What are you afraid of ?

Mickaelah Joseph
Pridetime Reporter

Have you ever felt so uncomfortable you had to cry, run, shake or even hide? If so, you’ve experienced something called “fear”. The idea of fear is a feeling of danger, or a threat to certain things. Fear plays a huge part in everyone's lives because everyone has a fear. Whether your fear is as small as spiders, or as big as the idea of “death”, fear may have a way of controlling us if we allow it to. Ignoring a fear, or denying it may not always be the best decision to make. Being able to admit and accept your fears is the most helpful situation possible. Scientists have discovered that the 6 biggest fears in a common human being are: 

• A fear of wide, open spaces (Agoraphobia)
  
• A fear of holes (Trypophobia)
  
• A fear of foreign people (Xenophobia)
  
• A fear of spiders (Arachnophobia)
  
• A fear of clowns (Coulrophobia)
  
• A fear of heights (Acrophobia).
  

Ever since I was a little girl, clowns and heights have been at the top of my list for fears. While I still struggle with my clown fear, I’ve approached my fear of heights and have a better coping mechanism. When I encounter tall places, I make sure I don’t look down, and if I do, I count backwards from 10. It may not seem like a lot, but it’s helped me calm down, and breathe. Of course, everyone has their different ways of dealing with fears, but this is the easiest way to keep yourself from stepping out of character. 
Fears may not always be an animal, or a person, fear may develop into something as serious as death, or being afraid of dying. Thanatophobia, or the fear behind death may be the whole idea of dying, or the process of it. It’s normal for one to be afraid of how they’re going to pass, but this fear may be the cause of the worst anxiety a human can have. Thanatophobia consists of: focusing only of death, or losing your life, an extremely uncomfortable feeling at a funeral or burial service, and putting an end to daily activities because the fear of death. 
The best ways to cope and work through your fears are by allowing yourself to sit with your fear and take deep breaths. You should take time to keep reminding yourself “It’s okay”. Avoiding your fears will not benefit you in anyway possible. Also, you should try to develop a healthy sense of ‘personal control’, focusing your energy on things you have influence over, and changing things that you’re able to change. Lastly, you should try to find meaning in your fears. Tell your stories and figure out why you’re afraid of what you’re afraid of. Having a fear is normal, but how you deal with it defines who you are as a person and your strength to overcome what is important.