How to Overcome Fear?
482795
you just have to face your fears you would feel so much better after that i acutely did that today and I'm so proud of myself and i feel like I'm ready to do anything my constant fear was to talk to people who i have never before on the phone i know sounds silly I'm 22 years old and i cant do anything over the phone because i have this little girlish voice and i always have this fear that people wouldn't take me seriously since that what happened usually but today i had to do few international calls for some reasons and i handle it quit well anyway I'm telling everyone about that I'm even posting it here lol but my point is do not let fear hold you back live your life and enjoy it you will meet someone you love we will all do hopefully i guess that scares me a bit as well but hey one step at a time ill enjoy one victory at a time:D
181249
You just do it. It's the only way to start overcoming your fear. I fear the same sometimes, eventhough I had trouble doing it, but I still did it (at school). Most people who don't have this fear are very confident. Not that you're not confident, just a little shy. So, again, just do it and afterwards you'll be "what was I afraid of?" Then you are more relaxed and proud that you did it. Good Luck.
369921
Drop your fears, boy. You'll realize how interesting you are. Then people around you will see that.\n\nThe only thing you have to understand first is: drop your fears. Even when an outcome seems bad, see the good aspect of it. You can do it.
227786
My main problem is i feel that when i talk, others will laugh on me so i mostly keep my mouth shut. How can i overcome my fear?\nWell the first thing you need to do to get over this fear is to proof it to be false. You see fear can be a strong motivater, but also an even stronger demotivater. We know for a fact that the "fear of getting burnt", keeps us from touching a red hot element. The reason is because one way or another we have tested it to be true.\nFear as a demotivater raises its head by what I refer to as false truths, which is simple truths that we believe but have never really tested.\nIf I would be coaching you personally I would encourage two activities to help you test out your fear. First what might at first feel stupid but works well, is simply speaking to yourself in the mirror. Look at your reflection and consider what would be considered a good conversation with the other person. Talk about what is important to that person in the mirror or what is really the other person.\nSecondly, I would reccommend that you have at least 3 conversations with complete stranges. Strangers are further from your comfort level of acquaintances and therefore have little regard to you personally if the conversation was effective or not. Simple start talking about the weather and go from there, but be precient, the payoff is awesome and you will soon realize your fear was no more than a false truth.\nTo understand effective communicating, please check out my blog. It will help you on your way to success.
490569
I feel sorry for your anxiety caused by your phobia and for the other people writing about their phobias in your answer column. I to have suffered with many different phobias; as a child it was injections (both dentists and doctors), and Dogs; now it is the feeling of fear itself that I fear. (Because of years of panic attacks)\n\nI can tell you what helps, if you need to take an oral pill (tranquilizer) if you are really bad (one every night before going to bed for a short time) or (half an hour before you need to go to the doctor for an appointment involving an injection). \n*However this will not teach you too become brave or help you cope with your underlining fear which has become a phobia. \n\nI suggest you learn to relax through different sources.\n\nFirstly you can do positive self talk as your fear comes from negative thoughts causing you to have a chemical release in the brain which in turn causes the physical sensations of heart racing, sweating, feelings of faintness, fear, anxiety, nausea, light headedness, numbness, and so on…..oh yeah feelings of unreality is another one.\n\nNext learn relaxation or meditation either through physical participation in yoga classes or by listening to these sorts of cd, tape, or videos. There are hypnotic and relaxation available through JB Hi Fi stores designed to relax and strengthen your subconscious.  Cost $22 on average per item.\n\nYou can see a professional hypnotist or a physiatrist who will help you work you through your fear in a safe non threatening environment.  However this option is the most expensive and time consuming because it takes many sessions and time to feel you can trust or open up fully to another person.\n\n\n\n*If you use drugs as a crutch you can become addicted and that would start a whole new problem. \nP.S. the side affects of many tranquilizer drugs are feelings of anxiety and panic which you don’t want anyway.