Fears, Nerves and Resiliency
FEAR Is the emotion you are feeling fear or nerves? What is the difference? Let’s first examine the meaning of fear. According to dictionary.com when fear is used as a noun it means a distressing emotion is aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined. And as a verb when fear is used with an object it is used as to be afraid of something, or if there is no object is to be afraid, which is more of a state of being afraid.
In Psychology Today, it describes fear as a vital response to physical and emotional danger. Fear is how we protect ourselves. It is triggered within the Sympathetic nervous system and the amygdala in the brain.
Sometimes this system it gets ‘stuck’ on, and leaves us in heightened state of fear. It may be referred to as the amygdala being hijacked. More on that later.
Coming up we will explore the meaning of nerves.
NERVES
This isn’t really addressing the physiology of your body, which has a network of nerves, which are a cordlike bundles of tissue made up of nerve fibers and held together by a connective tissue sheath through which as stimuli pass between the brain or other parts of the central nervous system and the eyes, glands, muscles, and other parts of the body. It is more about the emotion of feeling nervous. In the Cambridge dictionary this is described as the state of being worried or slightly afraid. Another way to think of this is nerves are the ground floor of being afraid. A great example of being nervous is that feeling when you prepare for a job interview, speak in front of a group, or perform. Once the event is over the nervous feeling slips away. This is different than anxiety, which doesn’t really go away without intervention (for example, therapy or employing tools to address the anxiety). It is also different from fear, in it doesn’t fully engage the fight or flight response. Being in a state of fear isn’t bad, in fact, it can save your life. Being in a state of nervousness isn’t bad either, it can help propel you to work hard to do your best. The challenge is when you get stuck in either of these states. RESILIENCE
The term resiliency has gotten a lot of buzz lately, but what does it mean? Let’s look at Psychology Today’s definition. They say in very simple terms, that it is the quality that allows people to be knocked down by life and come back at least as strong as before. I have heard others refer to it as being a fighter. Being resilient isn’t magical or even innate. There are key aspects to being resilient when can be cultivated. One is the ability to regulate emotions and to have a positive attitude. Both of those can be difficult to access when you are gripped by fear that won’t disappear once the danger is gone, or nervousness which decides not to be fleeting, but builds into anxiety that sticks by your side like Velcro. Resilience can be built within using specific tools and techniques now. These prepare you for those tough times. FOUR ASPECTS OF RESILIENCY Building resilience in today’s fast paced world can be tough. But it is possible and it is about you....and there is nothing wrong with doing things that are all about you (especially so you are strong and can be strong for others who might be in need of your support—-but that is a different subject then today’s quick study on FEAR and NERVES). Awhile back someone asked me how I was so positive in the face of the many obstacles, challenges and even pain that has been a part of my journey. As I contemplated the answer many things came to mind, which is the basis for the Four Aspects of Resiliency — FABS, because each one of us is fabulous! 1. Foundation 2. Aspiration 3. Balance 4. Self (Inner) Want to learn more? Stayed tune over the next four weeks I will offer ideas that will help you explore and build each of these areas in your life. Want more than my blog? Let’s connect in the real world! 3DRenew@gmail.com www.3DRenew.org (Chat and booking function are active!)
