - interprets sensory dataHippocampus - stores and retrieves conscious memories; processes sets of stimuli to establish contextAmygdala - decodes emotions; determines possible threat; stores fear memories

Hypothalamus - activates "fight or flight" response

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Process of Creating Fear

This is called the low Road

Take No Chance

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Considered DecisionThalamus• Sensory input passes Info.

Hippocampus• Determines the context by asking

Sensory Cortex• Interprets the Data

Amygdala• Processed information comes

Hypothalamus• Imlementation

This is called High Road

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Nerve Paths Reaction to Fear Stimuli

Constricts PupilStimulus SalivationConstricts AirwaysSlows HeartbeatStimulate DigestionStimulate Gall Bladder BileDilates Blood Vessels in Intestines and RectumStimulates Urinary Bladder ContractionStimulates Penile ErectionStimulates EjaculationRelaxes Urinary Bladder Inferior mesentric GanglionStimulates Secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrineStimulates glucose production and releasesInhibits DigestionStimulates secretion of Sweet Glands Accelerates HeartbeatRelaxes Airways Constricts Blood vesselsInhibits Salivation Dilated Pupils

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Adrenal-cortical system

The endocrine system also operates like the nervous system to conduct information. The endocrine system

uses blood vessels as information channels. Glands release into the bloodstream specific chemical

messengers called hormones.. The typical endocrine organ is a ductless gland that

secretes chemical mediators directly into local blood vessels. to regulate the target organ's function.

Hormones are also instrumental in regulating

mood, growth development, tissue function, and

metabolism, as well as sending messages

and acting on them

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Hypothalamus

Activates Sympathetic Nervous system

Impulses activate

Glands and smooth muscles

Activates Adrenal medulla

Releases

noreplenephrine

Blood Stream

Natural activity combines with

hormones in the blood stream to constitute

flight or fight response

Releases epinephrine

Activates adrenal-cortical by releasing CRF

Pituitary gland secretes ACTH

ACTH activates 30 hormones

Twin action of Fear Stimuli

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Fear Necessity?Fear and ExcitementMany people enjoy being afraid -- the arousal that comes with the fight-or-flight It's no wonder so many people go to see scary movies and ride roller coasters on dates.SurvivalIf we couldn't be afraid, we wouldn't survive for long. We'd be walking into oncoming traffic, stepping off of rooftops and carelessly handling poisonous snakes. In humans and in all animals, the purpose of fear is to promote survival. In the course of human evolution, the people who feared the right things survived to pass on their genes. In passing on their genes, the trait of fear and the response to it were selected as beneficial to the race. He concluded that the entire fear response is an ancient instinct that has been untouched by the nuances of modern civilization.It serves the same purpose today as it did when

we might run into a lion while carrying water back from the river. Only now, we're carrying a wallet and walking down city streets.

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Common FearsMost common fears .The top 10 list goes like this:Terrorist attacksSpidersDeathFailureWarHeightsCrime/ViolenceBeing aloneThe futureNuclear war

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Overcoming fearFear extinction involves creating a conditioned response that counters the conditioned fear response. While studies situate the amygdala as the location of fear memories formed by conditioning, scientists theorize that fear-extinction memories form in the amygdala but then are transferred to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) for storage. The new memory created by fear extinction resides in the mPFC and attempts to override the fear memory triggered in the amygdala.

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Practical Tips to overcome Fear

It doesn't matter why you're scared. Learn about the thing you fear. Train. Find someone who is not afraid Take her/him along when you try to conquer your fear -- it'll be much easier.Talk about itPlay mind games with yourself. Stop looking at the grand scheme. Seek help.