\n\n*The body is affected the same with legal and illicit drugs (downers or relaxants) like tranquillizers, sleeping pills or (marijuana, heroin, and alcohol) \n*Stimulants which are (speed, & cocaine) (cigarettes = nicotine), (tea & coffee =caffeine), and (ice & ecstasy which is often a combination of both stimulants and relaxants). \n*Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Marijuana are most accepted by the general public however they cause the most disease related deaths. Through internal organ diseases, like *Cancers and Blood clots (causing amputations, strokes and heart attacks) \n*Lung diseases from asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer.  \n*Liver diseases from damage trying to alienate the body of toxic poisons and chemicals associated with medications and alcohol over years. \n*Hepatitis, sclerosis, and cancers of the liver.  \n*Marijuana has a chemical THC which our body has receptor in our brain and we also store for long periods in our blood and fat cells; (up to one month each time you smoke just one joint). Regular bong smokers and users will cause many different chronic health problems including lung disease (as the same toxic chemicals are in tobacco and marijuana excepting nicotine which is a stimulant) mental health suffers with paranoia, anxiety, fear, loss of memory, loss of appetite or increased appetite for sweets, loss of motivation, poor health, poor sleeping patterns and a dependency to use marijuana to get to sleep. Personal hygiene problems like sweating, bad breath and rotting teeth and the best for last you only feel mellow for a short time the rest of the time you are short tempered and unbearable to be around.\n*All drugs both legal and illicit have one thing in common the same side affects which is anxiety and withdrawal symptoms.
703209
Ohhhhh, man.  That is so hard on you.  I have anxiety about that myself but I have learned to overcome it.  Just tell yourself there is nothing to fear (doesn't always work).  My phobia about it simply involves the fact that I feel I cannot breathe because there will be no oxygen.  That is untrue, but that is how I feel.  \nAvoid any closed rooms that do not have a window.  Movie theaters are very difficult.  I have a phobia about catching a cold when I am in a movie theater, so I usually don't go.    \n\nPlease go to a licensed psychologist who can help you overcome this problem.    Best wishes to you.  I am glad you don't have agoraphobia. My friend had that and the doctor put her on medication and made her go to places she was afraid of.  Now she can go anywhere.
70186
take stock in the situation. \nI personally feel what does not kill me only makes me stronger. I also try reading books, and learning different things
570543
I used to be afraid of public speaking, too, but I found that with practice and experience, I slowly overcame my fears and learned to enjoy public speaking. A few hints:\n\n1. Practice makes perfect: Practice speaking in front of a small, sympathetic crowd such as a group of friends or your family. Practice speaking extemporaneously (without a written speech) on a subject that you know well, such as personal beauty tips or a favorite activity, as well as working with a short, prepared speech using notes. Start off doing this in your own home, then start doing it in public places such as a park or office, but still just in front of friends or family. If you can get your friends to cooperate and support you emotionally, this can be quite helpful.\n\n2. Try to empathize rather than impress: Concentrate on slowing down your speech a little bit. Pick out a sympathetic face in the crowd and act like you're talking to him or her alone, then modulate your speech as if you're trying to impart some knowledge that he or she will benefit from. Try to play the role of a "caring mother" rather than a "knowledgeable professional" and you'll feel less pressure to perform to perfection.\n\n3. If you know you're going to be speaking publicly, prepare a few calming techniques to keep on hand: Bring along some lavender-scented lotion and apply it to your hands with gentle, calming strokes briefly before speaking or entering the meeting. Breathe in and out slowly while concentrating on a "mantra" or affirmative saying. Visualize yourself enjoying the company of your friends or coworkers at the lunch or party afterwards; remember that these people want to see you do well and will strive to receive your message no matter how imperfect the delivery.\n\n4. It's ok to admit you're nervous: Feel free to laugh at yourself a little and tell the crowd you're not a born public speaker. Thank them for their patience and ask them to bear with you. Acknowledging your fears to them and asking politely for their cooperation will win their sympathy and will buy you a little time to get your thoughts together. And remember, mistakes can always be corrected. If you misspeak, it's not against the rules to correct or restate something you said earlier.\n\nJust remember: public speaking is one of the most common phobias out there. Chances are good that the majority of the people you're speaking to are afraid of public speaking just like you! So don't sweat it; they understand what you're dealing with and will be more than willing to listen patiently so long as you try to handle your fears in a positive way rather than becoming negative or argumentative about it.\n\nBest of luck!
696854
To end those phobias for good, go see a counselor. He or she, will probably refer you to a doc as well and then you'll be prescribed some medications.\nWith medication, counseling and time, I think you'll be fine.
266818
you have to put yourself into situations involving height that are comepletely safe first. face the fear, and conquer it. I would personally start by going up to second stories of houses, and looking out the closed window at the ground. Then move on to taller buildings looking out the window, and you will gain confidence that you wont fall.
418408
Taking On Your Terror\n\nWe can control the quality of our lives if we are willing to face our fears rather than burying, suppressing or avoiding them. I know this is not exactly the lightest subject I've ever addressed, but confronting our deepest fears, our terror, is a way out of the agony of our ongoing stories and into the glorious world of empowerment. Almost all of us were terrorized in some way when we were young. For you, maybe it was when you were bullied in school or when one of your siblings locked you in the closet. Something happened to activate the feeling of fear, of shear terror, and at some point you rejected your fear and made a decision that this was a bad way to feel because you associated it with some negative event. \n\n \n\nMost of us loathe our fear. We try to wish it away and when that doesn't work, we resort to an array of coping mechanisms. We might work over our fears, eat, drink, gossip, blame, surf the internet, isolate, rant, and shop over them. We seek, often unconsciously, to find new ways to drown out and kill off the voice of fear and deny our persistent dread.   \n\n \n\nBut ultimately, it's not the experiences from our past or the ones that we fear in the future that rob us of our dreams. It's the terrorizing little thoughts in the present moment that, when listened to over and over again, undermine the quality of our lives. 20 or 30 years later we continue the internal conversation and continuously re-experience the same fears. Often they are redressed or disguised, but when we get underneath them we find that this bit of terror has been robbing us of our freedom for many years. Even though the actual threat may be nowhere in sight, we continue on.\n\n \n\nSo today is the day to see if you are paying homage to your higher self or to the dark, little terrorist inside? Today is the day that you can choose to acknowledge your part in the dance between your darkest fears and your higher self. \n\n \n\nSometimes you have to be the adult and take charge of your internal world. You have to be the one to take back your power, even if you're scared. When you are in terror it's because you believe in that darkness more than you believe in the light. You might believe that if you do enough, read enough, pray enough or chat enough, you can obliterate your terror, but I am hear to tell you that it's impossible to make the terror happy. You might think that if you listen to it long enough, it will go away. But it won't. You must confront it. You must take back your power. You say, "Yes Debbie but how?" Well here is the antidote for your fear: LOVE IT. Don't try to discard or rid yourself of your terror, because you probably aren't strong enough. But what you can do is bring the light to the darkness. That light is love. When faced with your fear, you can ask yourself, "How can I love myself even when I'm in the middle of my terror? You can turn around and face your fear. You can stop terrorizing yourself further for being scared and instead find out how old that fear is. You can ask yourself, "How many years, months, weeks, days and minutes have I been terrorized by the same thing?" Count it out and write it down.  And then find some sweet compassion for the kid in you that is scared to death.\n\n \n\nAction is the next step. Action is your way of showing yourself that you are safe and that you can take care of yourself. Make a plan this week to handle one of your fears. For example, if you hold a secret fear that you could become a bag lady but have no financial plan, then you're going to be continuously terrorized. Get a money mentor. Find out how much money you need to put away and then start on that path. If you're afraid that someone is going to attack you, get trained in self-defense. If you're afraid your business partner is going to extort you, have an agreement drawn up that protects you. If you're fearful tha
423294
This works\nAsk them to name 5 things they can see, then hear, then feel.\nThen ask them to name 4 of each, then three etc.\nIf distracts you and also makes you aware of what is actually going on around you, not just what you are afraid of.\nGood luck.
418189
When we want to stop fears or concerns in our life and we just say have more faith, i think we are taking one part of the scriptures and not the other. Faith with out works is DEAD, so if you want to overcome the fear have faith that you will over overcome and work to overcome it. For example, if you are scared of heights, just saying that you have faith that God will take the fear away gets you nowhere, getting on that plane or climbing that ladder(safely) and turning over that fear to God instead of relying on it, remocves the fear. Saying I need more faith will do nothing, there are plenty of people in the bible who had the faith of a mustard seed and they gave or did what they had to do and their faith was increased and they were rewarded with what they wanted. Increasing your faith will do nothing if you do not act on it. Pray that God will give you the strength and then go forward , procrastination will only disappoint.
920048
try looking at the skirts and blouses last. maybe take a cooking class, joining the theater class. Put yourself in the middle of the fear. things will get better.
584356
I just have to be blunt. Past life regression is BS. So is hypnosis. The best way to cure a phobia is to decide that you are not going to let it control you! You conquer IT! If you have a fear of flying, for example, ask yourself why. Do you fear for the rest of the people on the airplane? Or do you think that it would only crash if you were on it? I used to feel this way - but then I realized that if God would be on the scene to keep the other passengers safe, then He would keep me safe as well. Fly! Scared of heights? Well, I would be scared to walk on a catwalk building a skyscraper - and who says I am required to ever do that anyway? But if I had a fear of heights, I would gradually climb higher, inch by inch, realizing that every inch of the way, I was only one inch higher than I had been before and it's no big deal. Those are just a couple of examples. In summary: face your fears. That is the only way to conquer them. And you will!
918468
Treatment options\nTreating phobias, including claustrophobia, relies on psychological methods. Depending on the person, some of these methods may include: \nFlooding - this is a form of exposure treatment, where the person is exposed to their phobic trigger until the anxiety attack passes. The realisation that they have encountered their most dreaded object or situation, and come to no actual harm, can be a powerful form of therapy. \nCounter-conditioning - if the person is far too fearful to attempt flooding, then counter-conditioning can be an option. The person is taught to use specific relaxation and visualisation techniques when experiencing phobia-related anxiety. The phobic trigger is slowly introduced, step-by-step, while the person concentrates on attaining physical and mental relaxation. Eventually, they can confront the source of their fear without feeling anxious. This is known as systematic desensitisation. \nModelling - the person watches other people confront the phobic trigger without fear, and is encouraged to imitate that confidence. \nCognitive behaviour therapy - the person is encouraged to confront and change the specific thoughts and attitudes that lead to feelings of fear. \nMedications - such as tranquillisers and anti-depressants. Drugs known as beta blockers may be used to treat the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a pounding heart. \n\nLearning to self-manage Claustrophobia \n1. You've highlighted a key skill – breath management. So practise Buteyko Breathing for a few weeks (say, a few 3-4 minute sessions daily) to get you to the point where you are able to change and to manage your breathing at will. \n\n2. Now practise applying your better-breathing ability to calm yourself, in ordinary everyday anxiety or stress situations. This builds your confidence in your own state-management ability. \n\n3. Next select somewhere (preferably at home) that will evoke the claustrophobia feeling such as a small cupboard or room. If you do not have such a place you have to be a bit creative – perhaps use a friend's place. Just make sure it is somewhere you can immediately get out of if you wish. Do not use an elevator to practise in – you do not have the choice of quickly getting out. \n\nEnter into this enclosed place and manage your breathing until your anxiety rises to, say, 6 on the scale of 1-10. In the beginning this may take just a few seconds but with practise you will be able to remain there for longer and longer periods. \n\n4. When you come out of the enclosed place calm yourself fully and then have a break for 10-15 minutes. Now go back into the room or cupboard again and this time aim to remain there 10-20% longer. Come out and again calm yourself fully. And that’s enough for one day. \n\n5. Do this every day or so until you can manage it comfortably - then find somewhere even more enclosed and challenging. \n\nFor more info go to:\nhttp://www.pe2000.com/pho-claustro.htm
272341
Honestly there is no easy fix for this. You just have to put yourself in a situation where you have to talk. If you are really that uncomfortable with it and you are in school consider taking the dreaded speech class. It will force you to get up and talk in front of people. The best way to get over a fear like this is to tackle it. Hope that this helps and I wish you luck!